Theologicus: The Complete Works in Progress
The Thought
No pen, no words, no image can express to you the loveliness of my only, only Lord Jesus.
- Samuel Rutherford
The Introduction
Once upon a time, my kids were curious about the books in my office, and asked, "Papa, what are all these books about." I told them, "Mostly, they all say the same thing--that Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
Theologicus is my humble attempt to be a part of those same set of books.
No pen, no words, no image...
I know that is absolutely true. I know I don't have enough time left on this earth to write all the words. Still, I must try. I must spend all of my breaths, all of my life, and write all of my words express my Christ's love and beauty because I love him so much. He is my Lord and my God. I am my Beloved's and he is mine forever.
In a way, if the Bible is a love letter from God to me, then Theologicus is my love letter right back at God. This is my little way of telling my Christ, "When I finally see you, I will hold your face and kiss your face with a thousand kisses because you are so beautiful to me and you have loved me the best."
The Text
In essence, Theologicus--all of my completed works, sermons, commentaries and study notes--is my exposition of Psalms 17:15.
Psalms 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
Corem Deo. I will live before the face of my God. And I know that one day, I will behold my God.
The Apostles' Creed
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Apostles' Creed: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
Why exposit the Apostles' Creed or any creed whatsoever?
Simply put, the Apostles' Creed is a summary of the Christian faith. Full stop. If you believe these words to be true (as with any historical creed), you are saved.
Now I know, in today's modern evangelicalism world, this is all old and passé. Don't you have anything new? Don't you have any fresh revelation?
In Acts 17, when Paul preaches the good news of Christ to the Greeks upon the Areopagus (also known as Mars Hill), he quotes their own poets and philosophers. He meets them where they are at and reveals who is behind what they think is the Unknown God. That is the true and only God who created the heavens and hell. And this God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God, to take on flesh, live a perfect life, die a sinner's death, and rise again on the third day. And this Jesus is the only way to the Father.
Acts 17:21 (CSB) Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.
Some were interested but that could have been because they have never heard such a thing before. Some believed and followed.
But some mocked and scoffed--because to them it was old news. They have heard it all before. They dismissed it because it didn't give them what they wanted: more of themselves and more of the world. They rejected it because it didn't answer their questions because they were asking the wrong questions.
Acts 17:32 (CSB) When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.”
There is no new revelation. There is no new thing. There is no new prophecy. There is no new gospel. New good news is old heresy--every single time. And to declare that there is no new theology and no gospel fights against our modern mind. We have grown up thinking that we always have to be on the cutting edge of everything. We have to be the first to know. We have to be the first to see. We have to be the first to experience. We have to always be discovering everything. And in areas of science, medicine and technology, praise God for his revealed common grace.
But what God has revealed about himself is as old as Genesis 1:1. And his great gospel is this:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Of all the religions, myths, fables, philosophies, and idealisms, there is only one that is true. And that is the gospel of Jesus Christ--that he live, died, rose again, and ascended to the right hand of the Father. And apart from all the other cults, sects, and religions, we know this to be true because it is an historical fact that happened over 2,000 years ago.
Disbelieve God all you want. Call yourself an atheist or agnostic. But to deny the historical fact of Jesus Christ is foolish to say the least.
For us Christians, there is nothing new under the sun. And I am convinced that we, Christians, don't really know what we believe about Christ.
So start with beginning of the first century church. Learn as they learned. Hear as they heard. Believe as they believed. And confess as they confessed.
And with this creed, declare what they declared: that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The Text
Ephesians 4:10–16 (CSB)
10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.
16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Amen.
The Word
Matthew 24:24-25 (CSB) For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note: I have told you in advance.
The Belief
Matthew 23:1–7 (CSB)
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples:2 “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.
3 Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach.
4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,
7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.
What we believe is historical
What we believe is accurate
What we believe is Biblical
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
The Response
Genesis 2:16-17 (CSB) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Genesis 3:2-5 (CSB) The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Hosea 4:6 (CSB) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons.
The Resources
Books
Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition.
John Calvin. Robert White (Translator).
Banner of Truth. 2014.
Goodreads
So I wrap up my Bible Study with my son over Apostles' Creed. And while reading Calvin's 1541 Edition of his Institutes, I get to Chapter 4 and voila:v Faith, with an Explanation of the Apostles’ Creed
I love the provision of God!
As I am reading through it, I will fold in some Calvin into these notes here.
All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism.
James E. Dolezal.
Reformation Heritage Books. 2017.
Goodreads
The Creedal Imperative.
Carl R. Trueman
Crossway, 2012.
Goodreads
Study Bibles
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
The Apostles' Creed: I Believe in God the Father Almighty
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty ,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
Genesis 49:22–26 (CSB)
22 Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine beside a spring; its branches climb over the wall.23 The archers attacked him, shot at him, and were hostile toward him.
24 Yet his bow remained steady, and his strong arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 by the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, and blessings of the breasts and the womb.
26 The blessings of your father excel the blessings of my ancestors and the bounty of the ancient hills. May they rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince of his brothers.
The Belief
The Apostles' Creed. This is the earliest statement of faith. The earliest written form of this creed is found in a letter that Marcellus of Ancyra wrote in Greek to Julius, the bishop of Rome, about AD 341. Fifty years later, around 390, it started showing up in commentaries and books. This became the creed, the statement of faith, and was recited in church and before water baptisms of new believers.
This creed is not just something to recite. For you to recite it means you must believe. We might be able to recite it and not give it a second thought. But back in those days, if you said this with your lips, that might mean you are accepting the most brutal persecution by the Roman government--the same government who crucified our Christ were persecuting Christians and throwing them to lions to be devoured or taking their corpses, dipping in tar, placing them on a pole to to be the source of light for nighttime parties.
1 Corinthians 12:1–3 (CSB) Now concerning spiritual gifts: brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
If you believe this, know what you are believing. You are believing in Christ for your life.
What does that look like? Let us who this ancient statement of faith and examine it.
I believe
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
In around 400AD, there was a new teaching from the Bible circling around the church from a man named Pelagius. He started to spread the teaching that mankind was not in fact infected, broken, and corrupted by sin of Adam but in fact, we were born free from sin and we only sin due to ongoing bad habits.
To that end, if we can break the bad habits, we can live in freedom from sin.
That sounds amazing accept for one thing: humans cannot break from sin. We can do things that appears good and wholesome on the outside, but inside, in our hearts, will, and minds, we are jacked up as ever.
This is why Christ preached:
Matthew 23:25–28 (CSB)
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity.
28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
And
Matthew 5:21-22 (CSB) “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool! ’ will be subject to hellfire.
What we do on the outside--self-discipline and devotion and abstinence--matter not if the heart has not been swapped out by God himself.
What mankind cannot see--our hearts, wills, minds, souls--must be cleansed by God himself.
The end of Pelagius' teaching was this: if a man could be taught 2+2=4, then man could be taught the gospel and believed and be saved.
But what does the Bible say?
John 6:43-46 (CSB) Jesus answered them, “Stop grumbling among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me — not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father.
For you to believe, God has to draw you to him first. For:
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
And this calling is a work of the Spirit, for:
John 3:3-5 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”“How can anyone be born when he is old? ” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born? ”Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
You must be born again to believe and enter into the kingdom of God.
All the Sunday school. All the conferences. All the Christian private school. All the catechism. All the Bible colleges. All the seminaries. All the books. No matter how many times you read the Bible. It matters not until the Spirit opens your eyes to see the glory of God, for:
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
You know what is the real spectacular amazing truth? If you ask for God, you will get God.
Luke 11:9-13 (CSB) “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
Who gives faith in God? Who gives belief in God? Who gives understanding God? Who gives repentance to God?
If you are reading the Scriptures and cannot understand or you are hearing this and cannot believe, I double dog dare you to ask God for God. Try it. I dare you.
Because Christ himself said that if you ask the Father, he will give you the Holy Spirit.
But check this out: because of what Christ has done, God does not visit for a little while. If you ask God, you get God forever.
If you want to believe, you must ask him.
But can I tell you something? If you have the will to ask God for God, that is a good and holy thing. And not to believe is unholy. If you can ask God for God, rest assure that the Triune God dwells in you.
in God
I love the show Ted Lasso. The premise of the show is simple, "If you want something, you must believe in something." What you believe in has to be something substantial and worthwhile.
I wish that could apply to anything we want to do or achieve. The opposite is quite true: if you don't believe in what you are doing, more than likely, you will not accomplish it. You will more than likely fail.
But just to believe in something won't necessarily make it true. Like I can believe in being a ga-zillionaire but I still have the same provision of God that I have always have. (That is a study for another time.)
But when it comes to absolute things, eternal things, who you do believe does matter because it matters forever.
For the Christian, we believe in God and most importantly, we take him at his word.
Some people do believe in God but pressed on whether or not they will go to heaven, they will usually reply, "Oh, I think I am pretty good person." as if to say, "Why wouldn't God let me in?" But to believe in God is to take him at his word. And to take him at his word means we believe what he has said in the Scriptures. And if we study the Scriptures, we can easily conclude that God does not save you because you were pretty good or not as bad as a mass murderer or this other guy who cheats on his taxes. For:
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
And
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Who we believe is of dire and utmost importance.
If all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, what hope is there for us?
Romans 3:21–24 (CSB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
the Father
Our Father in heaven has sent our only true and real hope, his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God forever and ever.
Everything comes the Father.
The Father sent the Son:
John 5:22-23 (CSB) The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
And you believe and trust the Son, this is what the Father will give to you:
The Father Gives You: the Holy Spirit
John 14:15-17 (CSB) “If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.
And
John 14:26 (CSB) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
The Father Gives You: the Son
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
The Father Gives You: Adoption as His Child
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The Father Gives You: Himself
John 14:23-24 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.
Keep in mind that "the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding" 1. That just means he is not of anything or being sent by someone. He is just simply God and we all come from him and we exist for him.
John 14:11 (CSB) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.
1 Corinthians 8:6 (CSB) yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
Almighty
The Apostles' Creed, of all the things that it says God is, it simply calls him Almighty. Almighty simply means all might or or all strength.
We tend to thing of the strong or even the strongest in the world as being someone of immense strength. But speak to those men and women and they will only tell you how weak they are when they cannot lift a certain weight at the weight they want to lift.
But the Father, with all things proceeding from him, has all the strength. He is Almighty. For:
Psalm 24:1–2 (CSB) The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD; for he laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.
Isaiah 50:2–3 (CSB) Why was no one there when I came? Why was there no one to answer when I called? Is my arm too weak to redeem? Or do I have no power to rescue? Look, I dry up the sea by my rebuke; I turn the rivers into a wilderness; their fish rot because of lack of water and die of thirst. I dress the heavens in black and make sackcloth their covering.
If he has all the power and might, then he alone is completely free to do, for:
Psalm 115:3 (CSB) Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
God has the freedom to do as his will dictates. He is God. In comparison, we, mankind, as his creation who belongs to him, have a will that is free to do what we want but limited. We cannot be 9 feet tall. We cannot sprout wings and fly. We cannot do all things perfectly. And in our brokenness and sin, we cannot ascend to God.
But God knew this. He already knew this. And the Almighty God, maker of heaven, earth, and hell, sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God to us.
When our original parents, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God and sin broken the cosmos, the world, and their hearts, they were ashamed and filled with guilt. They wanted to so badly to cover up their sin. They hid because they did not want God to find them. And they covered themselves with mud and leaves in case God did find them they would be covered.
We do not have the ability, in our flesh, to cover up with our righteousness. Our righteousness is filthy rags in his sight. But God knew that. He sent his Son, in his perfect righteousness, to take on our flesh, so that he could cover us in his righteousness. For:
Isaiah 1:18–19 (CSB) “Come, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land.
And
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We are weak. We cannot cover up ourselves enough to be holy unto God. Yet, God is almighty. He alone was strong enough to come down from glory to take us on in order to save us from our sins.
That is the Almighty God.
The Apostles' Creed: The Creator of Heaven and Earth
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth ,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
Psalm 90:1–3 (CSB)
1 Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation.2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
3 You return mankind to the dust, saying, “Return, descendants of Adam.”
The Belief
That the only true God is the Creator of heaven and earth
Right from the get go
Page 1, Book 1, Chapter 1, Verse 1:
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God the Father, Creator
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- etc.
God did it with nothing
Hebrews 11:1-3 (CSB) Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
Since God is Creator is before all things
Psalms 90:2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Christ is God and therefore, is before all things
Colossians 1:15–17 (CSB)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
John 1:1–5 (CSB)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
That God made us in his image
Genesis 1:26–27 (CSB)
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.
That Christ has made his people in a new creation
John 3:3 (CSB)
3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (CSB)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”
21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Apostles' Creed: Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord :
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
1 Corinthians 12:3 (CSB) Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 6:33 (CSB) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
The Belief
We believe in Jesus Christ
A person with reasonable intelligence can be taught written and reading language. They can be taught math. They can be taught many things.
But I don't care how brilliant you are: you cannot be taught to believe in God.
It does not matter how often you went to church, how many Sunday Schools, Bible colleges, and seminaries you've attended. I don't care how many churches you pastored. I don't care how much you have given to the poor. I don't care what you do.
The fact is for you to believe in God you must be born again.
Here is the greatest news that you will ever receive:
Luke 11:13 (CSB) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
You know why this is bonafide guarantee? Because if you ask the Father for the Holy Spirit, surprise, you have the Holy Spirit. Why? Because of what Christ has done for you and what the Spirit has done in you.
Now that the Triune God has done his work, you now righteously and perfectly desire the things of God. Your heart wants God and you quote Scripture asking God for God. That's because God has put his word in you and sealed you with the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice on this day.
His only Son
The 1689 confesses:
the Son is eternally begotten of the Father
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 8:28-29 (CSB) So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own. But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”
The Gospel of John drips with the most complete, thorough description of the only begotten Son of God the Father.
The Apostle Paul wraps up the Gospel of John in this way:
Colossians 1:15–20 (CSB)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
When we speak of mankind, then a husband and a wife beget a child. You see this in older Bible translations: "Abraham begets Isaac begets Jacob begets Joseph". But reminder that humans are created beings and therefore, by the definition of creation, they have a definite start date. In other words, we are not from eternal past.
When you speak of the Triune God and the word begotten, it is the same yet different. Christ is begotten from the Father. The Father brought about the Son. But Son is always eternal past. So you must say: the Son is eternally begotten from the Father. The Father eternally brought about the Son. That means there was never a time when he was not begotten. He has always been with the Father, living in distinct, perfect, loving, abiding, complete community.
Our Lord
Deuteronomy 6:4–6 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.
The Historic Baptist Confession starts the chapter on God with this: The Lord our God. From his book, Baptist Symbolics Volume 2., Dr. Renihan starts with this sweetest truth,
the paragraph begins with a personalized assertion about God—He is ours.
Renihan. Baptist Symbolics Volume 2. 167
Whatever God wants to reveal about himself to us, it will not be everything about God but it will be truly about God and we, as his people, know him truly. Let the world say what they want about our God. But the maker of the heavens and the earth, the Almighty God, from everlasting to everlasting, belongs to his people. God belongs to me and God belongs to you.
Song of Songs 2:16 For I am my Beloved's and He is mine forever.
God personally belongs to me and I personally belong to him. For:
Exodus 19:5-6 (CSB) Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”
And
Titus 2:11-14 (CSB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
The Apostles' Creed: Jesus Christ, Fully Man
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit ,
born of the Virgin Mary ,
suffered under Pontius Pilate ,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
John 12:32-33 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
The Belief
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 1:18–25 (CSB)
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her
25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
Big facts:
- it was the will of the Father and the power of the Spirit that conceived Jesus Christ within Mary
- the Roman Catholic Church will still teach that Mary is and will forever be a virgin. However, we know from the Bible that Joseph and Mary had at least 6 more children after Jesus:
Mark 6:3 (CSB) Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us? ” So they were offended by him.
born of the Virgin Mary
Why is this so important? Why was it so important for Mary to be a virgin when she conceived Christ?
It was one of the many Messianic prophecies from Isaiah some 400 years before the birth of the Messiah:
Isaiah 7:14 (CSB) Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.
There have been times in church history where it was important that Mary was a virgin or not. One pastor exclaimed, "If we scientifically proved that Mary was not a virgin, then my faith in Christ would not waiver."
To which another pastor replied, "If Mary was not a virgin, that would make God a liar. Which he is not."
This supernatural, Godly, out-of-this-world, almost fantasy-fiction yet absolute, theological fact is a base, primary tenet of the Christian faith.
Believe everything else but this? Congrats, you are not a Christian. You are some historical cult or sect (and not a new disbelief) but you cannot call yourself a Christian.
suffered under Pontius Pilate
So why this is important?
This makes the life and death of Jesus Christ--apart from any other myth or story in history--and historical fact.
The Roman-Greco empire, the greatest empire in history and for all the gods they loved to worship, was a godless, God-hating nation.
Yet, in their history books, state this one fact: Jesus Christ, King of the Jews, suffered under Pontius Pilate.
There will be some hivemind atheists and agnostics who will try to deny the historical Jesus. But to do that would make you look foolish to not only the world but to other sensible atheist.
Attack the Christ from every angle just reinforces Romans 1:18-25. To attack Christ from an historical angle makes you look dumb and stupid.
The Apostles' Creed: Jesus Christ, Crucified
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried .
He descended into hell .The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
1 Corinthians 1:21–25 (CSB) For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
The Belief
was crucified, died, and was buried.
Here is the summation of what it means for the crucified, death, and burial of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:1–11 (CSB)
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
7 since a person who has died is freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him,
9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.
10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Or to put it in one line:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Not when Christ lived on the earth. Not when he was resurrected. But Christ, Son of God, who is God, died on that cross in Golgotha, that was the precise moment that the sins for his people--past, present, and future--were all taken away forever. And therefore his people, that's you and me, were made righteous in the sight of God.
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Make no mistake. God doesn't forgive sin because he says, "Your sins are forgiven--go and sin no more" like some kind of magic spell hocus pocus.
For the forgiveness of sins, there must be the shedding of blood. Without the shedding of blood--without a death for the punishment of sins--there is no forgiveness of sin.
But here's the thing. If I died then I am still not forgiven. My death means nothing towards my holiness and righteousness before God because my life is marked with sin, wickedness and iniquity. I know this because I have broken at least one of God's commands. God's law is holy. We don't get to pick and choose which commands to follow because his law is wholly holy or not holy at all.
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
But because I am in him and he is in me, my sins were placed on the cross more than 2,000 years ago.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I am saved by Christ. I was saved 2,000 years ago. And if Ephesians 1, Romans 8, and the Gospel of John stands correct, then I was saved before Genesis 1:1:
Ephesians 1:4-6 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Upon the cross, where Jesus died, I am made alive, forgiven of all my sins, my the debt and my obligations stripped away, and every single opposition that kept me from God died on that day and brought me into the family of God forever.
Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Let Charles Spurgeon exposit this text:
Let us muse upon the fact that Jesus was conducted without the gates of the city. It was the common place of death. That little rising ground, which perhaps was called Golgotha, the place of a skull, from its somewhat resembling the crown of a man's skull, was the common place of execution. It was one of Death's castles; here he stored his gloomiest trophies; he was the grim lord of that stronghold. Our great hero, the destroyer of Death, bearded the lion in his den, slew the monster in his own castle, and dragged the dragon captive from his own den. Methinks Death thought it a splendid triumph when he saw the Master impaled and bleeding in the dominions of destruction; little did he know that the grave was to be rifled, and himself destroyed, by that crucified Son of man.
Charles Spurgeon. The Procession of Sorrow. Sermon 497. March 1, 1863.
For my sake, I belong to Christ because he died for me:
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
He descended into hell.
To save his people, Christ on the cross was done. But to redeem all of creation aside those who would not trust and obey including Satan and his demons. One last step must take place.
Hosea 13:14 (CSB) I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death. Death, where are your barbs? Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.
Psalms 24:7-10 (CSB)
Lift up your heads, you gates!
Rise up, ancient doors!
Then the King of glory will come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates!
Rise up, ancient doors!
Then the King of glory will come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD of Armies,
he is the King of glory. Selah
Acts 2:24 (CSB) God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death.
Ephesians 4:9-10 (CSB) But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.
Revelation 1:17-18 (CSB) When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Shall what beheld Christ since he has done everything--fixed everything once broken by the first Adam?
Daniel 7:9-14 (CSB) “As I kept watching,
thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was white like snow,
and the hair of his head like whitest wool.
His throne was flaming fire;
its wheels were blazing fire.
A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from his presence.
Thousands upon thousands served him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was convened,
and the books were opened.“I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. I continued watching in the night visions,
and suddenly one like a son of man
was coming with the clouds of heaven.He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
He was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
so that those of every people,
nation, and language
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.
From the decree and the sovereign grace of the Father by the power of the Almighty Spirit, all authority and dominion and power and honor has been given to Christ our Savior. That is why we call him King of kings and Lord of lords.
Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB)
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death —
even to death on a cross.
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow —
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth —
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen
The Apostles' Creed: Jesus Christ, Resurrected
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (CSB) Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
The Belief
The third day He arose again from the dead
John 20:1–18 (CSB)
1 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.2 So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!”
3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb.
4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first.
5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.
7 The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself.
8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed.
9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead.
10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.
11 But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb.
12 She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.
13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”
14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus.
15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.”
17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
Acts 2:29-39 (CSB) “Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.
“God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool.’“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do? ” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
And:
Hebrews 10:11-14 (CSB) Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead
Revelation 20:11 - 21:8 (CSB) Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars — their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Our Response
What has Christ commissioned us to do?
2 Timothy 4:1-5 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The Apostles' Creed: The Holy Spirit, Fully God
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit , the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
John 16:7-15 (CSB) Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.
The Belief
Believe in the Holy Spirit: He is Fully God
- He shares the same attributes of the Father and of the Son
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
Believe in the Holy Spirit: He is Self-Sufficient
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself all- sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.
Believe in the Holy Spirit: Yet, he is not the Father nor the Son
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.
The Apostles' Creed: The Holy Spirit as Christ Revealed
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit , the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
Romans 8:9-11 (CSB) You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
The Belief
Believe in the Holy Spirit: What Christ has said
John 3:3–9 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.
On Christ: The Spirit births us into the Kingdom of God
When Christ said, "You must be born again," make no mistake: you must be born again but you, yourself, cannot born yourself again. Our salvation, seeing the kingdom of God, the understanding of his word--everything--is completely 100% supernatural. No exceptions.
"You must be born again" - treat this like a command and you will fall into despair because this is a command that you and I cannot obey. The unbeliever can fool themselves into thinking that they are obeying God because it seems, on the surface, that they can do the same thing we do: read our Bible, pray, give to the poor, don't kill, steal, destroy. But there is difference that is everything: believers are born of the Spirit of God while unbelievers are born of the flesh. One is in God, the other is in himself. One believes in Christ and lives, the other has the wrath of God abiding on him. One is in the Second Adam; the other is still in the First Adam. There is no muddling between the two.
On Christ: Christ sent to the Spirit to us
John 16:7 (CSB) Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.
Acts 1:4-8 (CSB) While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time? ” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
On Christ: The Spirit will convict the world of three things
John 16:8 (CSB) When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:
On Christ: Only the Spirit can convict of sin
John 16:9 (CSB) About sin, because they do not believe in me;
- Preaching against sin versus conviction of sin
On Christ: Only the Spirit gives us the righteousness of Christ
John 16:10 (CSB) about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me;
Romans 1:17 (CSB) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
On Christ: Only the Spirit has the power to judge the Satan and his demons
John 16:11 (CSB) and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
On Christ: Only the Spirit guides into all truth
John 16:12-13 (CSB) “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
1689.1.5 Inward Work of the Holy Spirit Concerning the Scriptures
On Christ: The Spirit glorifies Christ
John 16:14 (CSB) He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
On Christ: The Spirit gives us everything the Father has given to Christ
John 16:15 (CSB) Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.
Adoption
Romans 8:14-17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father! ” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and coheirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Ministry
John 3:34-35 (CSB) For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.
Intercesssion
Romans 8:26-27 (CSB) In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
The Apostles' Creed: The Holy Catholic Church
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church ,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
Hebrews 12:23 (CSB) to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,
The Belief
The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
The Holy Catholic Church is invisible
Hebrews 12:23 (CSB) to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,
The Holy Catholic Church is headed by Christ--full stop
Colossians 1:18 (CSB) He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
The Holy Catholic Church is the sermon preached to the angels, Satan and demons
Ephesians 3:8-10 (CSB) This grace was given to me — the least of all the saints — to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.
The Holy Catholic Church is the bride of Christ
Ephesians 5:23–32 (CSB) because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Revelation 19:6-9 (CSB) Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying,
Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty,
reigns!
Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.
She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.
Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb! ” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”
Revelation 21:9-11 (CSB) Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Revelation 22:16-17 (CSB) “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come! ” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come! ” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.
The Apostles' Creed: The Communion of Saints
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints , the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
Hebrews 10:24-25 (CSB) And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
The Belief
We Belong to One Another: We are One Body
1 Corinthians 12:26 (CSB) So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Ephesians 1:22-23 (CSB) And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
- American individualism vs. Biblical community
- Does it mean people get to tell me what to do?
- Does it mean that people get to stay up to all hours of the night at your place?
- What does that mean?
We Belong to One Another: Love One Another
John 13:34–35 (CSB) “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Matthew 22:34–40 (CSB) When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Look at this passage: Christ equates loving God with loving your neighbor. The two are inseparable.
If we are called to love one another, then we belong to one another. The world might do its best to love each other but that is where the similarities begin and end there. The world does not belong to one another. We, as the church, belong to one another. And out of the belonging, because of what Christ has done, we get to not only love each other but love our neighbors in the world.
In our ministry and love in that, think of the grace of God and think of us belonging to one another. From there, love each other.
We Belong to One Another: Sit Under the Proclamation of the Word of God
Hebrews 10:24-25 (CSB) And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Acts 2:42 (CSB) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
Acts 20:7 (CSB) On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (CSB) What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.
Colossians 3:16 (CSB) Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
The Apostles' Creed: The Forgiveness of Sins
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins ,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Belief
We Are Forgiven: Christ Has Promised Us
Matthew 9:2 (CSB) Just then some men brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”
John 8:10-11 (CSB) When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? ”
“No one, Lord,” she answered.
“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
He declares it to be true and so it is. Because he made this promise before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:4-6 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
But God is not a being like you or me that will say one thing and never do it. God is the opposite of us in that when he says he will do something, it is done.
When it comes to saving his people from their sins, he has already done it. He sent his Son to us to live and die for us so that we would die and live with him forever.
God is not a God who just speaks. God is the God of Action. He says he will do something by making a covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son and sealed by the Holy Spirit to redeem his people.
Romans 4:20-22 (CSB) He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.
We Are Forgiven: Christ Has Died for Us
Make no mistake
Hebrews 9:22-28 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment — so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Christ has died for our sin because in order to cleanse the sin away, their must be a sacrifice.
That is where even some Christians will balk at the law of God. "Why does someone have to die for one little mistake." But we forget that all have sinned and fallen way, way short of the glory of God. God is holy and pure and untouched by sin and we are infected by sin. He cannot permit sin in his presence.
Yet, at the same time, he must rescue his people.
Since his people have no chance in heaven to get to him on their own, the Father sent his Son to dwell in the flesh, to be the Second Adam, perfectly obeying the covenant of works so that we will all be saved.
We Are Forgiven: Christ Has Saved Us
Romans 10:8-13 (CSB) On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
The Apostles' Creed: The Resurrection of the Body
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body , and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
John 11:25-26 (CSB) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? ”
The Belief
Resurrection of the Body: Essential to the Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (CSB) For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
Resurrection of the Body: Essential to the Faith
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (CSB) Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ — whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.
Resurrection of the Body: Essential to Life
John 11:38-44 (CSB) Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. “Remove the stone,” Jesus said.
Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? ” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice,
“Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
Romans 8:10-11 (CSB) Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
John 12:9-11 (CSB) Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.
Resurrection of the Body: No Fear
Matthew 10:28 (CSB) Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Resurrection of the Body: Rejoice
Luke 10:20 (CSB) However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
The Apostles' Creed: Life Everlasting
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, andlife everlasting .Amen.
The Word
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
The Belief
From the beginning, we were created to live forever
Genesis 1:26 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
Sin broke all of that
Genesis 3:7 (CSB) Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Sin separated us from God
Genesis 3:10 (CSB) And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
We are dead in our trespasses and sins
Ephesians 2:1-2 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.
John 11:11-13 (CSB) He said this, and then he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m on my way to wake him up.” Then the disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well.” Jesus, however, was speaking about his death, but they thought he was speaking about natural sleep.
But God, being rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ
Ephesians 2:4-9 (CSB) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.
Forever
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
Psalm 16:11 (CSB) You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 11:25-26 (CSB) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? ”
The Apostles' Creed: Amen
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Amen .
The Word
Luke 24:44-49 (CSB) He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
The Belief
Taken from the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.2 The Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture, let us examine the promises of God.
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Luke 16:29-31 (CSB) But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”
But there is one who returned from the dead, who breathed out the words of God by the power of the Holy Spirit from the sovereign grace and mercy of God our Father--that is, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has returned from the dead. Will you repent of your sins? Will you trust and believe and live by the words of God? Will you obey the Son of God who is God for your life!
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
2 Peter 1:19 (CSB) We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
John 1:4–5 (CSB) In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts
But it is only dependent on God who wills us to understanding and maturity:
Hebrews 5:11–6:3 (CSB)
11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand.12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.
13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.
14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
1 Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God,
2 teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3 And we will do this if God permits.
Everything that God has said in his word is true
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Chalcedonian Creed
We, then, following the holy fathers,
all with one consent teach men to confess one and the same Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
the same perfect in Godhead
and also perfect in manhood;
truly God and truly man,
of a rational soul and body;
coessential with the Father according to the Godhead,
and consubstantial with us according to the manhood;
in all things like unto us,
without sin;
begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead,
and in these latter days,
for us and for our salvation,
born of the Virgin Mary, the mother of God, according to the manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten,
to be acknowledged in two natures,
without confusion,
without change,
without division,
without separation;
the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved,
and concurring in one person and one subsistence,
not parted or divided into two persons,
but one and the same Son,
and only begotten,
God the Word,
the Lord Jesus Christ;
as the prophets from the beginning have declared concerning Him,
and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us,
and the creed of the holy fathers has handed down to us.
The Athanasian Creed
Whoever desires to be saved should above all hold to the catholic faith.
Anyone who does not keep it whole and unbroken will doubtless perish eternally.
Now this is the catholic faith:
That we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity,
neither blending their persons
nor dividing their essence.
For the person of the Father is a distinct person,
the person of the Son is another,
and that of the Holy Spirit still another.
But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one,
their glory equal, their majesty coeternal.
What quality the Father has, the Son has, and the Holy Spirit has.
The Father is uncreated,
the Son is uncreated,
the Holy Spirit is uncreated.
The Father is immeasurable,
the Son is immeasurable,
the Holy Spirit is immeasurable.
The Father is eternal,
the Son is eternal,
the Holy Spirit is eternal.
And yet there are not three eternal beings;
there is but one eternal being.
So too there are not three uncreated or immeasurable beings;
there is but one uncreated and immeasurable being.
Similarly, the Father is almighty,
the Son is almighty,
the Holy Spirit is almighty.
Yet there are not three almighty beings;
there is but one almighty being.
Thus the Father is God,
the Son is God,
the Holy Spirit is God.
Yet there are not three gods;
there is but one God.
Thus the Father is Lord,
the Son is Lord,
the Holy Spirit is Lord.
Yet there are not three lords;
there is but one Lord.
Just as Christian truth compels us
to confess each person individually
as both God and Lord,
so catholic religion forbids us
to say that there are three gods or lords.
The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten from anyone.
The Son was neither made nor created;
he was begotten from the Father alone.
The Holy Spirit was neither made nor created nor begotten;
he proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Accordingly there is one Father, not three fathers;
there is one Son, not three sons;
there is one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits.
Nothing in this trinity is before or after,
nothing is greater or smaller;
in their entirety the three persons
are coeternal and coequal with each other.
So in everything, as was said earlier,
we must worship their trinity in their unity
and their unity in their trinity.
Anyone then who desires to be saved
should think thus about the trinity.
But it is necessary for eternal salvation
that one also believe in the incarnation
of our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully.
Now this is the true faith:
That we believe and confess
that our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son,
is both God and human, equally.
He is God from the essence of the Father,
begotten before time;
and he is human from the essence of his mother,
born in time;
completely God, completely human,
with a rational soul and human flesh;
equal to the Father as regards divinity,
less than the Father as regards humanity.
Although he is God and human,
yet Christ is not two, but one.
He is one, however,
not by his divinity being turned into flesh,
but by God's taking humanity to himself.
He is one,
certainly not by the blending of his essence,
but by the unity of his person.
For just as one human is both rational soul and flesh,
so too the one Christ is both God and human.
He suffered for our salvation;
he descended to hell;
he arose from the dead;
he ascended to heaven;
he is seated at the Father's right hand;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
At his coming all people will arise bodily
and give an accounting of their own deeds.
Those who have done good will enter eternal life,
and those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.
This is the catholic faith:
one cannot be saved without believing it firmly and faithfully.
1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith With Scripture Proofs
Table of Contents
- Prelude
- Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures
- 1.1 The Holy Scriptures
- 1.2 The Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture
- 1.3 The Apocrypha of Holy Scripture
- 1.4 The Authority of Holy Scripture
- 1.5 The Inward Work of the Holy Spirit Concerning Holy Scripture
- 1.6 The Whole Counsel of God Within Holy Scripture
- 1.7 The Clarity of Scripture for Salvation
- 1.8 The Inspiration of God on Holy Scripture
- 1.9 The Interpretation of Holy Scripture
- 1.10 The Infallibility of Holy Scripture
- Chapter 2: Of God and of the Holy Trinity
- Chapter 3: Of God's Decree
- Chapter 4: Of Creation
- Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence
- Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, Of Sin, And of the Punishment Thereof
- Chapter 7: Of God's Covenant
- Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator
- Chapter 9: Of Free Will
- Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling
- Chapter 11: Of Justification
- 11.1 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Righteousness
- 11.2 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Faith
- 11.3 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Son
- 11.4 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Spirit
- 11.5 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Eternity
- 11.6 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Saves All
- Chapter 12: Of Adoption
- Chapter 13: Of Sanctification
- Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith
- Chapter 15: Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
- Chapter 16: Of Good Works
- Chapter 17: Of The Perseverance of the Saints
- Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
- Chapter 19: Of the Law of God
- Chapter 20: Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
- Chapter 21: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
- Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
- Chapter 23: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
- Chapter 24: Of the Civil Magistrate
- Chapter 25: Of Marriage
- Chapter 26: Of the Church
- Chapter 27: Of the Communion of Saints
- Chapter 28: Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
- Chapter 29: Of Baptism
- Chapter 30: Of the Lord's Supper
- Chapter 31: Of the State of Man after Death and Of the Resurrection of the Dead
- Chapter 32: Of the Last Judgment
- Closing Statement & Signatories
Prelude
Adopted by the Ministers and Messengers of the general assembly which met in London in 1689
Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures
1.1 The Holy Scriptures
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
2 Timothy 3:15–17 (CSB) and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Isaiah 8:20 (CSB) Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.
Luke 16:29 (CSB) “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
Luke 16:31 (CSB) “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
Ephesians 2:20 (CSB) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
Romans 1:19–21 (CSB) since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
Romans 2:14 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.
Romans 2:15 (CSB) They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them
Psalm 19:1–3 (CSB) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
Hebrews 1:1 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
Proverbs 22:19–21 (CSB) I have instructed you today—even you— so that your confidence may be in the LORD.Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report to those who sent you?
Romans 15:4 (CSB) For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
2 Peter 1:19–20 (CSB) We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation,
1.2 The Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomen, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
2 Timothy 3:16 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
1.3 The Apocrypha of Holy Scripture
The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.
Luke 24:27–44 (CSB) Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures. They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. “Why are you troubled?” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Romans 3:2 (CSB) Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.
1.4 The Authority of Holy Scripture
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
2 Peter 1:19–21 (CSB) We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
1 John 5:9 (CSB) If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son.
1.5 The Inward Work of the Holy Spirit Concerning Holy Scripture
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
John 16:13–14 (CSB) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
1 Corinthians 2:10–12 (CSB) Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
1 John 2:20–27 (CSB) But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well. What you have heard from the beginning is to remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life. I have written these things to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in him.
1.6 The Whole Counsel of God Within Holy Scripture
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word, and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (CSB) But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Galatians 1:8–9 (CSB) But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
John 6:45 (CSB) It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—
1 Corinthians 2:9–12 (CSB) But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him. Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
1 Corinthians 11:13–14 (CSB) Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace to him,
1 Corinthians 14:26–40 (CSB) What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only? If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything is to be done decently and in order.
1.7 The Clarity of Scripture for Salvation
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
2 Peter 3:16 (CSB) He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
Psalm 19:7 (CSB) The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
Psalm 119:130 (CSB) The revelation of your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.
1.8 The Inspiration of God on Holy Scripture
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
Romans 3:2 (CSB) Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.
Isaiah 8:20 (CSB) Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.
Acts 15:15 (CSB) And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
John 5:39 (CSB) You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.
1 Corinthians 14:6–28 (CSB) So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding. Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the outsider say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. It is written in the law, I will speak to this people by people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to me, says the Lord. Speaking in tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all. The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.” What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God.
Colossians 3:16 (CSB) Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
1.9 The Interpretation of Holy Scripture
The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.
2 Peter 1:20–21 (CSB) Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 15:15–16 (CSB) And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again,
1.10 The Infallibility of Holy Scripture
The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.
Matthew 22:29–32 (CSB) Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
Ephesians 2:20 (CSB) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
Acts 28:23 (CSB) After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
Chapter 2: Of God and of the Holy Trinity
2.1 The Attributes of God
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
1 Corinthians 8:4–6 (CSB) About eating food sacrificed to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Jeremiah 10:10 (CSB) But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at his wrath, and the nations cannot endure his fury.
Isaiah 48:12 (CSB) “Listen to me, Jacob, and Israel, the one called by me: I am he; I am the first, I am also the last.
Exodus 3:14 (CSB) God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
John 4:24 (CSB) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”
1 Timothy 1:17 (CSB) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Deuteronomy 4:15–16 (CSB) “Diligently watch yourselves—because you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb—so you don’t act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form,
Malachi 3:6 (CSB) “Because I, the LORD, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
1 Kings 8:27 (CSB) But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built.
Jeremiah 23:23 (CSB) “Am I a God who is only near”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“and not a God who is far away?
Psalm 90:2 (CSB) Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Genesis 17:1 (CSB) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless.
Isaiah 6:3 (CSB) And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth.
Psalm 115:3 (CSB) Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Proverbs 16:4 (CSB) The LORD has prepared everything for his purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Romans 11:36 (CSB) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Exodus 34:6–7 (CSB) The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Nehemiah 9:32 (CSB) So now, our God—the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant— do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the Assyrian kings until today.
Nehemiah 9:33 (CSB) You are righteous concerning all that has happened to us, because you have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly.
Psalm 5:5 (CSB) The boastful cannot stand in your sight; you hate all evildoers.
Psalm 5:6 (CSB) You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors violent and treacherous people.
Exodus 34:7 (CSB) maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
Nahum 1:2–3 (CSB) The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The LORD takes vengeance against his foes; he is furious with his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.
2.2 The Sufficiency of God
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself all- sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.
John 5:26 (CSB) For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself.
Psalm 148:13 (CSB) Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted. His majesty covers heaven and earth.
Psalm 119:68 (CSB) You are good, and you do what is good; teach me your statutes.
Job 22:2 (CSB) Can a man be of any use to God? Can even a wise man be of use to him?
Job 22:3 (CSB) Does it delight the Almighty if you are righteous? Does he profit if you perfect your behavior?
Romans 11:34–36 (CSB) For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Daniel 4:25 (CSB) You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals. You will feed on grass like cattle and be drenched with dew from the sky for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants.
Daniel 4:34 (CSB) But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified him who lives forever: For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.
Daniel 4:35 (CSB) All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
Hebrews 4:13 (CSB) No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
Ezekiel 11:5 (CSB) Then the Spirit of the LORD came on me, and he told me, “You are to say, ‘This is what the LORD says: That is what you are thinking, house of Israel; and I know the thoughts that arise in your mind.
Acts 15:15–18 (CSB) And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by my name— declares the Lord who makes these things known from long ago.
Psalm 145:17 (CSB) The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all his acts.
Revelation 5:12–14 (CSB) They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
2.3 The Triune God
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.
1 John 5:7–10 (CSB) For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement. If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son.
Matthew 28:19 (CSB) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
2 Corinthians 13:13 (CSB) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Exodus 3:14 (CSB) God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
John 14:11 (CSB) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.
1 Corinthians 8:6 (CSB) yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
John 1:14–18 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
John 15:26 (CSB) “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me.
Galatians 4:6 (CSB) And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
Chapter 3: Of God's Decree
3.1 The Sovereignty of God
God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Ephesians 1:11 (CSB) In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
Hebrews 6:17 (CSB) Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,
Romans 9:15–18 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
James 1:13 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
1 John 1:5 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.
Acts 4:27–28 (CSB) “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place.
John 19:11 (CSB) “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
Numbers 23:19 (CSB) God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?
Ephesians 1:3–5 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
3.2 The Decretive Will of God
Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
Acts 15:15–18 (CSB) And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by my name— declares the Lord who makes these things known from long ago.
Romans 9:11–18 (CSB) For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau. What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
3.3 The Predestination & Foreordination of God
By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.
1 Timothy 5:21 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
Matthew 25:34 (CSB) Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:6 (CSB) to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Romans 9:22 (CSB) And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction?
Romans 9:23 (CSB) And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—
Jude 4 (CSB) For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
3.4 The Certainty of God When It Comes To His People
These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
2 Timothy 2:19 (CSB) Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
John 13:18 (CSB) “I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me.
3.5 The Election of God
Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
Ephesians 1:4–11 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (CSB) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 9:13 (CSB) As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
Romans 9:16 (CSB) So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
Ephesians 2:5–12 (CSB) made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.
3.6 The Free Purpose of the Will of God
As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
1 Peter 1:2 (CSB) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 (CSB) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
1 Peter 1:5 (CSB) You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
John 10:26 (CSB) But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep.
John 17:9 (CSB) “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.
John 6:64 (CSB) But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.)
3.7 The Mercies of God
The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 1:4 (CSB) For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,
1 Thessalonians 1:5 (CSB) because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit,
2 Peter 1:10 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.
Ephesians 1:6 (CSB) to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Romans 11:33 (CSB) Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!
Romans 11:5–20 (CSB) In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace. Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace. What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day. And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually. I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if I might somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them. For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree, do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware,
Luke 10:20 (CSB) However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Chapter 4: Of Creation
4.1 The Manifestation of the Glory of God
In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.
John 1:2–3 (CSB) He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Hebrews 1:2 (CSB) In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Job 26:13 (CSB) By his breath the heavens gained their beauty; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.
Romans 1:20 (CSB) For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
Colossians 1:16 (CSB) For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
Genesis 1:31 (CSB) God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.
4.2 The Imagebearers of God
After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.
Genesis 1:27 (CSB) So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.
Genesis 2:7 (CSB) Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (CSB) Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.”
Genesis 1:26 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
Romans 2:14–15 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them
Genesis 3:6 (CSB) The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
4.3 The Law of God
Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.
Genesis 2:17 (CSB) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Genesis 1:26–28 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”
Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence
5.1 The Governance of All Things
God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
Hebrews 1:3 (CSB) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Job 38:11 (CSB) when I declared, “You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here”?
Isaiah 46:10–11 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for my purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.
Psalm 135:6 (CSB) The LORD does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.
Matthew 10:29–31 (CSB) Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Ephesians 1:11 (CSB) In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
5.2 The Causes of All Things
Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.
Acts 2:23 (CSB) Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.
Proverbs 16:33 (CSB) The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Genesis 8:22 (CSB) As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
5.3 The Freedom of God
God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at his pleasure.
Acts 27:31–44 (CSB) Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away. When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing. So I urge you to take some food. For this is for your survival, since none of you will lose a hair from your head.” After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and after he broke it, he began to eat. They all were encouraged and took food themselves. In all there were 276 of us on the ship. When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea. When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could. After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach. But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape. But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore.
Isaiah 55:10–11 (CSB) For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
Hosea 1:7 (CSB) But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by the LORD their God. I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war, or by horses and cavalry.
Romans 4:19–21 (CSB) He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.
Daniel 3:27 (CSB) When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.
5.4 The Goodness of God
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.
Romans 11:32–34 (CSB) For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
2 Samuel 24:1 (CSB) The LORD’s anger burned against Israel again, and he stirred up David against them to say, “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.”
1 Chronicles 21:1 (CSB) Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel.
2 Kings 19:28 (CSB) Because your raging against me and your arrogance have reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth; I will make you go back the way you came.
Psalm 76 (CSB) For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song. God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel. His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. There he shatters the bow’s flaming arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah You are resplendent and majestic coming down from the mountains of prey. The brave-hearted have been plundered; they have slipped into their final sleep. None of the warriors was able to lift a hand. At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both chariot and horse lay still. And you—you are to be feared. When you are angry, who can stand before you? From heaven you pronounced judgment. The earth feared and grew quiet when God rose up to judge and to save all the lowly of the earth. Selah Even human wrath will praise you; you will clothe yourself with the wrath that remains. Make and keep your vows to the LORD your God; let all who are around him bring tribute to the awe-inspiring one. He humbles the spirit of leaders; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
Psalm 10 (CSB) LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide in times of trouble? In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims; let them be caught in the schemes they have devised. For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings; the one who is greedy curses and despises the LORD. In all his scheming, the wicked person arrogantly thinks, “There’s no accountability, since there’s no God.” His ways are always secure; your lofty judgments have no effect on him; he scoffs at all his adversaries. He says to himself, “I will never be moved— from generation to generation I will be without calamity.” Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice are under his tongue. He waits in ambush near settlements; he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless; he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket. He lurks in order to seize a victim; he seizes a victim and drags him in his net. So he is oppressed and beaten down; helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength. He says to himself, “God has forgotten; he hides his face and will never see.” Rise up, LORD God! Lift up your hand. Do not forget the oppressed. Why has the wicked person despised God? He says to himself, “You will not demand an account.” But you yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into your hands. The helpless one entrusts himself to you; you are a helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked, evil person, until you look for his wickedness, but it can’t be found. The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully, doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more.
Genesis 1:20 (CSB) Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”
Isaiah 10:6–12 (CSB) I will send him against a godless nation; I will command him to go against a people destined for my rage, to take spoils, to plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets. But this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations. For he says, “Aren’t all my commanders kings? Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus? As my hand seized the kingdoms of worthless images, kingdoms whose idols exceeded those of Jerusalem and Samaria, and as I did to Samaria and its worthless images will I not also do to Jerusalem and its idols?” But when the Lord finishes all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for his arrogant acts and the proud look in his eyes.”
Psalm 1:6 (CSB) For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
1 John 2:16 (CSB) For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.
5.5 The Discipline of God
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good.
2 Chronicles 32:25–31 (CSB) However, because his heart was proud, Hezekiah didn’t respond according to the benefit that had come to him. So there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart—he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—so the LORD’s wrath didn’t come on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime. Hezekiah had abundant riches and glory, and he made himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and every desirable item. He made warehouses for the harvest of grain, new wine, and fresh oil, and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and pens for flocks. He made cities for himself, and he acquired vast numbers of flocks and herds, for God gave him abundant possessions. This same Hezekiah blocked the upper outlet of the water from the Gihon Spring and channeled it smoothly downward and westward to the city of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything he did. When the ambassadors of Babylon’s rulers were sent to him to inquire about the miraculous sign that happened in the land, God left him to test him and discover what was in his heart.
2 Corinthians 12:7–9 (CSB) especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
Romans 8:28 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
5.6 The Rendering of God
As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening of others.
Romans 1:24–28 (CSB) Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.
Romans 11:7–8 (CSB) What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.
Deuteronomy 29:4 (CSB) Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
Matthew 13:12 (CSB) For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Deuteronomy 2:30 (CSB) But King Sihon of Heshbon would not let us travel through his land, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to hand him over to you, as has now taken place.
2 Kings 8:12–13 (CSB) and Hazael asked, “Why is my lord weeping?” He replied, “Because I know the evil you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their fortresses on fire. You will kill their young men with the sword. You will dash their children to pieces. You will rip open their pregnant women.” Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog, do such a mighty deed?” Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”
Psalm 81:11–12 (CSB) “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel did not obey me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans.
2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (CSB) and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.
Exodus 8:15–32 (CSB) But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron: Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the land, and it will become gnats throughout the land of Egypt.” And they did this. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and when he struck the dust of the land, gnats were on people and animals. All the dust of the land became gnats throughout the land of Egypt. The magicians tried to produce gnats using their occult practices, but they could not. The gnats remained on people and animals. “This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. The LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh when you see him going out to the water. Tell him: This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. But if you will not let my people go, then I will send swarms of flies against you, your officials, your people, and your houses. The Egyptians’ houses will swarm with flies, and so will the land where they live. But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where my people are living; no flies will be there. This way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.” And the LORD did this. Thick swarms of flies went into Pharaoh’s palace and his officials’ houses. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go sacrifice to your God within the country.” But Moses said, “It would not be right to do that, because what we will sacrifice to the LORD our God is detestable to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what the Egyptians detest in front of them, won’t they stone us? We must go a distance of three days into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he instructs us.” Pharaoh responded, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but don’t go very far. Make an appeal for me.” “As soon as I leave you,” Moses said, “I will appeal to the LORD, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. But Pharaoh must not act deceptively again by refusing to let the people go and sacrifice to the LORD.” Then Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the LORD. The LORD did as Moses had said: He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people; not one was left. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not let the people go.
Isaiah 6:9–10 (CSB) And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.
1 Peter 2:7–8 (CSB) So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone, and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
5.7 The Latitude of God
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.
1 Timothy 4:10 (CSB) For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Amos 9:8–9 (CSB) Look, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will obliterate it from the face of the earth. However, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob— this is the LORD’s declaration— for I am about to give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations, as one shakes a sieve, but not a pebble will fall to the ground.
Isaiah 43:3–5 (CSB) For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior. I have given Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place. Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you, I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west.
Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, Of Sin, And of the Punishment Thereof
6.1 The Fall of Mankind
Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof, yet he did not long abide in this honour; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given unto them, in eating the forbidden fruit, which God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory.
Genesis 2:16–17 (CSB) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Genesis 3:12–13 (CSB) The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
2 Corinthians 11:3 (CSB) But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
6.2 The Death of Mankind
Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
Titus 1:15 (CSB) To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled.
Genesis 6:5 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,
Jeremiah 17:9 (CSB) The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?
Romans 3:10–19 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.
6.3 The Corruption of Mankind
They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.
Romans 5:12–19 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:21–49 (CSB) For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death. For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them? Why are we in danger every hour? I face death every day, as surely as I may boast about you, brothers and sisters, in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus as a mere man, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Come to your senses and stop sinning; for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame. But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the body that will be, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. But God gives it a body as he wants, and to each of the seeds its own body. Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; in fact, one star differs from another star in splendor. So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. Like the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; like the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Psalm 51:5 (CSB) Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Job 14:4 (CSB) Who can produce something pure from what is impure? No one!
Ephesians 2:3 (CSB) We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
Romans 6:20 (CSB) For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
Hebrews 2:14–15 (CSB) Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 (CSB) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
6.4 The Inclination of Mankind
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
Romans 8:7 (CSB) The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.
Colossians 1:21 (CSB) Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.
James 1:14–15 (CSB) But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
Matthew 15:19 (CSB) For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.
6.5 The Nature of Mankind
The corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.
Romans 7:18 (CSB) For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
Romans 7:23 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (CSB) There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.
1 John 1:8 (CSB) If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Romans 7:23–25 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
Chapter 7: Of God's Covenant
7.1 The Infiniteness of Righteousness
The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.
Luke 17:10 (CSB) In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’ ”
Job 35:7–8 (CSB) If you are righteous, what do you give him, or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness, a son of man.
7.2 The Covenant of Grace
Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace, wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.
Genesis 2:17 (CSB) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Galatians 3:10 (CSB) For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.
Romans 3:20–21 (CSB) For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law. But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.
Romans 8:3 (CSB) For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,
Mark 16:15–16 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Ezekiel 36:26–27 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
John 6:44–45 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—
Psalm 110:3 (CSB) Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
7.3 The Preaching of the First Gospel
This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman, and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was completed in the New Testament; and it is founded in that eternal covenant transaction that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption of the elect; and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all the posterity of fallen Adam that ever were saved did obtain life and blessed immortality, man being now utterly incapable of acceptance with God upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of innocency.
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Hebrews 1:1 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Titus 1:2 (CSB) in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:13 (CSB) These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
Romans 4:1–2 (CSB) What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God.
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
John 8:56 (CSB) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator
8.1 The Pleasure of God
It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them both, to be the mediator between God and man; the prophet, priest, and king; head and saviour of the church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world; unto whom he did from all eternity give a people to be his seed and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
Isaiah 42:1 (CSB) “This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations.
1 Peter 1:19–20 (CSB) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.
Acts 3:22 (CSB) Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to everything he tells you.
Hebrews 5:5–6 (CSB) In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, also says in another place, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Psalm 2:6 (CSB) “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
Luke 1:33 (CSB) He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
Ephesians 1:22–23 (CSB) And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Hebrews 1:2 (CSB) In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Acts 17:31 (CSB) because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Isaiah 53:10 (CSB) Yet the LORD was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the LORD’s pleasure will be accomplished.
John 17:6 (CSB) “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
8.2 The Son of God
The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father's glory, of one substance and equal with him who made the world, who upholdeth and governeth all things he hath made, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures; so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Galatians 4:4 (CSB) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Romans 8:3 (CSB) For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,
Hebrews 2:14–17 (CSB) Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 4:15 (CSB) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Matthew 1:22–23 (CSB) Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
Luke 1:27–35 (CSB) to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Romans 9:5 (CSB) The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen.
1 Timothy 2:5 (CSB) For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
8.3 The Son of Man
The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, in the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell, to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be throughly furnished to execute the office of mediator and surety; which office he took not upon himself, but was thereunto called by his Father; who also put all power and judgement in his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.
Psalm 45:7 (CSB) You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.
Acts 10:38 (CSB) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him.
John 3:34 (CSB) For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure.
Colossians 2:3 (CSB) In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 1:19 (CSB) For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
Hebrews 7:26 (CSB) For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Hebrews 7:22 (CSB) Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Hebrews 5:5 (CSB) In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father,
John 5:22–27 (CSB) The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
Matthew 28:18 (CSB) Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Acts 2:36 (CSB) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
8.4 The Cross of Christ
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake, which that he might discharge he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have borne and suffered, being made sin and a curse for us; enduring most grievous sorrows in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no corruption: on the third day he arose from the dead with the same body in which he suffered, with which he also ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession, and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.
Psalm 40:7–8 (CSB) Then I said, “See, I have come; in the scroll it is written about me. I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me.”
Hebrews 10:5–10 (CSB) Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said: You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said, “See— it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, God.” After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
John 10:18 (CSB) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Galatians 4:4 (CSB) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Matthew 3:15 (CSB) Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.
Galatians 3:13 (CSB) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.
Isaiah 53:6 (CSB) We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished him for the iniquity of us all.
1 Peter 3:18 (CSB) For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Matthew 26:37–38 (CSB) Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”
Luke 22:44 (CSB) Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Matthew 27:46 (CSB) About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
Acts 13:37 (CSB) but the one God raised up did not decay.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (CSB) For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
John 20:25–27 (CSB) So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”
Mark 16:19 (CSB) So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Acts 1:9–11 (CSB) After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”
Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Hebrews 9:24 (CSB) For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.
Acts 10:42 (CSB) He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.
Romans 14:9–10 (CSB) Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living. But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
Acts 1:11 (CSB) They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”
2 Peter 2:4 (CSB) For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment;
8.5 The Slaying of the Lamb
The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of God, procured reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him.
Hebrews 9:14 (CSB) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?
Hebrews 10:14 (CSB) For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
Romans 3:25–26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
John 17:2 (CSB) since you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.
Hebrews 9:15 (CSB) Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
8.6 The Eternalness of the Messiah
Although the price of redemption was not actually paid by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the elect in all ages, successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the seed which should bruise the serpent's head; and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, being the same yesterday, and to-day and for ever.
1 Corinthians 4:10 (CSB) We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
Hebrews 4:2 (CSB) For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith.
1 Peter 1:10–11 (CSB) Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
Revelation 13:8 (CSB) All those who live on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.
Hebrews 13:8 (CSB) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
8.7 The Two Natures of Jesus
Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture, attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.
John 3:13 (CSB) No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
Acts 20:28 (CSB) Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.
8.8 The Work of the Lord
To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same, making intercession for them; uniting them to himself by his Spirit, revealing unto them, in and by his Word, the mystery of salvation, persuading them to believe and obey, governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit, and overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation; and all of free and absolute grace, without any condition foreseen in them to procure it.
John 6:37 (CSB) Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
John 10:15–16 (CSB) just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.
John 17:9 (CSB) “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.
Romans 5:10 (CSB) For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
John 17:6 (CSB) “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Ephesians 1:9 (CSB) He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ
1 John 5:20 (CSB) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Romans 8:9–14 (CSB) You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you. So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.
Psalm 110:1 (CSB) This is the declaration of the LORD to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”
1 Corinthians 15:25–26 (CSB) For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death.
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Ephesians 1:8 (CSB) that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
8.9 The Office of the Mediator
This office of mediator between God and man is proper only to Christ, who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof, transferred from him to any other.
1 Timothy 2:5 (CSB) For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
8.10 The Prophet, Priest and King
This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
Colossians 1:21 (CSB) Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
John 16:8 (CSB) When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:
Psalm 110:3 (CSB) Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
Luke 1:74–75 (CSB) since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.
Chapter 9: Of Free Will
9.1 The Freedom of the Will
God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.
Matthew 17:12 (CSB) “But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
James 1:14 (CSB) But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (CSB) I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,
9.2 The Power of the Will
Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well- pleasing to God, but yet was unstable, so that he might fall from it.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (CSB) Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.”
Genesis 3:6 (CSB) The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
9.3 The Bondage of the Will
Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.
Romans 5:6 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 8:7 (CSB) The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.
Ephesians 2:1–5 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Titus 3:3–5 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
John 6:44 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
9.4 The Rescue of the Will
When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he doth not perfectly, nor only will, that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.
Colossians 1:13 (CSB) He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
John 8:36 (CSB) So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
Philippians 2:13 (CSB) For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
Romans 7:15–23 (CSB) For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me. So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me. For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
9.5 The Glorification of the Will
This will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the state of glory only.
Ephesians 4:13 (CSB) until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling
10.1 The Calling of God: At Us
Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 11:7 (CSB) What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,
Ephesians 1:10–11 (CSB) as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:1–6 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
Acts 26:18 (CSB) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Ephesians 1:17–18 (CSB) I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Ezekiel 36:26 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Deuteronomy 30:6 (CSB) The LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.
Ezekiel 36:27 (CSB) I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Ephesians 1:19 (CSB) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.
Psalm 110:3 (CSB) Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
Song of Solomon 1:4 (CSB) Take me with you—let’s hurry. Oh, that the king would bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and be glad in you; we will celebrate your caresses more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.
10.2 The Calling of God: Independent of Us
This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit; he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Ephesians 2:8 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
1 Corinthians 2:14 (CSB) But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
Ephesians 2:5 (CSB) made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
John 5:25 (CSB) “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Ephesians 1:19–20 (CSB) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—
10.3 The Calling of God: Outside of Us
Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and how he pleases; so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.
John 3:3–8 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
10.4 The Calling of God: Not By Us
Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that receive not the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.
Matthew 22:14 (CSB) “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 13:20–21 (CSB) And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Hebrews 6:4–5 (CSB) For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age,
John 6:44–65 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father. “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” At that, the Jews argued among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, because my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna your ancestors ate—and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?” Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
1 John 2:24–25 (CSB) What you have heard from the beginning is to remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life.
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
John 4:22 (CSB) You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews.
John 17:3 (CSB) This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ.
Chapter 11: Of Justification
11.1 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Righteousness
Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.
Romans 3:24 (CSB) they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 4:5–8 (CSB) But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness. Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the person the Lord will never charge with sin.
Ephesians 1:7 (CSB) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (CSB) It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption —in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
Romans 5:17–19 (CSB) If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Philippians 3:8–9 (CSB) More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.
Ephesians 2:8–10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
John 1:12 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
Romans 5:17 (CSB) If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
11.2 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Faith
Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.
Romans 3:28 (CSB) For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Galatians 5:6 (CSB) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.
James 2:17–26 (CSB) In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
11.3 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Son
Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due unto them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in their behalf; yet, inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them, their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.
Hebrews 10:14 (CSB) For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
1 Peter 1:18–19 (CSB) For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.
Isaiah 53:5–6 (CSB) But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished him for the iniquity of us all.
Romans 8:32 (CSB) He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Romans 3:26 (CSB) God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Ephesians 1:6 (CSB) to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Ephesians 1:7 (CSB) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
Ephesians 2:7 (CSB) so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
11.4 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Spirit
God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification; nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.
Galatians 3:8 (CSB) Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.
1 Peter 1:2 (CSB) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
1 Timothy 2:6 (CSB) who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
Romans 4:25 (CSB) He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Colossians 1:21 (CSB) Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.
Colossians 1:22 (CSB) But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—
Titus 3:4–7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
11.5 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Eternity
God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure; and in that condition they have not usually the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
Matthew 6:12 (CSB) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
1 John 1:7–9 (CSB) If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
John 10:28 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.
Psalm 89:31–33 (CSB) if they dishonor my statutes and do not keep my commands, then I will call their rebellion to account with the rod, their iniquity with blows. But I will not withdraw my faithful love from him or betray my faithfulness.
Psalm 32:5 (CSB) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Psalm 51 (CSB) For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Matthew 26:75 (CSB) and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
11.6 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Saves All
The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.
Galatians 3:9 (CSB) Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.
Romans 4:22–24 (CSB) Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Chapter 12: Of Adoption
All those that are justified, God vouchsafed, in and for the sake of his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, have his name put upon them, receive the spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry Abba, Father, are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by him as by a Father, yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption, and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Galatians 4:4–5 (CSB) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
John 1:12 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
Romans 8:17 (CSB) and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
2 Corinthians 6:18 (CSB) And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
Revelation 3:12 (CSB) “The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God—and my new name.
Romans 8:15 (CSB) For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
Galatians 4:6 (CSB) And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
Ephesians 2:18 (CSB) For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Psalm 103:13 (CSB) As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
Proverbs 14:26 (CSB) In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge.
1 Peter 5:7 (CSB) casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.
Hebrews 12:6 (CSB) for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives.
Isaiah 54:8–9 (CSB) In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but I will have compassion on you with everlasting love,” says the LORD your Redeemer. “For this is like the days of Noah to me: when I swore that the water of Noah would never flood the earth again, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.
Lamentations 3:31 (CSB) For the Lord will not reject us forever.
Ephesians 4:30 (CSB) And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.
Hebrews 1:14 (CSB) Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?
Hebrews 6:12 (CSB) so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Chapter 13: Of Sanctification
13.1 What God Does: The Father Conforms Us
They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts of it are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Acts 20:32 (CSB) “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
Romans 6:5–6 (CSB) For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
John 17:17 (CSB) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Ephesians 3:16–19 (CSB) I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:21–23 (CSB) but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:14 (CSB) For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
Galatians 5:24 (CSB) Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (CSB) So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Hebrews 12:14 (CSB) Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.
Colossians 1:11 (CSB) being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully
13.2 What God Does: The Christ Lived and Died for Us
This sanctification is throughout the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abides still some remnants of corruption in every part, wherefrom arises a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (CSB) Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 7:18 (CSB) For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
Romans 7:23 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
1 Peter 2:11 (CSB) Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.
13.3 What God Does: The Spirit Makes Us Fully Alive
In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part does overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in his Word has prescribed to them.
Romans 7:23 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
Romans 6:14 (CSB) For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
Ephesians 4:15–16 (CSB) But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (CSB) We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (CSB) So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith
14.1 What God Gives: The Grace of Faith
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened.
2 Corinthians 4:13 (CSB) And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak.
Ephesians 2:8 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
Romans 10:14–17 (CSB) How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Luke 17:5 (CSB) The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
1 Peter 2:2 (CSB) Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation,
Acts 20:32 (CSB) “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
14.2 What God Gives: The Promise in His Word
By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority of God himself, and also apprehendeth an excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world, as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth thus believed; and also acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come; but the principal acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
Acts 24:14 (CSB) But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.
Psalm 27:7–10 (CSB) LORD, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me. My heart says this about you: “Seek his face.” LORD, I will seek your face. Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or abandon me, God of my salvation. Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD cares for me.
Psalm 119:72 (CSB) Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
2 Timothy 1:12 (CSB) and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.
John 14:14 (CSB) If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Isaiah 66:2 (CSB) My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. This is the LORD’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at my word.
Hebrews 11:13 (CSB) These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
John 1:12 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
Acts 16:31 (CSB) They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Acts 15:11 (CSB) On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
14.3 What God Gives: The Infinite Might of His Salvation
This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 5:13–14 (CSB) Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Matthew 6:30 (CSB) If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?
Romans 4:19–20 (CSB) He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
2 Peter 1:1 (CSB) Simeon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:16 (CSB) In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
1 John 5:4–5 (CSB) because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. Who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Hebrews 6:11–12 (CSB) Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Colossians 2:2 (CSB) I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ.
Hebrews 12:2 (CSB) keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Chapter 15: Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
15.1 God Gives More: Repentance
Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life.
Titus 3:3–7 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
15.2 God Gives More: Renewal
Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations; God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (CSB) There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.
Luke 22:31–32 (CSB) “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
15.3 God Gives More: Spirit
This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
Zechariah 12:10 (CSB) “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for him as one weeps for a firstborn.
Acts 11:18 (CSB) When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”
Ezekiel 36:31 (CSB) “ ‘You will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and detestable practices.
2 Corinthians 7:11 (CSB) For consider how much diligence this very thing—this grieving as God wills—has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure in this matter.
Psalm 119:6 (CSB) Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all your commands.
Psalm 119:128 (CSB) I carefully follow all your precepts and hate every false way.
15.4 God Gives More: Ongoing
As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.
Luke 19:8 (CSB) But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.”
1 Timothy 1:13–15 (CSB) even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.
15.5 God Gives More: Preservation
Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation; that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Isaiah 1:16–18 (CSB) “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. “Come, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.
Isaiah 55:7 (CSB) Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive.
Chapter 16: Of Good Works
16.1 God Gives Abundantly: Goodness
Good works are only such as God has commanded in his Holy Word, and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intentions.
Micah 6:8 (CSB) Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Hebrews 13:21 (CSB) equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 15:9 (CSB) They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands.”
Isaiah 29:13 (CSB) The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.
16.2 God Gives Abundantly: Christ
These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.
James 2:18 (CSB) But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.
James 2:22 (CSB) You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete,
Psalm 116:12–13 (CSB) How can I repay the LORD for all the good he has done for me? I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
1 John 2:3 (CSB) This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.
1 John 2:5 (CSB) But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him:
2 Peter 1:5–11 (CSB) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
Matthew 5:16 (CSB) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
1 Timothy 6:1 (CSB) All who are under the yoke as slaves should regard their own masters as worthy of all respect, so that God’s name and his teaching will not be blasphemed.
1 Peter 2:15 (CSB) For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.
Philippians 1:11 (CSB) filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Ephesians 2:10 (CSB) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Romans 6:22 (CSB) But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life!
16.3 God Gives Abundantly: Spirit
Their ability to do good works is not all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them and to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet they are not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.
John 15:4–5 (CSB) Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.
2 Corinthians 3:5 (CSB) It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.
Philippians 2:13 (CSB) For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12 (CSB) Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Hebrews 6:11–12 (CSB) Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Isaiah 64:7 (CSB) No one calls on your name, striving to take hold of you. For you have hidden your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity.
16.4 God Gives Abundantly: Truly
They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.
Job 9:2–3 (CSB) Yes, I know what you’ve said is true, but how can a person be justified before God? If one wanted to take him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times.
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
Luke 17:10 (CSB) In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’ ”
16.5 God Gives Abundantly: Salvation
We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because they are good they proceed from his Spirit, and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s punishment.
Romans 3:20 (CSB) For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 4:6 (CSB) Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Galatians 5:22–23 (CSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Psalm 43:2 (CSB) For you are the God of my refuge. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?
16.6 God Gives Abundantly: Righteousness
Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God’s sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
1 Peter 1:5 (CSB) You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Matthew 25:21 (CSB) “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
Matthew 25:23 (CSB) “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
Hebrews 6:10 (CSB) For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.
16.7 God Gives Abundantly: Grace
Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and to others; yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the Word, nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therfore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive the grace from God, and yet their neglect for them is more sinful and displeasing to God.
2 Kings 10:30 (CSB) Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in my heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”
1 Kings 21:27 (CSB) When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued.
1 Kings 21:29 (CSB) “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime, because he has humbled himself before me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.”
Genesis 4:5 (CSB) but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
Hebrews 11:4 (CSB) By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
1 Corinthians 13:1 (CSB) If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Matthew 6:2 (CSB) So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
Matthew 6:5 (CSB) “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
Amos 5:21–22 (CSB) I hate, I despise, your feasts! I can’t stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. Even if you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.
Romans 9:16 (CSB) So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
Titus 3:5 (CSB) he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Job 21:14–15 (CSB) Yet they say to God, “Leave us alone! We don’t want to know your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him, and what will we gain by pleading with him?”
Matthew 25:41–43 (CSB) “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.
Chapter 17: Of The Perseverance of the Saints
17.1 Our God Saves: By His Power
Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
John 10:28–29 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
Philippians 1:6 (CSB) I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:19 (CSB) Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
1 John 2:19 (CSB) They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.
Psalm 89:31–32 (CSB) if they dishonor my statutes and do not keep my commands, then I will call their rebellion to account with the rod, their iniquity with blows.
1 Corinthians 11:32 (CSB) but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world.
Malachi 3:6 (CSB) “Because I, the LORD, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
17.2 Our God Saves: By His Will
This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 9:11–16 (CSB) For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau. What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
Romans 5:9–10 (CSB) How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
John 14:19 (CSB) In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too.
Hebrews 6:17–18 (CSB) Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.
1 John 3:9 (CSB) Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because his seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God.
Jeremiah 32:40 (CSB) “I will make a permanent covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put fear of me in their hearts so they will never again turn away from me.
17.3 Our God Saves: All in His Son
And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
Matthew 26:70–74 (CSB) But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!” And again he denied it with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You really are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.” Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed,
Isaiah 64:5–9 (CSB) You welcome the one who joyfully does what is right; they remember you in your ways. But we have sinned, and you were angry. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins? All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. No one calls on your name, striving to take hold of you. For you have hidden your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity. Yet LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we all are the work of your hands. LORD, do not be terribly angry or remember our iniquity forever. Please look—all of us are your people!
Ephesians 4:30 (CSB) And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.
Psalm 51:10–12 (CSB) God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
Psalm 32:3–4 (CSB) When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah
2 Samuel 12:14 (CSB) However, because you treated the LORD with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”
Luke 22:32–62 (CSB) But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” “Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.” He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Not a thing,” they said. Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: And he was counted among the lawless. Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.” “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.” “That is enough!” he told them. He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? Every day while I was with you in the temple, you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour—and the dominion of darkness.” They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance. They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.” But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.” After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.” “Man, I am not!” Peter said. About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
18.1 Here is Love: Certainly Assured by Christ
Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.
Job 8:13–14 (CSB) Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish. His source of confidence is fragile; what he trusts in is a spider’s web.
Matthew 7:22–23 (CSB) On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
1 John 2:3 (CSB) This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.
1 John 3:14–24 (CSB) We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows all things. Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight. Now this is his command: that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he has given us.
1 John 5:13 (CSB) I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Romans 5:2–5 (CSB) We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
18.2 On the Mount of Crucifixion: We Are Washed Clean by the Blood of Christ
This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God; and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy.
Hebrews 6:11–19 (CSB) Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
Hebrews 6:17–18 (CSB) Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.
2 Peter 1:4–11 (CSB) By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
Romans 8:15–16 (CSB) For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,
1 John 3:1–3 (CSB) See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him. Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.
18.3 Let Me All Thy Love Accepting: The Spirit is Given Freely to Us in Christ
This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it; yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto: and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; -so far is it from inclining men to looseness.
Isaiah 50:10 (CSB) Who among you fears the LORD and listens to his servant? Who among you walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.
Psalm 88 (CSB) A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out before you day and night. May my prayer reach your presence; listen to my cry. For I have had enough troubles, and my life is near Sheol. I am counted among those going down to the Pit. I am like a man without strength, abandoned among the dead. I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom you no longer remember, and who are cut off from your care. You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit, in the darkest places, in the depths. Your wrath weighs heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah You have distanced my friends from me; you have made me repulsive to them. I am shut in and cannot go out. My eyes are worn out from crying. LORD, I cry out to you all day long; I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise you? Selah Will your faithful love be declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Abaddon? Will your wonders be known in the darkness or your righteousness in the land of oblivion? But I call to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer meets you. LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me? From my youth, I have been suffering and near death. I suffer your horrors; I am desperate. Your wrath sweeps over me; your terrors destroy me. They surround me like water all day long; they close in on me from every side. You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me; darkness is my only friend.
Psalm 77:1–12 (CSB) I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. I sought the Lord in my day of trouble. My hands were continually lifted up all night long; I refused to be comforted. I think of God; I groan; I meditate; my spirit becomes weak. Selah You have kept me from closing my eyes; I am troubled and cannot speak. I consider days of old, years long past. At night I remember my music; I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders. “Will the Lord reject forever and never again show favor? Has his faithful love ceased forever? Is his promise at an end for all generations? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Selah So I say, “I am grieved that the right hand of the Most High has changed.” I will remember the LORD’s works; yes, I will remember your ancient wonders. I will reflect on all you have done and meditate on your actions.
1 John 4:13 (CSB) This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
Hebrews 6:11–12 (CSB) Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Romans 5:1–5 (CSB) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 14:17 (CSB) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 119:32 (CSB) I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding.
Romans 6:1 (CSB) What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?
Romans 6:2 (CSB) Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Titus 2:11–14 (CSB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
18.4 In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: We Can Never Be Separate From The Love of God in Christ
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light, yet are they never destitute of the seed of God and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived, and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.
Song of Solomon 5:2–6 (CSB) I was sleeping, but my heart was awake. A sound! My love was knocking! Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. For my head is drenched with dew, my hair with droplets of the night. I have taken off my clothing. How can I put it back on? I have washed my feet. How can I get them dirty? My love thrust his hand through the opening, and my feelings were stirred for him. I rose to open for my love. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt. I opened to my love, but my love had turned and gone away. My heart sank because he had left. I sought him, but did not find him. I called him, but he did not answer.
Psalm 51:8–14 (CSB) Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Psalm 116:11 (CSB) In my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”
Psalm 77:7–8 (CSB) “Will the Lord reject forever and never again show favor? Has his faithful love ceased forever? Is his promise at an end for all generations?
Psalm 31:22 (CSB) In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to you for help.
Psalm 30:7 (CSB) LORD, when you showed your favor, you made me stand like a strong mountain; when you hid your face, I was terrified.
1 John 3:9 (CSB) Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because his seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God.
Luke 22:32 (CSB) But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Psalm 42:5–11 (CSB) Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God. I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your billows have swept over me. The LORD will send his faithful love by day; his song will be with me in the night— a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?” My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they say to me, “Where is your God?” Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.
Lamentations 3:26–31 (CSB) It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young. Let him sit alone and be silent, for God has disciplined him. Let him put his mouth in the dust— perhaps there is still hope. Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with disgrace. For the Lord will not reject us forever.
Chapter 19: Of the Law of God
God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.
Genesis 1:27; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:10-12
The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables, the four first containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man.
Romans 2:14-15; Deuteronomy 10:4
Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties, all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation, are, by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only law-giver, who was furnished with power from the Father for that end abrogated and taken away.
Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Colossians 2:14-17; Ephesians 2:14-16
To them also he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that institution; their general equity only being of moral use.
1 Corinthians 9:8-10
The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof, and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither doth Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.
Romans 13:8-10; James 2:8-12; James 2:10-11; Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 3:31
Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned, yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts, and lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against, sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to shew what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse and unallayed rigour thereof. The promises of it likewise shew them God's approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works; so as man's doing good and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law and not under grace.
Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16; Romans 8:1; Romans 10:4; Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7-25; Romans 6:12-14; 1 Peter 3:8-13
Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done.
Galatians 3:21; Ezekiel 36:27
Chapter 20: Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance; in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and is therein effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.
Genesis 3:15; Revelation 13:8
This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God; neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way; much less that men destitute of the revelation of Him by the promise or gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.
Romans 1:17; Romans 10:14,15,17; Proverbs 29:18; Isaiah 25:7; Isaiah 60:2-3
The revelation of the gospel unto sinners, made in divers times and by sundry parts, with the addition of promises and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the nations and persons to whom it is granted, is merely of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God; not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it, which none ever did make, or can do so; and therefore in all ages, the preaching of the gospel has been granted unto persons and nations, as to the extent or straitening of it, in great variety, according to the counsel of the will of God.
Psalms 147:20; Acts 16:7; Romans 1:18-32
Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life; without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.
Psalms 110:3; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 1:19-20; John 6:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6
Chapter 21: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigour and curse of the law, and in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin, from the evil of afflictions, the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave, and ever- lasting damnation: as also in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and willing mind. All which were common also to believers under the law for the substance of them; but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke of a ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church was subjected, and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.
Galatians 3:13; Galatians 1:4; Acts 26:18; Romans 8:3; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Romans 8:15; Luke 1:73-75; 1 John 4:18; Galatians 3:9-14; John 7:38-39; Hebrews 10:19-21
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his word, or not contained in it. So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring of an implicit faith, an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason also.
James 4:12; Romans 14:4; Acts 4:19-29; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Matthew 15:9; Colossians 2:20-23; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 1:24
They who upon pretence of Christian liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinful lust, as they do thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the gospel to their own destruction, so they wholly destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righeousness before Him, all the days of our lives.
Romans 6:1-2; Galatians 5:13; 2 Peter 2:18-21
Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
The light of nature shews that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and doth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.
Jeremiah 10:7; Mark 12:33; Deuteronomy 12:32; Exodus 20:4-6
Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him alone; not to angels, saints, or any other creatures; and since the fall, not without a mediator, nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.
Matthew 4:9-10; John 6:23; Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:25; Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5
Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men. But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, according to his will; with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known tongue.
Psalms 95:1-7; Psalms 65:2; John 14:13-14; Romans 8:26; 1 John 5:14; 1 Corinthians 14:16-17
Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.
1 Timothy 2:1-2; 2 Samuel 7:29; 2 Samuel 12:21-23; 1 John 5:16
The reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord's supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.
1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2; Luke 8:18; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12; Exodus 15:1-19; Psalms 107
Neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the gospel, tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth; as in private families daily, and in secret each one by himself; so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God by his word or providence calleth thereunto.
John 4:21; Malachi 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:8; Acts 10:2; Matthew 6:11; Psalms 55:17; Matthew 6:6; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42
As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the
world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's day: and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.
Exodus 20:8; 1 Corinthians 16:1,-2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10
The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.
Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Matthew 12:1-13
Chapter 23: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth, and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof.
Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 10:20; Jeremiah 4:2; 2 Chronicles 6:22-23
The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred; yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken.
Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12; Hebrews 6:16; 2 Corinthians 1:23; Nehemiah 13:25
Whosoever taketh an oath warranted by the Word of God, ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be truth; for that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns.
Leviticus 19:12; Jeremiah 23:10
An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation.
Psalms 24:4
A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness; but popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.
Psalms 76:11; Genesis 28:20-22; 1 Corinthians 7:2-9; Ephesians 4:28; Matthew 19:11
Chapter 24: Of the Civil Magistrate
God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for his own glory and the public good; and to this end hath armed them with the power of the sword, for defence and encouragement of them that do good, and for the punishment of evil doers.
Romans 13:1-4
It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate when called there unto; in the management whereof, as they ought especially to maintain justice and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each kingdom and commonwealth, so for that end they may lawfully now, under the New Testament wage war upon just and necessary occasions.
2 Samuel 23:3; Psalms 82:3-4; Luke 3:14
Civil magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid; subjection, in all lawful things commanded by them, ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake; and we ought to make supplications and prayers for kings and all that are in authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.
Romans 13:5-7; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Chapter 25: Of Marriage
Marriage is to be between one man and one woman; neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.
Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5,6
Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and the preventing of uncleanness.
Genesis 2:18; Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 7:2-9
It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent; yet it is the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord; and therefore such as profess the true religion, should not marry with infidels, or idolaters; neither should such as are godly, be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresy.
Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Nehemiah 13:25-27
Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity, forbidden in the Word; nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful, by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.
Leviticus 18; Mark 6:18; 1 Corinthians 5:1
Chapter 26: Of the Church
The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Hebrews 12:23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:10-23; Ephesians 5:23-32
All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it, not destroying their own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or unholiness of conversation, are and may be called visible saints; and of such ought all particular congregations to be constituted. ( 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 11:26; Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:20-22
The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan; nevertheless Christ always hath had, and ever shall have a kingdom in this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe in him, and make profession of his name.
1 Corinthians 5; Revelation 2; Revelation 3; Revelation 18:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12; Matthew 16:18; Psalms 72:17; Psalm 102:28; Revelation 12:17
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-9
In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.
John 10:16; John 12:32; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 18:15-20
The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.
Romans. 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 5:13-14; 2 Corinthians 9:13
To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he hath given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.
Matthew 18:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8
A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers
and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons.
Acts 20:17-28; Philippians 1:1
The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein; and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.
Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:3-6
The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in his churches, in the ministry of the word and prayer, with watching for their souls, as they that must give an account to Him; it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to communicate to them of all their good things according to their ability, so as they may have a comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in secular affairs; and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards others; and this is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; Galatians 6:6-7; 2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:6-14
Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches, to be instant in preaching the word, by way of office, yet the work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform it.
Acts 11:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10-11
As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.
Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:2-3
As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.
Ephesians 6:18; Psalms 122:6; Romans 16:1-2; 3 John 8-10
In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration, wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace, union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do, by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advice in or about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not intrusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers.
Acts 15:2-25; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 John 4:1
Chapter 27: Of the Communion of Saints
All saints that are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith, although they are not made thereby one person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory; and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.
1 John 1:3; John 1:16; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5-6; Ephesians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14; Romans 1:12; 1 John 3:17-18; Galatians 6:10
Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things according to their several abilities, and necessities; which communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein they stand, whether in families, or churches, yet, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended to all the household of faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus; nevertheless their communion one with another as saints, doth not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
Hebrews 10:24-25; Hebrews 3:12-13; Acts 11:29-30; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Corinthians 12:14-27; Acts 5:4; Ephesians 4:28
Chapter 28: Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution, appointed by the Lord Jesus, the only lawgiver, to be continued in his church to the end of the world.
Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26
These holy appointments are to be administered by those only who are qualified and thereunto called, according to the commission of Christ.
Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 4:1
Chapter 29: Of Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2;12; Galatians 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4
Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.
Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36-37; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8
The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:38
Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.
Matthew 3:16; John 3:23
Chapter 30: Of the Lord's Supper
The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night wherein he was betrayed, to be observed in his churches, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death, confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and growth in him, their further engagement in, and to all duties which they owe to him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16-21
In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the quick or dead, but only a memorial of that one offering up of himself by himself upon the cross, once for all; and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God for the same. So that the popish sacrifice of the mass, as they call it, is most abominable, injurious to Christ's own sacrifice the alone propitiation for all the sins of the elect.
Hebrews 9:25-28; 1 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26-27
The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his ministers to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to a holy use, and to take and break the bread; to take the cup, and, they communicating also themselves, to give both to the communicants.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
The denial of the cup to the people, worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and reserving them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of this ordinance, and to the institution of Christ.
Matthew 26:26-28; Matthew 15:9; Exodus 20:4-5
The outward elements in this ordinance, duly set apart to the use ordained by Christ, have such relation to him crucified, as that truly, although in terms used figuratively, they are sometimes called by the names of the things they represent, to wit, the body and blood of Christ, albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.
1 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians 11:26-28
That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ's body and blood, commonly called transubstantiation, by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason, overthroweth the nature of the ordinance, and hath been, and is, the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries.
Acts 3:21; Luke 14:6-39; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25
Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this ordinance, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death; the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally, but spiritually present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses.
1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ, so are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot, without great sin against him, while they remain such, partake of these holy
mysteries, or be admitted thereunto; yea, whosoever shall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment to themselves.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15; 1 Corinthians 11:29; Matthew 7:6
Chapter 31: Of the State of Man after Death and Of the Resurrection of the Dead
The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are received into paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day; besides these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23; Jude 6-7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23-24
At the last day, such of the saints as are found alive, shall not sleep, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none other; although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Job 19:26-27; 1 Corinthians 15:42-43
The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.
Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; Philippians 3:21
Chapter 32: Of the Last Judgment
God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ; to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.
Acts 17:31; John 5:22-27; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10-12; Matthew 25:32-46
The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments, and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Romans 9:22-23; Matthew 25:21-34; 2 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity, so will he have the day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may ever be prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7; Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40; Revelation 22:20
Closing Statement & Signatories
We the MINISTERS, and MESSENGERS of, and concerned for upwards of, one hundred BAPTIZED CHURCHES, in England and Wales (denying Arminianisim), being met together in London, from the third of the seventh month to the eleventh of the same, 1689, to consider of some things that might be for the glory of God, and the good of these congregations, have thought meet (for the satisfaction of all other Christians that differ from us in the point of Baptism) to recommend to their perusal the confession of our faith, which confession we own, as containing the doctrine of our faith and practice, and do desire that the members of our churches respectively do furnish themselves therewith.
Hansard Knollys, Pastor, Broken Wharf, London
William Kiffin, Pastor, Devonshire-square, London
John Harris, Pastor, Joiner's Hall, London
William Collins, Pastor, Petty France, London
Hurcules Collins, Pastor, Wapping, London
Robert Steed, Pastor, Broken Wharf, London
Leonard Harrison, Pastor, Limehouse, London
George Barret, Pastor, Mile End Green, London
Isaac Lamb, Pastor, Pennington-street, London
Richard Adams, Minister, Shad Thames, Southwark
Benjamin Keach, Pastor, Horse-lie-down, Southwark
Andrew Gifford, Pastor, Bristol, Frvars, Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Vaux, Pastor, Broadmead, Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Winnel, Pastor, Taunton, Som. & Glouc.
James Hitt, Preacher, Dalwood, Dorset
Richard Tidmarsh, Minister, Oxford City, Oxon
William Facey, Pastor, Reading, Berks
Samuel Buttall, Minister, Plymouth,
Devon Christopher Price, Minister, Abergayenny, Monmouth
Daniel Finch, Minister, Kingsworth, Herts
John Ball, Tiverton, Devon
Edmond White, Pastor, Evershall, Bedford
William Prichard, Pastor, Blaenau, Monmouth
Paul Fruin, Minister, Warwick, Warwick
Richard Ring, Pastor, Southhampton, Hants
John Tomkins, Minister, Abingdon, Berks
Toby Willes, Pastor, Bridgewater, Somerset
John Carter, Steventon, Bedford
James Webb, Devizes, Wilts
Richard Sutton, Pastor, Tring, Herts
Robert Knight, Pastor, Stukeley, Bucks
Edward Price, Pastor, Hereford City, Hereford
William Phipps, Pastor, Exon, Devon
William Hawkins, Pastor, Dimmock, Gloucester
Samuel Ewer, Pastor, Hemstead, Herts
Edward Man, Pastor, Houndsditch, London
Charles Archer, Pastor, Hock-Norton, Oxon
In the name of and on the behalf of the whole assembly.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
I am brand new to Historical Christian Confessions. So why Confessional and why the Westminster Confession of Faith before settling on the 1689? To answer that is to give the long answer.
I was born into a family with some of the most depraved men you'll ever met married to some of the most Godly women you have ever met.
My grandfather up and left my grandma to be with some other chick in Arizona. While adultery and abandonment within covenant vows before the Holy God is a dime a dozen in our day and age, in the 50s & 60s, it was pretty shocking. My grandma ended up packing up the station wagon and snatching his butt back to Texas, you can only guess how much that impacted his impressionable young sons, who were just coming of age in the midst of what we now call the Sexual Revolution.
Adultery? Abandonment? Followed up with pornography, multiple partners, and legalized abortions. My dad, Baby Boomer, became a man in a time when the world so desperately tried to re-write the rules for sex--because if sex is a good thing, why not get as much as you can while you can. And our society has been on a greased slippery slide to hell ever since.
Addicted to Porn? Try working in porn so you can get more porn. That is my story and testimony.
God, in his perfect timing, would snatch the hearts of all three men--and I have no doubt it was on the praying knees of my faithful grandmother, Frances. My mom was a devout Christian but she ended up abandoning me and my brother to leave my violent, abusive, sexual addicted, perverse husband.
2 Timothy 1:5 (CSB) I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
Fast-forward my life some time later, through marriages, divorces, porn addictions, working in porn and all of that, God saved me. In the midst of my sorrow, sin, and depravity, God saved me. And by God's grace and in his provision of the internet, I got to meet so many other Christians outside of AoG. Oh my heart. Oh what joy.
I feel like I became Calvinist before I met any other Calvinist or Reformed. But once I went all in the doctrines of grace, I got to meet my Confessional brothers and sisters: Presbyterian, Reformed Baptist, and Anglican among others. In public, there wasn't a lot of talk about confessional but amongst themselves, the often referred to the Westminster, 1689, Three Forms of Unity and Thirty-Nine Articles were constantly mentioned. And I am over here going, "wut?"
I didn't grow up liturgical or in high church. I didn't grow up reciting creeds or catechism. But every time I did, my heart jump with joy because I got to do the same thing that the people of God got to do for centuries. Those are my brothers and sisters. I wanna see what they do because we are both family.
So, for no other reason, I picked the Westminster because of my wonderful friends in the Presbyterian Church of America. And I may not baptize babies, I understand what they are doing and why they do it and could go as far to defend their doctrinal position when it came to sprinkling water on infants.
I started this exposition right before moving to Kentucky. When the KY move was being planned, I thought, "Perhaps this is God's grace for me to move into another denomination?" because there were no Acts 29 churches in Lexington.
And if I had my druthers, I don't see why I would go to a non-denomination generic evangelical church. Why would I not start out with Reformed.
So I did.
An Anglican, Presbyterian, and oddly enough, a church that started as Calvary Chapel.
The Anglican and the Presbyterian churches were nice. But this "Calvary Chapel" church called themselves, "Creedal, Confessional, and adhering to the Five Solas". That doesn't sound like typical Calvary Chapel.
And they were not. Turns out, they were moving away from their Calvary Chapel connection and heading towards 1689 Confessional.
And this is the church we landed. And it is so wonderful. The best part: they don't need me. I get to sit under the preaching of God's word. And they do Bible Study--like I didn't have to start a Bible Study. We study the Bible together and not on our own.
So now, I am attempting, as a layperson, to exposit the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession.
The Resources
Usually when I give resources recommendations, I would say, one or twice a month, I would refer to those resources just to see what other teachers say on the matter and to make sure I am not going off the rails.
When it comes to studying not in my wheelhouse, I will confess to you today, I am going to lean on these resources hard. Like, almost like a crutch. I will unapologetically borrow (aka copy) from these resources.
Of course, I am not a heathen: where I copy word for word, I will footnote it with the quickness.
(Including in each post within the WCF series will be a listing of these resources. Just assume I will be using them with every single post and episode.)
But I do have to divvy these resources up into two categories--which is not split up in the way you think it will be.
It Goes Without Saying
Specifically
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I am starting to lean towards this particular Study Bible because RC Sproul teaches and references historical creeds, confessions, and catechisms in his study notes. Truly succinct and helpful.
Generally
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Books
The Creedal Imperative
by Carl Trueman.
Crossway. 2012.
Goodreads
At the time of this post, I have yet to read through this. But when I popped on r/Reformed and asked for a few good resources, this book was overwhelmingly recommended.
I will read this through as we are going through the series.
All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism.
James E. Dolezal.
Reformation Heritage Books. 2017.
Goodreads
Sources
Site: Doctrine & Devotion
The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
with Scriptural References
Commentaries
Calvin's Commentaries.
John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
Expositions
The truth that there isn't a lot out there. First, get this little book as a handout for your congregation:
The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689: Or the Second London Confession with Scripture Proofs
by Peter Masters.
Wakeman Trust. January 1, 1981.
Goodreads
By God's great provision, within the next few months, two will be dropping. One from James Renihan:
To the Judicious and Impartial Reader: Baptist Symbolics Volume 2.
by James Renihan.
Founders Press. 2022.
Goodreads
And then a new exposition on the 1689 dropping in January from Rob Ventura:
A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689
by Rob Ventura.
Mentor. January 17, 2023.
Amazon
In the meantime, this Modern Exposition from Samuel Waldron was used as a textbook for his class in seminary:
Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith.
by Samuel E. Waldron.
Evangelical Press. 2013.
Goodreads
Annnnnnnd that's it. One book hard to get, one on the 1644 (for Particular Baptists--which I am not one) and two books that have not dropped.
What do you do?
I will then take the Westminster Exposition from R.C. Sproul and the WCF from Banner of Truth and let the good times roll. Also, the Creedal Imperative is a must have.
Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith
by R.C. Sproul.
Reformation Trust Publishing. 2019.
Goodreads
Do you know me? Have you been on this website for longer than a second? Will I always use an R.C. Sproul book if possible? Absolutely yes.
In my humble opinion, Dr. Sproul was one of the greatest Bible teachers of my generation. I have read his commentaries cover to cover. I have studied through his Philosophy courses at Ligonier. When he spoke, I did my best to listen.
His ministry has had the greatest impact on my Christian life. What I love is that he is a Presbyterian and I am a Reformed Baptist. We don't agree on everything but at a distance, I am certainly mentored and shaped by him.
And in God's great grace, this book was released shortly after his death. This book all but confirmed my unction that I should study the Confessions. I would not have this series without his work and his influence on my life.
The Westminster Confession: The Confession of Faith, The Larger and Shorter Catechism
The Westminster Divines.
Banner of Truth. 2018.
Goodreads
How I did come to discover this book? My wife would say I do spend a lot of money and time on the Banner of Trust website. To which I would confess, "I haven't bought every book. I still have thousands left to purchase." One day. Oh, one fine day.
This particular book caught my attention for nothing else but the description, "Biblical References are given in full."
Oh, when it comes to books, I have more than a few hot takes. Number one, endnotes are of the devil and end all be all proof the total depravity of man. Seriously, book publishers, you want more of my money? I would happily spend $5 more on the same book for footnotes instead of endnotes. And if you stick a gun to my head and made me choose, I rather have no notes than endnotes. They suck my soul dry.
Number two hot take: why on earth would you not just list the full Biblical reference. Not just in book but in church's websites, wherever. I remember landing at my last wonderful church, Frontline Church in Oklahoma City. Since I wanted to be a member, I pull down all the resources and materials, including their Doctrine of Statement.
"Beautiful", I thought, "I know where they stand on any statement." Open that PDF up and... complete deflation. They mention the Bible passages but just the location.
So I took the time to redesign and added full Biblical references. To make it work, I had to use three columns of text.
So when I saw the full Biblical references on this resource for the Westminster Confession, I instantly handed over some cash and got this wonderful resource in my hands. Sit and read it with me. You will not be disappointed.
Theology
The Cross of Christ.
John R.W. Stott. 2006.
Goodreads
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
John Owen.
Banner of Truth. 2007.
Goodreads
No Condemnation in Christ Jesus: As Unfolded in the Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
Octavius Winslow.
Banner of Trust. 1991.
Goodreads
On the Incarnation.
Athanasius of Alexandria.
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. 1977.
Goodreads
All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism.
James E. Dolezal.
Reformation Heritage Books. 2017.
Goodreads
Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition.
John Calvin. Robert White (Translator).
Banner of Truth. 2014.
Goodreads
Reformed Dogmatics.
Herman Bavinck, John Bolt (Editor), John Vriend (Translator).
Baker Academic. 2003.
Goodreads
The Wonderful Works of God.
Herman Bavinck.
Westminster Seminary Press. 2019.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Louis Berkhof.
Eerdmans. 1996.
Goodreads
God is Love.
Gerald L. Bray.
Crossway. 2012.
Goodreads
The Existence and Attributes of God, Volume 1-2.
Stephen Charnock, Mark Jones (Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Charles Hodge.
Hendrickson Academic. 1999.
Goodreads
The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way.
Michael S. Horton.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
The Complete Works.
John Owen, Lee Gatiss (Series Editor), Shawn D. Wright (Series Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Knowing God.
J.I. Packer.
Crossway. 2023.
Goodreads
The Works of John Wesley.
John Wesley.
Beacon Hill Press. 1978.
Goodreads
Chapter 1 Of the Holy Scriptures
1.1 The Holy Scriptures
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
1.2 The Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomen, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
1.3 The Apocrypha of Holy Scripture
The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.
1.4 The Authority of Holy Scripture
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
1.5 The Inward Work of the Holy Spirit Concerning Holy Scripture
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
1.6 The Whole Counsel of God Within Holy Scripture
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word, and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
1.7 The Clarity of Scripture for Salvation
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
1.8 The Inspiration of God on Holy Scripture
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
1.9 The Interpretation of Holy Scripture
The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.
1.10 The Infallibility of Holy Scripture
The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.1 The Holy Scriptures
The Text
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. For
who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him?But we have the mind of Christ.
The Chapter
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
The Confession
I am coming into the study with a few expectations. One of which is that I am 99.999999% sure I am not going to disagree with any article. And right out the gate, none of these points really grinds my gears.
Lets walk through the points:
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable
Romans 2:14–15 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them
Romans 1:18-20 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
Psalm 19:1–3 (CSB) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
Romans 1:32 (CSB) Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
Romans 2:1 (CSB) Therefore, every one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.
In an CNN Red Chair Interview, Richard Dawkins was asked what would he say if he met God after his death:
What's going to happen when I die, if I met god in the unlikely event after I died, I think the first thing I would say is well, which one are you? Are you Zeus? Are you Thor? Are you Baal? Are you Mithras? Are you Yahweh? Which god are you?
Which is a bit peculiar, to say the least. But that bit of banter with the Holy Almighty God is leading up to what Dawkins really wants to ask:
And why did you take such great pains to conceal yourself and to hide away from us?
Richard Dawkins. CNN Red Chair Interview. September 5, 2012. CNN
But God didn't. Not even close. I would even give Mr. Dawkins a fair shake if Christ came in as a nobody and left as a nobody and then all of sudden myth after myths started coming up about some son of a carpenter in Palestinian Middle East some 2000 years ago.
Christ came in as a nobody yet, the entire basis of the Jewish faith prophesied that this was to be start. Starting with Genesis and ending with Malachi. Over 200 prophecies about the upcoming Messiah.
Christ, born of a virgin, into a know-nothing family, in a know-nothing back-country town of Bethlehem.
Isaiah 53:1-2 (CSB) Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him.
Before he began his ministry, no one knew who he was. And you say, "What about his family? Mary, Joseph, and his siblings?" And in the midst of Christ's preaching ministry, his own flesh and blood try to shush him away for saying "crazy things" because He was the Son of God.
Don't believe God. Sure. Don't believe Jesus is the Son of God? Okay. But no one, semi-educated, semi-read, could deny the historical Jesus.
Since Jesus is real, then what he said, documented by his followers and the Greco-Roman Empire, is what you have to deal with.
How we deal with what Christ said is sin indwelling in each of us--all of the children of Adam. God has made it plainly known but in each of our unrighteousness, we suppress the plain and general knowledge of God.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
We are without excuse
yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation
1 Corinthians 1:21 (CSB) For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.
1 Corinthians 2:12–14 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
Think of all the things that God has freely given us: life, provision, his word, his Son, his Spirit.
But think on this:
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.
What is the free gift? Grace? Faith? Salvation? Yes. Then answer is yes.
For you to know and embrace the salvation of God, God must first give you a new heart and His Spirit and not a moment before:
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church
Hebrews 1:1 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
Don't be put off by the old-school word, 'sundry'. The CSB translates it as 'different'.
It is hard to imagine this for some but when God spoke to the prophets, he didn't do so continuously nor did he do it all in one setting.
Take the prophet, Jeremiah, and look at the verse ones of every chapter:
- "The word of the LORD came to me"
- "The Lord says"
- "The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah..."
Jeremiah went about his business. Living his life. Waited on the Lord to speak. Not all at one time but when God chose to speak so that Jeremiah could preach to Judah and the nations surrounding Israel.
It was never on our time. When things are quiet, chill, when we are not that busy, when it is convenient for us, when we are in dire straights, in a full out panic, when we are in a pickle and we need God to say something.
God speaks when he wants to speak. Maybe it will be day after day. Or it might be hundreds of years. That is his prerogative.
And you might think that stinks. But hold on. Keep your britches on. I got some good news.
and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing
Proverbs 22:19–21 (CSB) I have instructed you today—even you— so that your confidence may be in the LORD. Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge, in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report to those who sent you?
Luke 1:3–4 (CSB) So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.
Romans 15:4 (CSB) For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
Matthew 4:4–10 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”
Isaiah 8:19–20 (CSB) When they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the spiritists who chirp and mutter,” shouldn’t a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.
You want to know something that should blow your mind?
Romans 1:16 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
Look at the verse carefully. Does it say "the information about the gospel is the power of God for salvation" or does it say, "the gospel is the power of God for salvation?"
God was going to save his people from their sins. The people were too weak to save themselves. But God himself will come to save him. That is when the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, to live and die as we ought but failed to do so. If you believe what Christ says, repent your sins to him, and trust in Him, you shall be saved. End of the story. Nothing more. Nothing less. That is the gospel.
And yet the gospel was not an object that was to be held and pass down for generations. It was not like the royal family that Christ had to marry a woman and his wife birth a child and that child begat a child where the gospel must continue on like a king and would die if the king had no heir. Surely, Christ is the son of David but when Christ was born, that was it. End of the line. The Perfect King has come. The throne of the kingdom of God is now perfectly filled by the Son of Man who perfectly lived.
The gospel was given to one another by preaching it. The gospel was given to one another by writing it down and passing it on. The gospel, however imperfectly we share it with our words, is the power of God in salvation for those who believe, to the Jew first and also the Greek. For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith!"
And the word of God lives forever. Burn all the Bible and destroy all of the Internet and it will live forever. But the Bible is not of this world. It is the breathed out words of the Almighty Creator God of the Universe.
which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary
2 Timothy 3:15 (CSB) and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 1:19 (CSB) We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
People keep thinking that the Bible is not necessary. Christians, especially today in the age of information, take it for granted. But the Bible is most necessary for faith. You can scour the internet and find people who came to faith by a dream by God. And I am not here to argue against that. But why is true and why people come to Christ is the power of God in the gospel that is written down and kept in our hearts throughout the history of mankind.
To have and preserve faith in Christ makes the holy Scriptures most necessary.
Christian, want to debate on this. Try living your life for a week, completely stripped of the Holy Scriptures, and tell me where your mind and heart is at.
Some of you can tell me that because most of us don't engage in the word of God outside a pretty instagram post for months. I am not here to condemn you nor shame you. But without the Bread of Life, how do you expect to live?
those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased
Hebrews 1:1–2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
I grew up Charismatic and with that, I grew up knowing that the gifts of the Spirit were infinite and given to each believer so that we would minister to others and love our neighbor as ourselves. This command is like loving God with our hearts.
Matthew 22:37–40 (CSB) He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Here is the thing: I have accepted a lot of Charismatic doctrine as belief. Granted, I was not born again when I was in Charismatic churches--I was not saved and did not have the Triune God dwelling in me--therefore, I could not understand nor believe any doctrine that I heard or read.
It was not until several years ago, I started to take my common beliefs about Charismatic doctrine and press that up against the Bible because we are instructed to do. Most known spiritual gifts I could teach from the Bible. All spiritual gifts are not of us but of the Spirit. Gifts of healing and miracles are not of us but of God alone. 1 So that is easily taught from the Bible.
There is one gift that irked me: prophecy. In most Charismatic circles is taught as either an word of encouragement all the way into soothsaying and fortune telling. But what does the word of God say about prophecy?
1 Corinthians 14:3 (CSB) But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.
1 Corinthians 14:31 (CSB) For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.
And
1 Corinthians 13:8–10 (CSB) Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end.
Any Charismatic could quote you 1 Corinthians chapters 12 to 14. But the following passage is what captured my attention:
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (CSB) Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good.
I have heard this used by Charismatic don't stifle the Spirit and don't despise prophecies. But in all the years I have seen prophecy done, I have never seen a prophecy given that was tested against the word of God.
Old Testament prophecy is easy to test. If the prophecy does not come true, then the prophet is a false prophet. But remember, ultimately, all of the Old Testament was prophesying about the coming Messiah.
Since Christ has come to save his people from their sins, what of prophecy now?
Prophecy in the Old Testament was literally the preaching of the word given to man by God. That prophetic word is now written in the Bible. Since Christ has come, all prophecy and prophesying is now the preaching of the word of God. It is literally preaching what Christ has done for us.
In other words, in the absolute sense of the word, prophesying is the preaching of the gospel of God.
Go back and read every NT passage about prophecy and prophesying and see if it still stands up to the test.
1 Corinthians 14:3 (CSB) But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.
Preaching of the word of God and the preaching of the gospel done right is this! It is the strengthening, encouragement, and consolation of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:31 (CSB) For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.
Preaching of the word of God and the preaching of the gospel done right is this! It is the learning and encouragement of the saints.
1 Corinthians 13:8–10 (CSB) Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end.
Preaching of the word of God and the preaching of the gospel done right is this! There will be a day when preaching will come to an end because we will behold the face of our sweet Savior!
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (CSB) Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good.
Preaching of the word of God and the preaching of the gospel done right is this! Preach the word of God and proclaim the gospel rightly and your people can easily test your preaching against the word. In other words, you are not out here giving sport analogies, life coaching tips, business wisdom, some kind of TED talk or how to live your best life. No! We are to preach Christ crucified! (1 Corinthians 1:23)
And surely, I am not the only one who discovered this. I stand on the shoulders of the giants before me. Because, this is how the Church defined prophecy since the Apostles. For them prophecy in the NT church was always preaching. It does not make sense otherwise.
And just how important is preaching? For we know that:
Romans 10:17 (CSB) So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Just how important is preaching the word of God, the full counsel of God, and the gospel of our risen Christ.
Christ, in his preaching at Satan, said this:
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
In other words, the word of God--the Bible--is the mouth of God. God has spoken and has done so in his word. Are we listening?
I do hate this seemingly strawman argument from Cessationists against the Charismatics because no Charismatic would claim that they are the ones who healed the sick or performed miracles. If they did make that claim, they would be false shepherds. But I digress.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.2 The Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture
The Text
2 Timothy 3:16 - 4:5 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The Chapter
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomen, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
The Confession
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments
How did the canonization of the sixty-six books of the Bible come to being?
Without going into a lengthy, detailed history lesson, let me put it simply: what did the ministers in the first few centuries of the church preach from? They preached from the sixty-six books of the Bible. If you take a stroll through a large bookstore chain, in around the Christian book section, you might find some book catch your eye like "The Lost Gospel of Thomas" or some such.
Let me encourage if you got the time and energy: go and read these suppose lost gospels or lost books of the Bible. But you better know your Bible well. If you know your Bible, what you will find is that these lost books will start to contradict and contrast the Bible, the minstry of Christ and the gospel of Christ. You will quickly see that they don't belong there.
If you don't know your Bible well, you might be tempted to think that there is better good news than the good news that Christ has: "repent of your sin, give it over to him because it is killing you, Christ will give you his righteousness, so you might live". All you are going to get outside the Bible is do a bunch of back-breaking things, know the super secret so that you know you can really be saved. And that salvation is more dependent upon you rather that Christ--that is damnable.
And if you don't know your Bible well, you might be tempted to dismiss this altogether by saying, "Well, the Bible contradict itself so what does it matter." Let me consider that you, probably not a Biblical scholar, little to no knowledge of the ancient Biblical languages, are going to make such baseless claims not because you know (which you don't) but rather, is it, are you afraid of what is in this Bible might be true. Because if it is true, then you have to decide--do you want to live or do you want to die?
John 6:63-69 (CSB) The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”
Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Luke 16:29-31 (CSB) But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”
But there is one who returned from the dead, who breathed out the words of God by the power of the Holy Spirit from the sovereign grace and mercy of God our Father--that is, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has returned from the dead. Will you repent of your sins? Will you trust and believe and live by the words of God? Will you obey the Son of God who is God for your life!
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.3 The Apocrypha of Holy Scripture
The Text
Luke 24:25-27 (CSB) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
The Chapter
The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.
The Confession
The Apocrypha consisting of the following:
- 1 Esdras (Vulgate 3 Esdras)
- 2 Esdras (Vulgate 4 Esdras)
- Tobit
- Judith ("Judeth" in Geneva)
- Rest of Esther (Vulgate Esther 10:4 – 16:24)
- Wisdom
- Ecclesiasticus (also known as Sirach)
- Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremy ("Jeremiah" in Geneva) (all part of Vulgate Baruch)
- Song of the Three Children (Vulgate Daniel 3:24–90)
- Story of Susanna (Vulgate Daniel 13)
- The Idol Bel and the Dragon (Vulgate Daniel 14)
- Prayer of Manasseh (Daniel)
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
These books are not canon because they are not wholly inspired by God in their writings. Despite them being not canon, we don't reject them wholesale. They are literature of great historical importance. R.C. Sproul says it this way:
Although the Apocrypha are not part of the canon of the Scripture, these books need not be completely ignored or discarded. We do not throw away the letters of Clement, Ignatius, or other church fathers, which are of historical interest. The confession makes the point only that the books of the Apocrypha are not inspired and therefore do not belong in the canon.
R.C. Sproul. Truths We Confess. 12.
To believe that the Bible is inspired--breathed out--by God himself through the mind, education, and hand of human authors is one thing. (2 Timothy 3:16) To believe that all sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, contains all that there is revealed nature of Triune God--out of the sovereign grace of the Father through the atoning sacrifice and death-killing resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Almighty power of the Spirit--is a belief that has to be completely supernatural from God on high. Yet, we look at all of history, from the creation of Adam through various prophecies, through all of Church history, the thought that the Bible contains all that there is revealed about God is a difficult concept to comprehend. If it were easy, then heresies, sects, and cults, and false teachings wouldn't be a thing. Reformations would not be necessarily sovereignly course corrected by God himself.
Yet, time and time again, God will say one thing and mankind will take it upon themselves to add on or to take away from what God has said. If the preaching ministry of Jesus did nothing else, he came to preach the good news that belief and trust in God was not as back-breaking as man will make it out to be.
What was Christ's response to the weight of sin? It wasn't to do more, better, faster. No.
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
We don't need to seek out other good news outside the revelation of God in Christ Jesus because there is nowhere else. If you don't believe the word of God, that is one thing. And I pray that you believe and obey Christ. But don't say you are a Christian and then keep looking for something other than the simple gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Repent, for the kingdom of God is now.
Galatians 1:6-10 (CSB) I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him! For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.4 The Authority of Holy Scripture
The Text
Psalm 19 (CSB)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.
3 There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
4 Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming from his home; it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
6 It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
11 In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13 Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
The Chapter
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
The Confession
2 Peter 1:19 (CSB) We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
John 1:4–5 (CSB) In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
In reading John Stott's Between Two Worlds, I was moved by his compassion towards the theological liberal. Stott suggested that they were trying to make sense of the rational world in which they lived and what the Bible said. In other words, does an ancient text like the Bible, or for that matter, the religion of Christianity, have any place in today's modern world.
But this is where we see and receive the authority given by God to us for us. God did not give supreme authority to kings and rulers of this age (although he did give governing authority as stated in Romans 13). God did not give supreme authority to the philosophical thought of this age. (It must be noted that Paul warns us to guard against philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, which is based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. Colossians 2:8)
But rather, God himself has spoken. And his words were not merely touch upon the ears of man for one time. But those words were instructed by the same great God to be written down for his people in the ages to come.
2 Timothy 3:16 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
Because the Bible is the word of God, the Bible is supreme authority because it wholly depends on God (who is truth itself)
John 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This is why the Apostle John, in writing to the Greeks of his age, which would have a firm grasp on what is truth, rightly declares the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the Logos, the Truth, the Word. And now, because of the appearance of Christ, the Truth is now revealed.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
We could say that the Bible is about anything. And for the most part, we would be right but in part. The word of God is about Jesus Christ, which this word did not originate with mankind but with God.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (CSB) This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe.
1 John 5:9 (CSB) If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son.
Or let David sing of these truths:
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
Let me speak to one thing: acknowledging the authority of Scripture is one thing. But receiving and believing it is another. In the day and age where we can look back in history all the way to Adam, where Satan continuously makes war against the word of God and will continue to send false teachers and false prophets to keep twisting the Bible for their own ill-gotten gains.
Genesis 3:1 (CSB) Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
In the Old Testament, false teachers and false prophets were to be executed on site by the people of God as decreed by God himself.
Where we live in, the New Testament church, we cannot execute false teachers and preachers. And I would suspect that everyone who reads these words has been hurt and abused by those who claimed they were right with God but proven themselves to be children of the Devil by twisting His word and preying on the weak. I get that. Whether we acknowledge the authority of the Bible or not, does not bestow or remove that authority. Even when it is wrongly twisted for the end of man. God is good and right and he alone will make all things right with him.
God has spoken. He command each ones of us to trust in Him alone. Trust in him. Sit under the preaching of the word. Test the Scriptures. This is the calling of the people of God for all of their days.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.5 The Inward Work of the Holy Spirit Concerning the Scriptures
The Text
John 16:13 (CSB) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.
And
1 Corinthians 2:10–12 (CSB) Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
And
John 14:26 (CSB) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
The Chapter
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
The Confession
About ten years ago, around 2010, pop-neo-atheism really became popular. Names like Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris may have not been household names but their books were hitting best seller lists. And because of the content of their books, that is, "There is no God", where did you think they were prominently displayed at your local bookstore? Yep, right next to Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now and whatever Christian-lite self-help books were rolling out at the time.
I remember that this graphic made its way into Evangelical blogosphere and some discussion was generated from it:
Without taking the painstaking task of diffusing and unraveling each of these apparent contradictions, I was struck at this one thought:
You would study the Bible to find proof that the Bible is just a human-created piece of literature but completely miss the fact that the Bible speaks about Jesus.
John 5:39 (CSB) You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.
... and we cannot understand the Bible unless the Spirit of God reveals it.
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
John Calvin succinctly puts it:
God's word is like the sun: it sheds its light on all to whom it is proclaimed, but it has no effect on the blind. 1
Jesus, Son of God who is God, declared that the Scriptures were about him:
Luke 24:25–27 (CSB) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
But say you miss that whole point. Fair enough. The 1 Corinthians 2:12 passage should have given pause for thought. That there has to be something outside of us, alien in a sense, that would allow us to understand what this book is about.
Alas, it is difficult for the modern mind to accept the notion that we, humans, are in fact, limited. Most of us believe that if we can put "more" behind our efforts--more science, more technology, more work effort, more study, more emotion--then the possibilities should be limitless.
But there are a couple problems with that, the body, mind, soul, and spirit of the human is not bifurcated nor compartmentalize nor separated but intrinsically and intricately and inseparably woven and connected and overlapping together. What affects the mind affects the heart affects the body that affects the emotions that affects... etc..
Psalms 139:13 (CSB) For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
We can strive and push. But in the end, we are limited. We will never run a one second mile. We will never know everything. We will not have all wisdom. We will not be full-hearted. We might get close but not to its infinite.
Two, all of mankind are sons of Adam. That means that we are fallen. A better way of saying that--we are broken. We are broken and we know it and we feel it to our core. What proves this fact that, unless something or someone, outside of us does something, we are truly destined to die. If we were not broken, we would live forever because life was not designed to perish.
If life was broken, then it serves to show that we have broken minds and intellects and hearts and soul. Therefore, we cannot know the depths of our broken. "How deep the rabbit hole goes."
Two, if we need something or someone outside of us in order to not die but live, then logic dictates that we need something or someone outside of us to give us the ability to know what is outside of us.
The outside of us is the supernatural. It is not natural but beyond the natural.
When you, as a mortal man, even arming yourself with your grasp on logic and reason approach something supernatural as natural, you are going to fall short of understanding it.
A pretty graph of Biblical contradictions is task in vanity. It doesn't accomplish anything and it will fall away into obscurity. What we, as a society, in the Age of Information, is that, in fact, more information is not solving all of our problems--the chief problem is the brokenness of ourselves.
In order for us to understand and live by the word of God, we are wholly dependent on the One whom the Scriptures testify about by the power of the Spirit that the One has sent.
In other words, you will need the Holy Spirit to understand the Bible. Without Him, at his discretion and his good will, the Bible is going to be filled to the brim with stuff that doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense to one who is perishing but only to those who are living:
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (CSB) For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things?
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine
Wherever we might be in our theology and doctrine and the sheer academic study of the Scriptures, we stand on the giants of the faith before us. That is the church of Christ before us. Going back to the Christ and his ministry and then going back further to the work of Moses, we know nothing outside the testimony of the Church. All the pastors, all the Apostles, all the Prophets, the Kings, the Priests under the sovereign grace of Christ, who is the head of the church.
We get to know or discover nothing new outside all of our brothers and sisters before us have done.
the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation
Throw your best arguments and pushbacks against the Bible. Let us say you don't believe it is supernatural, it is not from God because there is no God. One thing that cannot be denied is the Bible has withstood the test of time.
You might say, "But look at the controversies and the heresies and the abuse running throughout the Church. They are using the same Bible to justify their wicked behavior." Yet, God, in his same word, has already condemned these wolves and weeds in their place if they choose not to rest in his Son:
Jeremiah 23:1–4 (CSB) “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” This is the LORD’s declaration “Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, banished them, and have not attended to them. I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts”—this is the LORD’s declaration. “I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous. I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them. They will no longer be afraid or discouraged, nor will any be missing.” This is the LORD’s declaration.
Matthew 23:13–16 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are! “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’
And for those controversies and heresies and abuse? They did not win. They did not overcome. They did not conquer. They did not shut down the Church. All the world and hell and Satan and demons could not begin to build their best assault against the kingdom of God. Why? Jesus already brought the kingdom of God here to earth. And it is finished and complete. Now, we, you and me who belong to him, are charged as gospel heralds to proclaim that the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God
To the living word of God, there is nothing that compares to it. And it bears witness that Jesus Christ is Lord and God. It is the holder of the gospel--the absolutely power of God in salvation for you and me who believe.
yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts
But it is only dependent on God who wills us to understanding and maturity:
Hebrews 5:11–6:3 (CSB)
11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand.12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.
13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.
14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
1 Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God,
2 teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3 And we will do this if God permits.
What can we do? Pray and ask God to mature us and conform us to the image of His Son so that we might see him clearer and clearer every day.
John Calvin. Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition. 199.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.6 The Whole Counsel of God Within Scripture
The Text
John 6:30–46 (CSB)
30 “What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform?31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
32 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.
36 But as I told you, you’ve seen me, and yet you do not believe.
37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
39 This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
41 Therefore the Jews started grumbling about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
42 They were saying, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
43 Jesus answered them, “Stop grumbling among yourselves.
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—
46 not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father.
The Chapter
The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word; and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
The Confession
The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture
There is, in fact, some mysteries and some hard to understand things in the Bible. For:
Proverbs 25:2 (CSB) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
And
2 Peter 3:15-16 (CSB) Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
But when it comes to the matters of His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, it is expressly set down in Scripture according to the whole counsel of God.
John 6:44–46 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—46 not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father.
Debates on how God saves us is as old as Genesis itself and we can argue until Christ returns. But where Christ is clear on who and how he saves, we should take that as the gospel. Because He is clear and and what He says is the good news.
The Puritans called this clear and understanding of Scripture in as it pertains to matters of salvation: the perspicuity of Scripture. Let us reason and debate on matters of secondary importance. Let us unified as sons of God on matters of primary importance.
God's glory is according to Scripture alone.
Our blessed salvation, faith and life? According to Scripture alone.
or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture
This is call reason and logic. Plain and simple. It might be a frightful thing because some Christians read this as to read the Bible with nothing but reason and logic. That is modern thought--where we can approach a supernatural text with modern reasoning and make sense out of it. That is not going to work out well for you at all.
The Scriptures are clear: to understand God and things from God is going to take God dwelling in you and revealing these things to you.
That said, we don't have flush reason and logic down the toilet when approaching scripture. In R.C. Sproul's Truths We Confess, he uses the example of the 5th commandment: "Honor your father and mother." If that is a command from God, we can deduct that if we were to dishonor our parents, there would be consequences to that action. Going opposite of God's commands is called a sin and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
I have even a better example that I heard from Sproul many years ago and involves the most famous verse in all of Scripture:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Read that once more.
Apply reason and logic to it. We can deduct that the John 3:16 certainly does not mean this:
"For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes and does not believe in him will not perish but have eternal life."
You might think, "That is so silly--we know it doesn't say that." But then, if it is so silly and obvious, why do we say that Christ died for the whole world to be saved? Because of 1 John 2:2?
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
But 1 John 2:2 does not stand alone. Continue on to verse 3:
1 John 2:3 (CSB) This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
God did not save the whole world. That might be a harsh truth. The good news is that the invitation to come be in Christ is open to all. And as we read in John 6, those whom the Father brings to the Christ is saved.
And if God saves you, it is a done deal forever:
John 10:28–29 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
The whole counsel of God, expressed plainly in Scriptures or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture is sufficient and basic and complete for our salvation, faith, and life.
unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men
I wanted to add some clarification to Sproul's example of using Charismatics. Some Charismatics believe that they can receive a new revelation by the Holy Spirit and it does not have to be tested or tried by the Bible. Most Charismatics could pass the orthodoxy pop quiz by asking them this question, "Do you believe you could receive revelation by the Holy Spirit that would add to the Scriptures?" and they would say, "Of course not." I would add on, "Because are not Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses."
Yet, we are called by God not to despise prophecies but to test them against Scripture. For:
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (CSB) Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good.
And
Acts 17:10-11 (CSB) As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Now, herein lies the rub: we know we are to test everything that we hear from ministers against the word of God. But, and I say this as a Charismatic, we just don't want to. Mainly because that type of work is hard--and I am not just talking mentally but emotionally. What if you received good preaching that lit your heart and soul and you felt good but then the Holy Spirit led you into the reading of the word and it says the complete opposite. What do you do? Feel happy and go against Scripture? Or feel disappointed and abide in the word of God?
Don't be afraid of disappointment of learning the truth. All truth is ours because truth comes from the Source of Truth which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3). Rejoice that Christ is yours, the Father is yours and the Spirit is yours. Rejoice that you have not been led astray and that the Father never loses his children. Rejoice that you are enough in Christ alone. Rejoice that you have not missed one blessing from God because you are in Christ alone. Rejoice that you cannot do it right or good or perfect because God sent his Son to live and and die for you so you can be his co-heir to his inheritance of all things (Hebrews 1:1-2 cf. Romans 8:14-17)
Don't despise preaching but test all things with other Christians and rejoice that all truth belongs to us.
Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word
1 Corinthians 2:9–12 (CSB)
9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
I am going to post 1 Corinthians 2 as much as I need to so that we are thoroughly convinced that we cannot know anything from God unless God dwells in us. Full stop.
For:
John 1:1–5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
Christ came into the world to save sinners. He is the light that illuminates his gospel and his word and his life and his death and his resurrection. All of it.
Consider this:
Luke 11:5–13 (CSB) He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Does this passage says that God is our magical genie in heaven? No. That is so little and small. Why think so small?
Do you know what Christ is saying to us?
If you turn from your sin, turn towards God, run to God, approach God, ask God for God, you are going to get...
God.
100% of the time. Perfectly. Instantaneously. Satisfactorily.
I don't know why this doesn't blow our minds more. If I go to God, ask for God, and I always going to get God.
"But I need God to do this for me!" Sure. But do you know you ask for the Almighty Triune God, maker of heaven, earth, and hell, who is Sovereign and rules and reigns for all of time? The Alpha and the Omega? The Beginning and the End? The Worthy Lamb who was Slain? The Lion of Judah? The Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace? The God who is far above our worthless idols?
That God? I get to behold the face of God that gives me complete satisfaction and endless joy?
If I go to God, ask for God, then I will always get God.
I am not saying circumstances and my own sin will not impact nor crush me. Regrets, I have a million. But I count it all as crap compared to the absolute fact that I belong to my Beloved and he is mine forever and ever. (Songs 2:16)
Oh, when I see the face of my Savior, I will kiss his face with a million kisses because he loved me and saved me to himself.
and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed
From the Scriptures, we know how to worship of God--not just in church but with all of our lives. For:
1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
And even overseeing the church. How do we even start there?
How do we do these things? By what God has revealed in Scriptures, by His revealed order (think nature) and with Christian wisdom.
He has not left us alone to figure out how we should worship to him. We are not like the prophet Aaron that was bullied and peer-pressured into making idols that we can form with our hands. God has shown us the way because he knows we are from dust and he knows the inclination of hearts. He knows that we will go play in our own vomit like dogs if left alone. God has shown us how to live and how to worship. He is a good Father like that.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.7 The Clarity of Holy Scripture for Salvation
The Text
Luke 23:32–43 (CSB)
32 Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him.33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine
37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews.
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?
41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Chapter
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.
The Confession
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all
Different translations have differing reading grade levels. I pulled this list from ChristianBook.com
- KJV — 12
- RSV — 12
- NRSV — 11
- NASB — 11
- ESV — 10
- HCSB — 7-8
- NIV — 7-8
- CEB — 7
- CSB — 7
- NKJV — 7
- NLT — 6
- GW — 5
- Message — 4-5
- NCV — 3
- NIrV — 3
You can brag about reading a more challenging translation to understand. You could argue about this list. But the facts are, differing translations take different comprehension.
But even if we were to take the Jesus Storybook Bible (Grade K), there are some stuff that is hard to understand. Jesus walking on water? Really? Without a supernatural, alien, outside-of-ourselves, there is no way we can comprehend that.
Look at what Peter says about Paul's letters to the churches:
2 Peter 3:16 (CSB) He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
I can list a few things off the top of my mind. Paul's account of a man caught up in the "third heaven". What is this? What does Paul say about it?
I don't know. God knows.
And I cannot tell you how many times throughout history people miss that and make the third heaven like a primary doctrine. Spoiler alert: it ain't.
Or how about this:
1 Corinthians 15:29 (CSB) Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?
Out of context, it sounds like the Bible teaches that we are to be baptized for the dead. In context of the Bible, we can clearly see that this is a rhetorical question because the Bible teaches no such thing.
Trying to make doctrine out of rhetorical questions in the Bible and you can make your own religion like the Mormans. (Baptizing for the dead is doctrine for the Mormons.)
The whole point of this is that difficult to understand things must be difficult to understand. Let the mystery of God stay the mystery of God.
It does say:
Proverbs 25:2 (CSB) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
But it also says:
Hebrews 5:11–6:3 (CSB) We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits.
We assume that we are mature and that can we demystified the mysteries of God. I am not saying don't study. Do study. But do so with your brothers and sisters. Dig deep into the salvation of God and his great grace and mercy and love for us.
yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned
Learned, unlearned. Some schooling, no schooling. Can read, can't read. 99% of the people in the Bible could not read nor write. But they could receive the word of God. They could sit under the preaching of the word by the priest or the preacher. They could have someone translate if they were deaf.
And what God has made crystal, undeniably, basic, rudimentary, elementary, abundantly clear: that God saves sinners through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is God, our Lord and King, who rules and reigns forever and ever.
in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.
Go back and read Luke 23 again:
32 Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him.
33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine
37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews.
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
Jesus was scorned. Beaten. Suffering. Excruciating agonzing pain and torment. In the midst of that anguish, Jesus prays and preaches again:
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”
There are two people will look upon the undeniably historical life, death, resurrection and ascension of the Jesus of Nazareth and it will provoke two responses:
Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
Those of the world are so desperate to hang onto this life because this is the best it's going to get. I might be speculating here but the criminal did not believe Christ could save him. All he cared about was not dying in this life. All he cared about was getting down off that cross so he could go back to the world. The world which torments and mocks and spits and crucifies the innocent Son of Man. They want nothing from God other than more in this life.
The other response belongs only to those who believe on Christ for eternal life. They see the world and then they see their own sin that hung Jesus upon that tree. They made a decision. The criminal says, "Give me Jesus who was cursed for me!" and then they die to this life.
Then they call out on His name so that they can be saved.
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
The criminal called upon Christ. And Christ saved him.
The criminal had nowhere else to go. No baptism. No conference. No church service. No ministry. No tithing. No offering. No seminary. No bible study.
Saved by faith and faith alone in Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.8 The Inspiration of God on Holy Scripture
The Text
Psalms 119:72 (CSB) Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
The Chapter
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
The Confession
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic
The 1689 teaches that only the original manuscripts can be declared to be inerrant and infallible. In other words, the words written down from the hand of the author from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit can only be called inerrant and infallible.
Copies and translations will have minor differences and errors in them. Are we to worry? Are we missing out? Have we gotten the gospel wrong?
No. Not even in the least bit.
What is mind boggling about the Hebrew and the Greek manuscripts is that despite the minor differences and errors, no, none, zero primary and secondary doctrines were changed and affected. The gospel is always the gospel. Christ is still Christ. The Triune God is still Triune. Creeds are still the Creeds. Confessions (that came 1200 years after the Creeds) are still Confessional.
You and I don't have to worry that we have missed something. We have God. We haven't missed a thing.
Or you can be like every single human in history who overthought this point went searching the Scriptures for some other kind of life when the Scriptures testify about Jesus Christ:
John 5:39 (CSB) You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.
so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them
John 1:1 (New World Translation) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
vs.
John 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This is a quote from the Bible translation used from cult known as Jehovah's Witnesses. The Jehovah's Witnesses uses all the same terminology that Christians do: Jesus, God, Spirit. But their version means something completely different. The prime example is that, to them, Jesus is not god.
John 8:58 (New World Translation) Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.”
vs.
John 8:58 (CSB) Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”
Through scholastic dishonesty, they have twisted the translation to make their Bible deny that Jesus is God. No reputable Greek scholar will support that claim.
This is where Christians can make their appeal to: the original ancient languages of Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek and some Aramaic for the New Testament.
For the English language, we are incredibly blessed to have multiple translations. Not only can we find one we prefer to read and will read but any major errors in translation will automatically be spotlighted because it will go off sideways versus the other major English translations.
From that, minor differences are just minor differences and again, they do not affect any primary or secondary doctrines of our faith. Even doctrines like baptism: who gets baptized and how they are baptized. Consider the differences between the paedo- and credobaptists. I know many Presbyterians and Baptists use the same translation. There isn't a translation that slants against one mode of baptism over the other.
Where translations go wrong, they go wrong all the way.
And this is what the orthodox, catholic church appeals to: the original languages for all matters and all controversies.
But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope
Knowing ancient language is a gift, blessing and privilege by God. 1% of the population know it. Here is the real blessing: because ancient language knowledge is such a privilege, God has sought it right and good through his blessing and provision to translate the Bible into every language of the world. In many times, when a language did not have a written language, the Bible was translated to provide a written language for those people. Why?
they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope
God sought it to gospel of his Son that his word would be preserved through out all time--even prior to the invention of the printing press or the Internet--to bring it to every person in the world today and unto the future until Christ returns. That is such an extraordinary feat that it must be of God. Look at church history--mankind will always disagree. But God preserves. Blessed be his name.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.9 The Interpretation of Holy Scripture
The Text
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
The Chapter
The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.
The Confession
Let's take a verse from the Bible:
1 Corinthians 15:29 (CSB) Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?
In and by itself, it is easy to think that God commands his followers to baptize for their dead. But anybody who has attended a Christian church within the last 2000 years knows that this is not a thing. We see living and breathing people being baptized but never not once have I heard of someone being baptized for the dead.
Using reading comprehension, and using not only the context of 1st Corinthians and even in particular, chapter 15, we know that the author is clearly asking this question rhetorically. We know that Paul was not teaching a new doctrine of baptism for the dead because it is never mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. In all of the sermons, commentaries, teachings from the Christian church throughout the 2000 years and with in the Jewish faith, we know that baptizing for the dead is not a thing. It is not doctrine. It is not what the Bible teaches.
You and I know this because we have never sat in a church that taught this. You and I know this because we can use basic reading comprehension and clearly see that this is asking rhetorical.
In 1840, a man by the name of Joseph Smith chose to read this verse and take it out of context and create an entire doctrine. This and many other Scriptures out of context were used to form what is now the Mormon Church or the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. Joseph Smith would go on to write Mormon scriptures that will contradict or add on to what was already taught in the 66 books of canon.
To take standalone Scriptures, out of context, and try to teach or preach for that lack of understanding is called biblicism.
Now biblicism might sound awesome. Here is one definition:
adherence to the letter of the Bible.
Man, I want to do that. But when we do that, without consider what the Bible teaches as whole, we will always go off in error, if not heresy, if not creating cults and sects that twist the Scriptures concerning the grace of our God.
500 years ago, the Reformers saw this abuse widespread through out the church. They taught and defended that we must use Scripture to interpret Scripture. All the commentaries we write, the sermons we teach, the classes we teach are not the authority of interpreting the meaning of Scripture. Only Scripture interprets Scripture.
The Reformers would call this tenet, sola Scriptura, in Latin, meaning, "according to Scriptures alone." Not prooftexting or taking out of context, but all 66 books, every word, every jot, every tittle perfectly and completely explaining what God has said to us.
Now, what if, we do our homework, and we cannot find the meaning of something that is "hard to understand" (as Peter describes some of Paul's writing in 2 Peter 3:16)?
Guess what? It remains a mystery to us by God.
And that thought that some things remain a mystery might rail against our modern sensibilities. But there are certain things that belong to our God. For:
Deuteronomy 29:29 (CSB) The hidden things belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.
And
Proverbs 25:2-3 (CSB) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.
Calvin says this:
The finite mind cannot fully comprehend the infinite.
Watch what he says: the limit of our minds cannot fully wrap around the infinite God. We may not be able to fully know God because He is infinite but because he has given us his Son, Christ Jesus, we are able to truly know God. For:
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
And
1 Timothy 1:15–17 (CSB) This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
So lets take the passage I originally gave at the beginning of this exposition:
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
Some pastors and teachers will remark, "Ah ha!," as their finger drills down on this passage, "it says so right there. No debate needed. Case closed. End of argument. I win!"
Reply with this question, "So if Christ sacrifice atoned the sins for the whole world, that means the whole world is saved and that means no one is in hell."
Two responses you might get:
One, "No wait, that is not what I mean." This response will always lead into a more fruitful engagement.
Two, the person insistent on always being right / never being wrong, will double down and die on this hill. "Yep! That is what that means." Well, that would be silly because we know for a fact that unbelievers sit under the continuous wrath of Christ for all of eternity. For:
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
And
Matthew 8:11-12 (CSB) I tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
You don't think Christ talked about hell? There are five more passages like that in the gospel of Matthew.
But someone will come back with the "sin of disbelief". "Well, the only sin that Christ did not atone for was the sin of disbelief."
My good friend, lets go back to the Johannine passage once more:
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
I don't see the Scripture mentioning Christ only atoning for some sins and not all sins.
The dangers of biblicism is that without check, will have you teaching something that the Bible does not teach.
To adhere to sola Scripture is grand and lofty idea. Because it requires us to know the word of God. And if we are being honest with ourselves, in the midst of the age of information is hard and difficult work. All Christians want to be faithful to the Scriptures. We do not want to teach in error or heresy. We do not want to led others astray. That is why James says, "Only some should be teachers" and Christ said, "It be better for you to have a millstone tied around your next and thrown in the ocean than to lead one of my little ones astray." Teachers are held to a stricter judgment.
But let me encourage each one of us: for us to understand the Scriptures--a document that was supernatural composed from the very breath of God--will be an supernatural act of the Triune God. Not your IQ. Not your EQ. Not your Christian school nor your home school. Not your Bible college nor seminary degrees. Not all the books that you could possibly read would grant you understanding of what the Lord is saying unless the Holy Spirit reveals it to you first.
Sola Scriptura, like the other four Doctrines of Grace, reveals that we are as utterly dependent on God for God. Fortunately, if we ask for wisdom, God gives. We ask for salvation, God gives. We ask for Christ, God gives. We turn to God, run to God, ask God for God, we will get God. All the time with no delay.
Praise be to God.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.10 The Infallibility of Holy Scripture
The Text
Galatians 1:6–10 (CSB) I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him! For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
The Chapter
The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.
The Confession
I think Spurgeon said it best:
The Word of God is the anvil upon which the opinions of men are smashed. None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.
Spurgeon.
In the Reformed doctrine of sola Scriptura, one key teaching remains primary: that the Scripture remains infallible in all matters. Faith and practice to be sure. What about the areas of science, philosophy, and history and the like?
This reminds me of Luther and Calvin's hard counter to the Nicolaus Copernicus' theory of heliocentric (that is our system revolves around the sun). Luther and Calvin's view held to a widely accepted common belief that our system revolved around the earth.1 Calvin and Luther held staunchly to this and defended it because of the account in Joshua 10:
Joshua 10:13 (CSB) And the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance on its enemies. Isn’t this written in the Book of Jashar? So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed its setting almost a full day.
The Bible said. "The sun and the moon stood still. Obviously, that means they rotate around the earth." Which we now know, thanks to the works of Galileo Galilei, among many others, that indeed, our system revolves around the sun.
Wny do I say all of that? I have long told others, "The Bible is not a science book primarily but a theology book." That is not to say, when it does speak on matters outside of theology, like science or history, that it can be ignored because it does not have to be infallible on those subjects.
Yet, the author of the Bible is the Creator of all things. All things include historical events and scientific facts. For all events are by his sovereignty, for:
Job 42:2 (CSB) I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted.
And all science and knowledge come from him, for:
1 Corinthians 3:21-23 (CSB) So let no one boast in human leaders, for everything is yours — whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come — everything is yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
That is all fine and good, but what about the theory of evolution?
We should be mindful, with all the advancements that mankind has been able to accomplished, this is at the sovereign kindness and mercy of God our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. In that end, we will always have theories. Yet, the truth, in due time, will come to light and we will have a better grasp on how our universe came into existence.
Christians know, without a shadow of a doubt, theologically that God created the heavens and the earth in six days. Someone has come along and said, "wait that is impossible--it must have taken billions of years." Interested theory. Let us depend on God to figure out how did God create the universe scientifically. It seems lofty to think that we will know that information on this side of heaven. But just in my lifetime, I am stand in amazement and awe over the advancements in science and technology. Because, as Paul said, everything that God provided is ours because we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.
A much better explanation of this whole ordeal can be found at Luther, Calvin, and Copernicus — A Reformed Approach to Science and Scripture by Keith Mathison. Jun 1, 2012
Chapter 2 Of God and of the Holy Trinity
2.1 The Attributes of God
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
2.2 The Sufficiency of God
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself all- sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.
2.3 The Triune God
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 2.1 The Attributes of God
The Text
Psalm 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods.
The Chapter
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
The Confession
This is loaded chapter. Because right out out the gate, after solidifying the confessions on the Scriptures, we go right into answering the question:
Who is God?
And the Historical Confessions (Westminster, Savoy Declaration, and London Baptist) front loads Chapter 2 on Theology with the attributes of God. Systematically speaking, it starts with the incommunicable attributes--the attributes that belong to God alone, while finishing it off with the communicable attributes of God--namely, those attributes that are shared with the imagebearers of God, that is, mankind.
Another way of seeing these attributes organized is Richard Muller defined it. In To the Judicious and Impartial Reader: Baptist Symbolics Volume 2, Dr. Renihan attributes the following terms from Richard Muller's Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms (2nd edition):
“Archetypal theology is “the infinite knowledge of God known only to God himself” while ectypal theology is “all true finite theology, defined as a reflection of the divine archetype.”
Renihan. Baptist Symbolics Volume 2. 162.
To learn these attributes, we must examine them bit by bit and connect them with the appropriate declaration from Scripture.
The Lord our God
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.
From his book, Baptist Symbolics Volume 2., Dr. Renihan spots something that I missed, "the paragraph begins with a personalized assertion about God—He is ours.”1 Whatever God wants to reveal about himself to us, it will not be everything about God but it will be truly about God and we, as his people, know him truly. Let the world say what they want about our God. But the maker of the heavens and the earth, the Almighty God, from everlasting to everlasting, belongs to his people. God belongs to me. For I am my Beloved's and He is mine forever. 2 God personally belongs to me and I personally belong to him. For:
Exodus 19:5-6 (CSB) Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”
And
Exodus 34:8-9 (CSB) Moses immediately knelt low on the ground and worshiped. Then he said, “My Lord, if I have indeed found favor with you, my Lord, please go with us (even though this is a stiff-necked people), forgive our iniquity and our sin, and accept us as your own possession.”
And
Deuteronomy 26:16-19 (CSB) “The LORD your God is commanding you this day to follow these statutes and ordinances. Follow them carefully with all your heart and all your soul. Today you have affirmed that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commands, and ordinances, and obey him. And today the LORD has affirmed that you are his own possession as he promised you, that you are to keep all his commands, that he will elevate you to praise, fame, and glory above all the nations he has made, and that you will be a holy people to the LORD your God as he promised.”
And
Titus 2:11-14 (CSB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
There is only one response to this absolute and blessed truth: praise be to God! We get to worship the Lord our God all because of what his Son has done for us. Today is the day we give thanks to him for he alone is good and his steadfast love endures forever.
is but one
1 Corinthians 8:4–6 (CSB) About eating food sacrificed to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
John Calvin said it succinctly:
Man's nature is a perpetual factory of idols
Certainly, Satan rules the air. Demons, or principalities, rule regions. From the fall of humanity, we certainly will conjure up and put our trust in a little god who we hoped will make this life a little bit easier. Sadly, Satan, demons, and our idols have zero power. They can only kill, deceive, twist, oppress, and when it comes to our idols, do absolutely nothing for our lives.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
In terms of power, holiness, righteousness, sinlessness, perfection, merciful, kind, gracious, patience, deliver, savior, and of course, love, there is only one and he is the Triune God--Father, Son, and Spirit--who reigns forever and ever. Amen
only living true God
Jeremiah 10:10 (CSB) But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at his wrath, and the nations cannot endure his fury.
Isaiah 48:12 (CSB) “Listen to me, Jacob, and Israel, the one called by me: I am he; I am the first, I am also the last.
Exodus 3:14 (CSB) God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
God is not idle. God does not cease. He is not dormant. God is living. That he moves and speaks and is quite personal with his creation.
God is not a figment of mankind's imagination. God was not conjured up by man. Mankind will certainly make God out to be something he is not. But that does not make it true. God is true. He is the source of truth. Whatever he says or does is truth and absolute. We can only see semblances of the truth unless our eyes and ears and hearts and minds fall on the one true living God.
whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts
John 4:24 (CSB) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”
Deuteronomy 4:15–16 (CSB) “Diligently watch yourselves—because you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb—so you don’t act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form,
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
1 Timothy 1:17 (CSB) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
The best word to describe the simplicity of God is aseity. Webster's properly defines this:
the quality or state of being self-derived or self-originated specifically : the absolute self-sufficiency, independence, and autonomy of God
God is not like anything in all creation in that one, he is not made up of complex parts and two, he is not created. God is simply one essence. He in of himself is God. He has no beginning nor end. No one made him. He is the maker of all things and all people. The Mormon religion states that their god existed as a mortal man in another universe and when he came to our universe, that's when he became god. The gods of other religions, cults, and sects--even the gods of other so-called Christian groups who fall outside of Christian orthodoxy--are built up in the minds of man and incredibly more complex than the one true living God. God sustains himself. God is joy and love unto and from himself. God did not need to make mankind. The Triune God was in perfect harmony, unity, community within himself because God is love. From all things and all truth overflows out from God.
or passions
This is the divine impassibility of God--God does not suffer or feels pain. You see in the Bible that in dealing with our trespasses and treason, God would describe himself as "jealous" or "wrathful" but these are not feelings born out of passion or feelings nor a reaction. These are words to describe how sin is an affront--an abomination--to his very simple nature.
Malachi 3:6 (CSB) “Because I, the LORD, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
Could you imagine if God could suffer or feel pain? Who wants to feel pain? When you feel pain, don't you want the pain to quickly stop? When you suffer, do you want the suffering to keep going a little or stop? You would want it to stop now right. If God felt suffering and pain, he would make it instantly right. He would have justly terminated all of mankind and started all over.
We love our little gods because they are made in our own image. When we change, our idols can change with us. When we suffer or feel pain, they change with us yet we worship these idols like they are going to save us--how can they save us when they are like us?
God is not like us. God is not moved by his personal suffering. You cannot pain or hurt God. God is love and he moves base on himself. I wouldn't want to make the mistake, in our day and age, to say, "God is moved by love" because mankind is desperately trying to redefine and reimage and twist the word "love", make it ultimate law, and then have God submit himself and work through our new definition of love.
God is love. We have our definition of love. And only one is correct.
who only hath immortality
1 Timothy 1:17 (CSB) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
If God the one true living God, within the immortality of God, not only will he live forever but he has always lived from eternity past.
dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto
John 1:1-5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
Because we have been born into and choose to sin, we cannot approach God. We cannot come to him on our own. John Stott in his book, The Cross of Christ, gave five descriptions on how God is far from our sin. One of those descriptions: God is light. God shines brightest and in our wickedness and sin, we cannot dare approach him just in the light of his glory and goodness.3
I am in sweet communion with Christ as a poor sinner can be; and am only pained that he hath much beauty and fairness, and I little love; he great power and mercy, and I little faith; he much light and I bleared eyes.
Samuel Rutherford. The Loveliness of Christ.
Because of our present state, if we looked upon God, we would die. We could not approach God. Therefore, God must come to us. Immanuel--God is with us. In order for us to be with God, God must come to us. This is the only way. Christ is the only way.
who is immutable
Impassibility and immutability are words we don't often use and they can be a bit confusing. Think about it like this:
God is not changed by anything that can happen to him--impassibility.
God is not changed from the inside out--immutability.
Here is the real kick: humans are always changed from the outside in. When something devastatingly tragic happens to a human, that person is changed forever unless they go and get real help. That is called trauma.
I experienced painful trauma as a kid. While those around me thought I was okay, inside I was messed up and jacked up. And that brokenness never surfaced until I went through not one but two divorces. You think God hates divorce? I went it through it twice over. Twice the pain. Twice the loss. Twice the torment. Twice the agony. Twice the shame. I would never wish divorce on my worst enemy.
I was changed from the outside in.
God is not like me at all. All the sin and anger and hate that God has to deal with, he is not traumatize from that and changed from the outside in.
Likewise, there is nothing in God that makes him dwell on his own thoughts, feelings, emotions, beliefs, philosophies of the day and changes himself from the inside out.
God is not whimsical nor capricious. He does not do things that he does just because he feels like it. He has and will forever will be God.
In other words, the gospel is forever the gospel. God changes us from the inside out by making his home in us and dwelling in us forever. That good news was there when sin first broke all of creation and in a million years, it will always be the good news--that God saves sinners.
I find it fascinating when humans want something else not the word of God to give them a free pass on a sin that they want to keep doing. "I want to be prideful--God look the other way please!" and then twist Scriptures accordingly. Or the world want us to approve of their behavior and have us look the other way on their sin. Who are we? We are nobody. We are just his Bride. We are not the Bridegroom. Christ is God. You might say, "But I struggle with sin and I cannot escape it." God knew that. I sin everyday. God already knew that. That is why he sent his Son to live and die for me. You want in on this good news? It is there for the taking. Ask for Christ, you are going to get Christ.
immense
1 Kings 8:27 (CSB) But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built.
Numbers 14:21 (CSB) Yet as I live and as the whole earth is filled with the LORD’s glory,
The immensity of God speaks to the omnipresence of God--God is everywhere at all times. That is not say God is in everything--that is would be pantheism. And we know that not be the case because nothing of God dwells or resides in the unbelievers.
I think it will be reasonable to comprehend the Father and the Spirit to be everywhere at all times because they are spirit. But what about the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and dwelled among us? The Apostle Paul states it perfectly:
Colossians 1:15–20 (CSB) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
In terms of what Christ did, as fully God and fully man, the Apostle John states:
John 21:25 (CSB) And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.
To sum up immenseness of God, God is not just everywhere at all times but where you are at right now, God is with you right now. He is Jehovah-Shammah--God is there.
Ezekiel 48:35 (CSB) The perimeter of the city will be six miles, and the name of the city from that day on will be The LORD Is There.”
eternal
Psalm 90:2 (CSB) Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Revelation 22:12-13 (CSB) “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
John Calvin wrote:
finitum non capax infiniti
In other words, "the finite mind cannot comprehend the infinite." If there is one attribute of God that is the hardest for us to grasp, I suggest it would be the eternality of God.
It is easy for us to quote Moses in Psalm 90, "from eternity to eternity, you are God." But to state that absolute fact and believe that absolute fact has implication.
For one, God is the Creator of all creation and he is before all things.
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1-3 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Nothing created him and he is before all created things. There wasn't a moment in time that God was not there. What is true for any point in the past is absolutely true for the future. Any moment in the future, God is already there. And when he relates to us, he always uses temporal terms despite being outside of time.
What is even more amazing, within those temporal terms, when the Son of God took on flesh, he subjected himself not only to his material plane and the effects of the corruption of sin but he subjected himself to the constraints of time like we are.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God, "grew in stature and wisdom"4 and preached the gospel 5 and minister to others with the same constraints of time and space as we do. In other words, Christ did not commission us with something he did not do himself.
incomprehensible
In continuing with the Calvin's statement, eternality of God is one thing but the fact that we cannot comprehend him in our natural state is something humbling.
Those who contend for the free will of man in their own salvation will, after much consideration, will have to conclude that if the mortal man can learn 2+2=4, then God is a fact that can be learned.
But God is not a school subject. He is not an academic course. He is not a science project. He is not an undiscovered element. The modern mind wants to so desperately treat God as if he is just another major study at the local college. But the Scripture make it crystal clear:
1 Corinthians 2:7–16 (CSB)
7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory.8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.
10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.
14 But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.
16 For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
In other words, knowledge of God is supernatural and not natural. Something outside of us must reveal God to us. And throughout the Scriptures, we know that it must be God that reveals himself to us for us to know, believe, trust, and obey Him. No exceptions.
Let me take it one step further: do you believe that the Scriptures are another literary work or are the inspired by God?
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (CSB) But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
If it is inspired by God, then the word of God comes from God alone. If it comes from God alone, it is supernatural. If it is supernatural, then how are we to even comprehend the word of God?
Only if God reveals it to us. In other words, only if God opens our eyes. For:
Hebrews 6:1-3 (CSB) Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits.
And
Mark 8:22-25 (CSB) They came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything? ” He looked up and said, “I see people — they look like trees walking.” Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly.
You might say, "Are you saying we cannot know God at all?"
Can we fully know God? No. But can we truly know him? Absolutely. How do I know this? He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to live and die for us.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
almighty
Genesis 17:1 (CSB) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless.
Revelation 4:8 (CSB) Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying,
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.
In the most simplistic way, almighty is a contraction of two words, "all" and "mighty". That is too say, all-might. If we have a hard time grasping the ever-existence of God, I think we really do no fathom what it means for God to be omnipotent. And the reason why is throughout all of history, man, in his frailty and weakness, has strived and fought for power.
Genesis 6:4 (CSB) The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
Yet God says:
Proverbs 16:5 (CSB) Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
In my Genesis commentary, I wrote this about verse 4:
We live in a culture that celebrates the powerful and the famous. If we are not too careful we might look at that line and think nothing of it. But God declares prideful men and women “detestable”.
We power grab everything. We even will construct entire theologies over power structures.
A fellow church member remarked how much he liked my shoes and that they look like "weight lifting shoes--do you lift weights?" To which I replied, "I like to pretend that I lift weights." Nearly every time I step into a gym or my hand folds over and grips iron, I humbling reminded that the atoms of this weight plate is being actively held together by the crucified Son of Man.
Colossians 1:17 (CSB) He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
What is my mere weight lifting compared to the Almighty King who holds the universe in his hands? I cannot comprehend.
But who alone can swap my heart of stone, give me his own loving soft tender heart and places his Spirit within me so that God and His Son can make their home in me? This is too astounding to embrace.
That is true strength.
Ephesians 6:10 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
This Almighty God now has given us his strength and grace to do his will. Blessed be his name.
every way infinite
Take these attributes of God--immensity, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty--and to measure them is without end. You cannot measure them. And the attributes of God are not infinite with a contained area (like our universe) but rather, he is infinite and we, in our place, world, and galaxy, is quite, quite limited in comparison.
most holy
Isaiah 6:2-3 (CSB) Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another:
Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies;
his glory fills the whole earth.
R.C. Sproul is famous for correctly stating:
The Bible doesn't say God is "love, love, love," or "grace, grace, grace." The Bible says He is "holy, holy, holy."
Holiness of God is revealed by God in one of two ways. One, our sinfulness and far from Him we really are. Two, his absolute moral perfection. Sproul sums up nicely in this way:
“That attribution of greatness and goodness to God can be summed up as “He is holy,” because holiness incorporates both greatness and goodness.” 6
It is the infinite, perfect greatness and goodness that God revealed to Isaiah and caused him to cry out, "Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips!" It is this holiness that cause the persecutor Saul declare Christ as Lord. It is this perfection that the heavenly beings continue to sing, "Holy, holy, holy."
It is this same holiness that caused the tax collector to stand in the back of the tabernacle, who would not dare lift his eyes towards heavens, but instead shout out, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!"
It is this same holiness that keeps sons of Adam far from the presence of God.
It is this same holiness that marks the entire life of Jesus Christ.
It is this same holiness that is now given to the people of God. All because God alone is holy.
most wise
Proverbs 8:22–31 (CSB)
22 “The LORD acquired me at the beginning of his creation, before his works of long ago.23 I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 I was born when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water.
25 Before the mountains were established, prior to the hills, I was given birth—
26 before he made the land, the fields, or the first soil on earth.
27 I was there when he established the heavens, when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,
28 when he placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,
29 when he set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not violate his command, when he laid out the foundations of the earth.
30 I was a skilled craftsman beside him. I was his delight every day, always rejoicing before him.
31 I was rejoicing in his inhabited world, delighting in the children of Adam.
In this, the Age of Information, the modern man has fallen for the trap of "more information means our intelligence will increase." What we have witness is the fallout of this folly:
- Access to more information has not increased our comprehension - What has run rampart is people taking in the all the information and not considering the sources of that information or whether or not that information is reliable and true. Which leads into...
- More knowledge has nothing to do with wisdom - I do know that people struggle with the fear of not knowing enough and they fall prey to "if I only knew more, then I can remain safer/richer/happier/insert-your-vice-here." What we have seen is that mankind does not possess the wisdom to handle the critical massive amount of knowledge that we are consuming.
In God's great mercy, he has bestowed some of his infinite wisdom upon us in limited quantities along with these blessings of knowledge.
James 1:5 (CSB) Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
In the godliness of God, God knows everything. He cannot learn anything. He isn't surprised by anything. He is infinite in all things--from the infinite reaches of the galaxy to the depths of your heart and the recesses of your mind. It knows it all perfectly and the reasons why.
More so than that, he has the infinite wisdom to handle it and discern it all. This is where we are unlike God. We know very little and he knows all.
most free
Psalm 115:3 (CSB) Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
In his three volume Systematic Theology, theologian Charles Hodge explained that there were two attributes that worked out of the omnipotence or the almighty of God: his sovereignty and his freedom.
The popularity and the rise of Calvinism has given way to the acceptance of God's sovereignty without the wisdom nor the emotional maturity to handle it. When something bad happens, I have heard too many new Calvinists simply shrug their shoulders and sigh, "whelp, God is sovereign." Which it is not an untrue statement but are we not going grieve this moment? Are we not going "weep with those who weep?" 7
But that is another chapter for another book.
God's sovereignty--his rule and reigning over all creation--stems from his omnipotence.
On the flipside of the same coin, for all of the debates about the free will of man, we must always compare our will towards the one who has actual free will.
Consider this: Can add a foot to our height? Can we sprout wings and fly? Humans cannot do that.
So also consider this: can we simple come to God? Man in his natural state would instinctively answer, "Of course," because either we think our will is really free or we think of God of some sort of man--but holier and better than we--but just another man, nonetheless.
But the Bible states that God is so far from us--he is infinitely far from us. We think we can take a step towards him or build a tower to reach the heavens without taken in who God is.
Infinite distance minus a step is still infinite.
God knew that. He knew that you would never make it to him even if you tried.
That is why, in God's perfect power--his sovereignty and his freedom--he came to us. God walked the infinite gap. God bridged the infinite chasm between us and him. That is Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God.
most absolute
Romans 8:1-4 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
With that almightiness power comes that God is not outside of his law nor is subjected to his own law. But in fact, that God is law and the law, standard, morality, plumb line, righteousness comes from him. He alone has the absoluteness to give the law but in our sin and wickedness, God made himself to be the Son of Man so that he alone could fulfill the same law in our stead.
working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Proverbs 16:4 (CSB) The LORD has prepared everything for his purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Romans 11:36 (CSB) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
most loving
Song of Songs 2:4 (ESV) He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Song of Songs 2:16a (ESV) My beloved is mine, and I am his;
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
For here is love, God proclaims the good news that He will make all things right:
>Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
And here is love, God is faithful:
>Psalm 103:15–18 (CSB) As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known. But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
And here is love, God's faithful love and mercies will never come to an end:
>Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
And here is love, God does everything for you to be with Him:
>Ezekiel 36:25–28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
And here is love, God saves us from our sins:
>Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
And here is love:
>John 1:16–18 (CSB) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
And here is love, God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ:
>John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
And here is love, God adopts us into his family:
>Romans 9:25–26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
And here is love, Christ loved me and lived and died for me:
>Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
And here is love, we have no condemnation and no separate from God:
>Romans 8:1; 38-39 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus... and nothing will every separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Simply put:
1 John 4:7-10 (ESV) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
gracious
Exodus 34:6–7 (CSB) The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
It would never be grace to let us go of our sin and not remove our sins and the path before us in sin. Some people want grace because they got caught in their sin but they have no intention of abstaining from sin. Oh they will not sin again if all of their circumstances were good and their spouse acts right and work is easy and whatever. But the moment life gets a little tough, let me go back to my own wickedness.
God is most gracious in that to free us from sin, he takes care of it all:
- the punishment for sin
- a new heart to love him
- His Spirit to guide us to him
- a new will to obey him
- a renewed mind to know him
- a soul alive to him
We know he does this because we have Christ our God!
merciful
Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
Romans 9:15–16 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
By default, we know that there is a God but in our righteousness, we suppress the truth of God despite it being plainly obvious.
Romans 1:18–19 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
Now, you and I know we are not all born complete atheists. So the passage in Romans 1 doesn't speak as an all out suppression. In the sons of Adam--all unbelievers--we suppress the truth of the existence of God in various way.
We want a God that gives me an easy life and a good life and a lavish life but then there cannot be a God if I have to suffer a little bit.
We depend on God if we desire a safe, free from harm life. But the moment the world, sin, and Satan looks our way, we immediately think that God has abandoned us.
If those stages of unbelief don't resonant with you, then consider this: when I sin, I want God to be completely merciful to me. When people sin against me, I do not want God to be merciful to them but to pour his wrath out on them.
Right now, think of the person who has hurt you the most. What is your most immediate thought? That God would spare their lives and bring them to himself or do you wish that God would cast them down into the depths of hell to being under his never-ending wrath?
Oh, let me push once more: when God doesn't instantly eradicate them from the face of the earth, do you think that God is somehow not God and he lacks the power to punish sin against you.
Our Christ, the Son of God who is fully God and fully man, was illegally arrested, wrongfully accused, and unjustifiably condemned to death. He was then beaten, whipped with metal shards, mocked, slapped, blasphemed, battered, stripped naked, beard pulled from his face, crown of thorns shoved upon his head, made to carry his execution device, railroad spikes through his wrists and feet into a tree and then hung up for the Roman Empire and the Jewish people to see.
There was a word invented to describe all of that pain. We call it excruciating.
In this new found type of pain and torment and torture discovered by Christ upon that cross, who, let me remind you, is the Great I Am, the Alpha and the Omega, Who Was, Who Is, and Who is, and the Judge of the Quick and the Dead said with his lips?
Luke 23:34a (CSB) Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”
Christ has all power. He alone is the Almighty God. He could have cast everyone in attendance straight to hell and he would be right in doing so.
But He alone has mercy upon whom he will have mercy. And he alone has compassion on those whom he will have compassion.
And in that very place where they were not the people of God, it exactly the same place in the excruciating mercies of Christ that we are now called sons of the living God!
long-suffering
Romans 3:23–26 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 2:3–4 (CSB) Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
2 Peter 3:9 (CSB) The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
You could argue that God is infinitely patient since he is operates out of time or God is love and he will forever put up with sin and corruption.
But what we have seen in his word and in the history of creation, that, while God is long-suffering, he does come to an end of his grace and mercy.
I am reminded of a great Paul Washer quote:
Right at this exact moment, the arms of the steadfast love of God are extending out towards us. His Almighty arms of grace and mercy remain outstretched towards to the wicked and depraved. Then one day, he drops his hands.
There is no time like right now to fall into the arms of Jesus Christ. There is no day like today to look upon him, call his name and he will save you. That is a guarantee fact.
2 Corinthians 6:1–2 (CSB) Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
Now is the acceptable time! Today is the day of salvation.
God is long-suffering. But why would you waste a second not being in the blessings and love of the Almighty God? Make it make sense to me.
abundant in goodness and truth
John 1:16–18 (CSB) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
There is only one source of goodness. And there is only one source of truth. That is God. And God has revealed him fully in the man, Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is God, who came to live, die, resurrected and ascended so that God would save his people from their sins.
We cannot ascend to the truth as though it was some mountain to climb or some scientific fact yet to be discovered. God, in is goodness, grace, and mercy, must reveal himself to the sinner for the sinner to receive and believe.
We have no goodness within us that would put us in the same realm of God. On our best days, we have broken the law of God. We have all sinned against God and fallen way short of his glory.
And God knew. God knew. The Father and the Son knew this before they spent one ounce of energy creating the heavens and the earth. They knew you and me and all of his people and always loved them. And because God never began to love you, he will never stop loving you.
Matthew 11:28–30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
This is the rest that Christ has given to his people. We never have to earn his love. We have it in full. We have it in full because we have Christ forever.
forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin
Psalm 103 (CSB)
1 My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits.
3 He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He revealed his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, all his angels of great strength, who do his word, obedient to his command.
21 Bless the LORD, all his armies, his servants who do his will.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all the places where he rules. My soul, bless the LORD!
Who is like the Lord? Who can compare to Him? He is full of grace, merciful everyday, and steadfast in loving-kindness. He is the fairest of all time. There is no one who can match his power, awe, beauty, honor, majesty, and glory.
He alone is God forever.
the rewarder of them that diligently seek him
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Luke 11:5–13 (CSB) He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Let me some this up: turn to God, run to God, look up to God, ask God for God you will get God.
There are no other guarantees in life. Just God. You seek him you will find him. For:
Deuteronomy 4:29 (CSB) But from there, you will search for the LORD your God, and you will find him when you seek him with all your heart and all your soul.
We know this to be a fact because it is a historical fact. Jesus Christ came into this world a little over 2,000 years ago to save sinners.
and withal, most just and terrible in his judgments
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Matthew 8:12 (CSB) But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:42-43 (CSB) They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.
Matthew 13:49-50 (CSB) So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 22:13-14 (CSB) Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 24:51 (CSB) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:29-30 (CSB) For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Way too many times, I have heard believers and non-believers alike give this statement, "Christ never speaks of hell in the gospels."
Don't let your lack of keyword search prowess and the lack of your knowledge on the Bible to send you straight to hell. If you can't see that Christ speaks of hell in the Bible, I would cry out to God and ask him, "Why can't I see it!" Pray now to the Holy Spirit that he will open your eyes and renew your mind and give you a soft-tender heart to receive what God has to say.
hating all sin
Nehemiah 9:32 (CSB) So now, our God—the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant— do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the Assyrian kings until today.
Nehemiah 9:33 (CSB) You are righteous concerning all that has happened to us, because you have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly.
Psalm 5:5 (CSB) The boastful cannot stand in your sight; you hate all evildoers.
Psalm 5:6 (CSB) You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors violent and treacherous people.
For:
Romans 9:13 (CSB) As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
Hebrews 9:27 (CSB) And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment —
In continue in the holiness of God in comparison to our sin, John Stott gives these additional descriptors in addition to God being most glorious and shines the brightest: 8
- God is high above our sin and idolatry
- God is far from our wickedness and depravity
- He is all-consuming - In other words, he will perfectly eradicate all sin from everywhere
- He is rejects all sin from his presence - He has no toleration for sin, God does not have to live with sin; God vomits it out of his being 9
These are metaphors--uses of the English language to try to get us to simply realize that one fact that God hates sin.
We, as sons of Adam, hates sin in so much as when it effects us but not necessarily when we commit it. Then, much like our original father, Adam, will make excuses for it and/or blame others for our sin.
As sons of God, we are not perfect. We cannot be perfect, on this side of heaven. I don't care what the Wesleyans or the Church of Christ denomination states. Anybody who states we can go without sin fully are putting a soul crushing weight upon the heart-breaking sin that you are dealing with right now.
But the fantastic good news of a vengeful, sin-hating God is the same God who is the only solution to our sin.
John 14:6-7 (CSB) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Christ is the only way. You want to be set from and sin free, look no further than Christ who your sin upon himself and welcomed the wrath of God to fall on him so that we would never bear that wrath.
and who will by no means clear the guilty.
Exodus 34:7b (CSB) But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
Nahum 1:2–3 (CSB) The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The LORD takes vengeance against his foes; he is furious with his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.
2 Timothy 4:1–5 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Sin must be dealt with. Life must be paid for the consequences of sin. Sin gives death.
Christ takes our sin upon himself and pays the price of death so that we might live.
Those who do not believe and trust in him will pay for their sin--they will eternally and continuously be crushed and burned under the holy wrath of Christ forever and ever.
But for his people--just his people--he will take them under his protective almighty arm and protect us and keep us to himself not just during judgment but forever.
Matthew 23:37-39 (CSB) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’! ”
Choose on this day whom you will serve.
Renihan. Baptist Symbolics Volume 2. 167 2: Song of Songs 2:16 3: John Stott. The Cross of Christ. 109. 4: Luke 2:40 5: Mark 1:14 6: R.C. Sproul. Truths We Confess. 46. 7: Romans 12:15 8: Stott. 109. 9: Stott. 104-111.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 2.2 The Sufficiency of God
The Text
Romans 11:33–36 (CSB)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
35 And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid?
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
The Chapter
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.
The Confession
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself
I am not sure if we, Christians, still believe this or not. But for the sake of covering my bases, let me state this.
God does not need anything.
And just so we are clear:
God does not need us.
I could try to paint a picture of a perfectly content Father and a perfectly content Son in perfect harmonious community joined by the Holy Spirit. To be honest, it would be a feeble attempt. Because we cannot imagine such a relationship on this side of heaven.
I could walk into any room with any amount of people and ask for a show of hands who here has known anybody who has gotten divorced. The raised hands would be 100%. Yet, when God gave marriage to mankind, his intention and design was always forever. Never broken. Never fractured.
We cannot not imagine unbroken marriage. Sinless relationships. Complete joy-filled unions. We can't but this is all God knew forever. There was no other reality for him.
And why is that. To speak about God is that we cannot simply stop at "he is good" which he is. And he is blessedness or glory or life which he is all these things. But what sets him apart from his creation is that he is the fullness of these things. And if he is truly filled to the max, perfectly with these things, then he does not need anything.
And if is filled with these things--all life, glory, goodness, blessedness--then what else does he need. He certainly did not need us. R.C. Sproul says it this way:
“God is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient. God is all-sufficient not only in Himself, but also for Himself, in the absolute sense, needing nothing from any creature. Christians often use expressions that are well meaning but that, if analyzed carefully, approach blasphemy. For example, “I’m so glad that so-and-so allowed God to work through him,” or “Thank you for letting God work through you.” Does this mean that God cannot work through me unless I allow Him? God does not need our permission to do anything, any more than He needed Paul’s permission to appear to him on the Damascus road, or Judas’ to use him for His greater glory, or that of Balaam’s ass to speak prophetically. God is self-sufficient, both in Himself and for Himself.”
R. C. Sproul. Truths We Confess. 55-57.
all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them
Often times, I have shared the story of the loss of my brother who passed away in 2020 from Stage 4 Colon Cancer. And after so much loss, you would think I would be comfortable with grieving. And been on this earth for nearly 50 years, I don't automatically grieve loss and sin and betrayal. And the reason why is because instead of grieving and sitting in that sadness and feeling the sadness, I avoid it. I avoid it like that the plague. But I turn my heart instead of the one God who can comfort me and instead turn to a much darker plague: porn.
Summer of 2022, the perfect storm for Satan to release his barrage of temptations would come my way. My wife was going on an international trip for work. And I was at home by myself. But during this, I started experiencing a physical pain and ailment that immediately took me back to my dying brother in his pain and agony. And helping the nurse lift and turn his lifeless cancer ridden body. This little bit of physical grief struck me with fear that I, too, had cancer like my brother.
And I turned to porn like I had nearly all of my life.
Five minutes into fulfilling my temptation, God quickened me. He brought me back to life. My mind and heart got powered on and I was made alive. I quickly dismissed my sin and repented to my God and my wife and my friends as fast as I could.
I sinned against God knowing full well that he alone is life, goodness, blessedness and glory. He is holy, kind, and merciful, righteousness.
I chose to sin against the Almighty God.
In all of his glory and his power and his might, how did God respond to my treasonous sin?
The Father, who has sent his Son to live and die for me, who has sent his Spirit to give me his heart secure me to him forever decided that it would be this year he would save my oldest son.
And then he would save my other son--fully saving the men in my generations from my grandfather to my youngest son. He waited, in his good pleasure and grace, waited until my grandfather was 40 and my dad was 56 and myself when I was 32 to save us. But then he saves my 20 year old son and my 9 year son in a blink of an eye.
He gave me mercy.
Oh. Because my God is good and he alone is good and he overflows with goodness, he granted me the one desire I had in my heart for the entire time I have known and loved him--
He allowed me to preach his gospel for the first time ever.
I sinned. And God responded with ultimate goodness and mercy.
This is my God.
but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them
And through my life, he has chosen to reveal his glory. Through ministering to others, he has shown to be tender in heart and full of compassion. By his preached word and the power of the Spirit through His Son, he has rescued his people from their sins.
We have no other source for life, glory, goodness, and blessedness but God alone.
he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth
We are never to be the source of anything good because we are not.
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
When we need to be good, we must run to the source of all good.
Paul states it bluntly:
Romans 9:14-18 (CSB) What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
God alone gives us mercy.
So if God didn't need us, why did he create us?
1 John 4:7-10 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Ephesians 2:1-5 (CSB) nd you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Because God is love. And he was mindful of us before Genesis 1:1. For:
Ephesians 1:3-6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
He made up his mind that he was going to create us, save us, and keep us forever.
in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature
When I was freshly saved by God and deeply interested in theology. How I got to the Doctrines of Grace is another story (it involves Wikipedia). But it was clear to people who were close to me that my leanings were becoming Calvinistic day after day. One particular mentor, who did not lean that way but didn't try to buffer my understanding. But on occasionally, he would give me books just to see if it would "grind my gears" as he would say it.
One particular book he threw at me was God of the Possible: A Biblical Introduction to the Open View of God by Greg Boyd. This was an introduction to Open Theism.
ChatGPT defines Open Theism as:
Open Theism is a theological viewpoint that emphasizes the belief that God is omniscient, but that the future is not fully determined. This means that God is aware of all possible futures, but that the actions and decisions of human beings can ultimately determine which future comes to pass. This view contrasts with traditional theism, which holds that God has a specific plan for the future that will inevitably come to pass. Open Theism is also sometimes referred to as "free will theism."
ChatGPT. "Could you explain to me Open Theism, please?". https://chat.openai.com/chat. January 9, 2023 version.
Mr. Boyd introduces the concept of Open Theism by reciting the story of King Hezekiah. The Lord appeared to King Hezekiah and simply stated:
2 Kings 20:1 (CSB) In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’ ”
Hezekiah, in response, prays and weep bitterly for the Lord to extend his life.
What doe the Lord do? He extends his life.
Instead of expounding the love, and the mercy, and the grace of the Almighty God to save the lives of his people, Mr. Boyd takes this passage and begins to defend his belief that, in fact, God does not know know what the future holds. And that God can be swayed and persuaded by the prayers of his people.
What cannot be missed when you keep reading 2 Kings is simply how sinful and foolish King Hezekiah really was. In his pride, arrogance, folly, and stupidity, he gives the envoys of the King of Babylon all the treasures of the his palace.
The Lord our God, throught the prophet Isaiah, responds in kind:
2 Kings 20:16-18 (CSB) Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: ‘Look, the days are coming when everything in your palace and all that your predecessors have stored up until today will be carried off to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the LORD. ‘Some of your descendants — who come from you, whom you father — will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”
What is shocking and disturbing is Hezekiah's response to God's cursing and declaration of the consequences of his sin:
2 Kings 20:19 (CSB) Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good,” for he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security during my lifetime? ” 1
So why rehash King Hezekiah's folly? This historical account from 2nd Kings is not a prooftext for the heresy of open theism. This does not prove that God changes his mind and that God does change and he can change. But we have learn thus far in the 1689 that God is the fullness of goodness, blessedness, mercy, glory and life. He extended the life of Hezekiah knowing full well that Hezekiah will sin more.
We know this because Paul wraps up the sins of all the Old Testament saints in this one passage:
Romans 3:21–26 (CSB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Interested enough, this passage is not mentioned at all in Greg Boyd's book.
The truth is that God sees our hearts. All of our hearts. When God saw the hearts of his people were desperately sick and will flee far from him (Jeremiah 17:9), before the foundations of the world were formed, he set his affections on us and made a covenant with his Son that he would save us.
Ephesians 1:3–10 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
God is not like us who are sometimes whimsical--whose mind can be changed at a whim. God is not capricious--someone who changes their mind just because they can.
God is steadfast in his love. God gives mercy day after day. God is so gracious, that one can only describe it as grace layered upon grace.
God saw the wickedness of hearts. He knew what was going on in our hearts and in the heart of King Hezekiah. That is why He sent his Son to live and die for King Hezekiah, for you and for me.
Praise be to our God!
so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain
6th-century Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina attempted a way to balance the supposed free will of man with the sovereign grace of God. He proposal is that God looks down the corridors of time and selects the correct timeline where you and I believe and trust in him.
I could entertain this notion except the word of God says otherwise:
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
God never foresaw us. The word says God foreknew us. God foreknew our deceit and sinfulness and treasonous acts. God knew us and in his mercy, saved us.
The world and philosophies of this world and certain theologies like Open Theism, Molinism, and cult and sects like Mormonism and Jehoviah Witness and heresies like Arianism and Gnosticism have one thread in common: it is the feeble and wicked attempted to either lower God to be like created man or elevate created man to be like God.
But true, historical, orthodox, right, and proper Christian theology is this:
The Son of God became man so that men might become sons of God. 2
God is clearly not like us in so many ways. Because by the grace of God for all of mankind, we can do some of the things he does: love, and create, and give. But only because of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God, it is his people alone who are saved to Him and can truly worship and obey him.
he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands
Leviticus 11:45(CSB) For I am the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, so you must be holy because I am holy.
In this, what rails against the minds, hearts, and wills of mankind is that we are utterly dependent on Someone else for everything.
In my Philosophy 101 course, the last page of Chapter 1 states something like this: "the ultimate goal of each human is autonomy."
Which is in the opposition of God and his creation. To that philosophical statement, the Westminster says that our actual ultimate goal is to "glorify God and enjoy him forever." For:
Psalm 86:9 (CSB) All the nations you have made will come and bow down before you, Lord, and will honor your name.
Isaiah 60:21 (CSB) All your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch I planted, the work of my hands, so that I may be glorified.
Romans 11:36 (CSB) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 6:20 (CSB) for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Revelation 4:11 (CSB) Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.
And
Psalm 16:5–11 (CSB) LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I will bless the LORD who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me. I always let the LORD guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay. You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Psalm 144:15 (CSB) Happy are the people with such blessings. Happy are the people whose God is the LORD.
Isaiah 12:2 (CSB) Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust him and not be afraid, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation.”
Luke 2:10 (CSB) But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
Philippians 4:4 (CSB) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Revelation 21:3–4 (CSB) Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Our dependance on God is not more succinctly explained then in Romans 9:
Romans 9:18–21 (CSB) So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden. You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will?” On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?
Our God is personal. He is kind and loving. He is gentle and altogether lovely. And the Creator has sovereign rights over his creation.
And when we are in sin, we think that we wish that God was the divine watchmaker, who created the heavens and the earth, "winds it up" like watch, lets it all go, and departs from his creation. In our rebellion, we want a God who will let us do want we want and leave us alone.
But for the people of God, that can never be. Continue on in Romans 9:
Romans 9:22–24 (CSB) And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
Christ alone is the Holy One of God. For his life, he has ransomed us and we were purchased with a price. For all of creation, we owe our life, existence, and breath to him. And we have failed to worship him, to obey him, to serve him, and to love him. Not only that we have failed to love others as he has loved us.
But here is the good news:
Romans 9:25–26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them
Psalms 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods.
In all of the accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah, there is not a better, clearer, more explicit example of the saving power and full-out love of the Almighty God than in the account of King Manasseh.
If you read just the 2 Kings account, you will read of wicked and depraved king and the author of 2 Kings describes his reign as:
2 Kings 21:16 (CSB) Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem with it from one end to another. This was in addition to his sin that he caused Judah to commit, so that they did what was evil in the LORD’s sight.
But continue reading, and when you get to 2 Chronicles, you have a few more gory details:
2 Chronicles 33:6 (CSB) He passed his sons through the fire in Ben Hinnom Valley. He practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did a huge amount of evil in the LORD’s sight, angering him.
This king was so wicked, that he sacrificed not one but two of his sons to a demon.
Yet, what does God declare? "Is my saving arm too short?" Is there no one that God cannot save?
2 Chronicles 33:10-11 (CSB) The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they didn’t listen. So he brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria. They captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.
This might seem extreme. Why would God go to such lengths to break someone? Because this passage, right here, is the precise and most accurately description of the unbeliever. Without God, we are prisoners of war. We are imprisoned by our wickedness, Satan, demons, and the world.
God could have easily raised up King Manasseh as a vessel of wrath like he did with Pharaoh during the days of Moses. He could have left Manasseh to rot in prison, die, and be under the vengeful wrath and fury of Christ for all time. And there is not a person on this earth who would think that was wrong. Manasseh was wicked. Evil. Grotesque. Abomination in the sight of God and man.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
And I am just as wicked as Manasseh. In my first marriage, my first wife went to get an abortion because she could not stand the thought of having another child with me. To confirm her disgust of my presence, what do I do in response? Exactly like my original father, Adam, I stood by and did nothing. Continued in my porn addiction, slothfulness and laziness and apathy.
But what happens when God appears?
2 Chronicles 33:12-13 When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. He prayed to him, and the LORD was receptive to his prayer. He granted his request and brought him back to Jerusalem, to his kingdom. So Manasseh came to know that the LORD is God.
God granted Manasseh his heart and his Spirit:
Ezekiel 36:25–28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
And then and only then, could Manasseh repent and obey the Lord our God.
I always assumed for most of my life that I was saved simply because I said a prayer to rescue me from hell. But an unrepentant lifetime of working in and producing pornography is sufficient evidence if I had died at any point prior to the age of 32, I would rightfully be in the bowels of hell under the continuous vengeful wrath and fury of Christ for all time in punishment for my wickedness.
But on a rainy Monday in April of 2007, this is exactly what happened:
Titus 3:4–7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Nothing I have done or was or ever could be should have warranted God to even look my way. But not only see me, but to take pity on me, reached out to my rotting corpse of life, and grant me life? That is a grace that I cannot fathom. Make it make sense to me! The Almighty God, who created the heavens, earth, and hell, who is without equal. Who alone has honor and praise and power and might. Who along is holy, blameless, sinless, perfection, righteous, and just. Whose steadfast love never ceases and his mercies never come to and end. Who is abounding in grace...
... for me, the chief of sinners. The vilest of who walks among us.
He saved me.
In his holiness and loveliness, he saved me.
Therefore, I will forever praise his holy name. Amen.
The quintessential difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking. See Matthew 5:9. But I digress. 2: J.I. Packer. Essay, Introduction to John Owen's The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 2.3 The Triune God
The Text
Matthew 28:16–20 (CSB) The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Chapter
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.
The Confession
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences
1 John 5:7–10 (CSB) For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement. If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son.
I am in full appreciation of theologians in the past, that have crafted and wrote the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Savoy Declaration. The Baptists, with the 1st and 2nd London Confessions, only added a few clarifying words here and there but in every sense, blatantly plagiarize the WCF/Savoy. "If it aint broke, don't fix it" is an apropos saying from my childhood.
But another way to state this: the early church theologians have already done the heavy lifting in fine tuning and carefully crafting the right words in order to protect believers from heresy.
Here, a word that is not used often, subsistences. (This word is so less know that my writing application, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, is marking it as misspelled.) But even using words like persons or persona might pull a believer into tritheism or even monotheism.
The definition for subsistence is real being. God, not a figment of anyone's imagination, not a mode, not a mask, not a god with three different names who switches out these names, masks, personalities when the time is right. God is three real beings.
the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit
Matthew 28:19 (CSB) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
And it was when Jesus Christ began his ministry on the earth that he massively unveils one of the greatest mysteries of the Old Testament, second only to how will God finally rescue his people. The answer to greatest mystery of the gospel of God in the OT is the Lord Jesus Christ. And with the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ and the proclamation from his mouth, he reveals that God is three subsistences or three hypostases or three real beings: God the Father, God the Holy Spirit and himself, the Word, that is, God the Son.
Now think of the preaching ministry of Christ. God with us, taking on flesh, fully God and fully man makes the declaration to believers and non-believers alike:
John 10:29-30 (CSB) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
How do you think that the most religious of the day responded? Took it all in? Pondered the points? Consider the memorized Scriptures?
No! They responded in violence!
John 10:33 (CSB) “We aren’t stoning you for a good work,” the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because you — being a man — make yourself God.”
Christ himself God and equal with the Father because why? Christ is God. In the same way, I am Joseph Louthan. I could state all the things that are used to identify myself according the world and to history and to philosophy: male, tall, son of Joseph and Sue, Technical Project Manager, writer, wife of Sarah, father of three kids, heterosexual.
But the only identity that actually matters is: am I in Christ or not in Christ. The fact is I am an adopted child of the living God. That is an absolute fact.
Christ stating his actual existence, his subsistence, his real being--that is an absolute fact.
So many people don't want to know or can't stand knowing. Don't be ignorant of the facts: we are saved by sovereign grace of the Father by the power of the Almighty Spirit through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God.
of one substance, power, and eternity
2 Corinthians 13:13 (CSB) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
However and whatever means you use to preach and teach the doctrine of the Trinity, you must not forget the attributes of God 1
We know that God is eternal:
Psalm 90:2 (CSB) Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Revelation 22:12-13 (CSB) “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
And we know he is almighty:
Genesis 17:1 (CSB) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless.
Revelation 4:8 (CSB) Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying,
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.
What about one substance?
Deuteronomy 6:4 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
John 10:29-30 (CSB) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided
Exodus 3:14 (CSB) God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
John 8:57-58 (CSB) The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham? ”Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.
I think the best way of describing this is loosely quoting Augustine:
With three people in a room, you have three minds, souls, hearts, spirits and wills. With the Triune God in the room, you still have three persons but you would only have one mind, one soul, one heart, one Spirit, and one will.
That description alone transcends God from us. God is so unlike us--that even when we are like God in that we love, give, serve, and create and we can do all of these things that reflects his image, what makes God apart from everything else in all of creation is the fact that God is three persons yet with one undivided essence.
The Doctrine of the Trinity is such a mystery. The moment we try to demystify it is the moment we are declaring outright historical heresy. 2
the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding
John 14:11 (CSB) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.
1 Corinthians 8:6 (CSB) yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
Every Lord's Day, in my church, Reforming Truth Church (Lexington, KY) will conclude our Communion with this utterly Triune declaration:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
After singing praises, the hearing of God's law, the Confession of our Sins, the Assurance of Pardon, the Catechism, the Prayers, with the preaching of the Gospel and to take the wine and the bread--our little church boldly and loudly declares this fact: that God is Triune and He is Glorious and He is Eternal! Amen!
the Son is eternally begotten of the Father
John 1:14–18 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are three distinct subsistences yet are of one substance.
The Nicene Creed states it as this:
true God from true God
And look at Scripture to explain this:
John 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Colossians 1:15 (CSB) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Christ is eternally begotten from the Father. That means there was never a time when he was not begotten. He has always been with the Father, living in distinct perfect community.
the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son
John 15:26 (CSB) “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me.
It is so tempting to give an entire treatise on the Holy Spirit right here and right now. Mostly because of two reasons:
- I grew up Charismatic. There is some baggage for sure but in the grace of God, I grew up the opposite of my Baptist brothers and sisters--namely, the Holy Spirit was not foreign to me but rather, he is my Comforter, my Witness, my Wisdom, my Truth and my Joy. More so than that, he is my God!
- I just finished Holy Spirit--The Helper by John Owen This was a real complete joy to read this and only solidify my pneumatology and be strengthen in declaring what he does.
But what the Holy Spirit does will be laid out here in the entire exposition.
But I want to call your attention to this one passage in John:
John 16:7-14 (CSB) Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
We tried to wrap our heads around the perfect community of the Triune God. Here is a prime example that I have always loved.
Christ glorifies the Spirit - I could speculate all the live long day on why Christ said this. But the fact is: Christ is not going to do what the Spirit will be sent to do. Christ has taken on flesh to be fully God and fully man, to live and die so that he will save his people from their sins. The Holy Spirit does not do that. However, what the Spirit does that Christ does not: convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Christ, by being man during his ministry, was indeed limited by time and space (and I could give some arguments for and against this). Christ glorifies the Spirit by what the Spirit will do when Christ ascends to the Father.
The Spirit glorifies the Christ - "He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you." How does the Spirit glorifies the Son? By pointing everything, including the word of God, back to the Word of God.
We have not seen glory like this in our lives. We do get a tiny glimpse of the glory of God in Christ Jesus because the Father has revealed the Son to us.3
all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God
You might suggest, "Oh since Christ took on flesh, he had made himself limited like us." He was limited like us in certain ways--especially when it comes to the limits of time and space. But this is where the Covenants of Works and Redemption meet. Christ perfectly born of woman and perfectly obeyed and fulfilled the law. Because Christ has done this and then died, he was perfectly glorified by the Father.
Christ was always fully God. He is the Alpha and Omega and the Beginning and End. He is eternally begotten of the Father and the Sender of the Spirit. When Christ was glorified by God, he was no longer limited by time and space and within brokenness of sin but rather he is above sin and death because he has conquered it.
I don't know what our glorification will completely look like except for one thing: it has already been done. Since the Father has glorified the Son, we are already glorified because all of what the Son has done.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
So what can we say about these things? Indeed.
who is not to be divided in nature and being but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations
There is a new-old heresy being circulated around that fired up about ten years ago then sort of fizzled like a fart in church, called the Eternal Submission of the Son (ESS). Those who are spouting out such nonsense are always those who fall so far into hard Complementarianism camp (those who believe genders of mankind are different but equal) that they are indistinguishable from Patriarchy (men are always right and women need to shut up and stay quiet.) There one verse that they have built their house of cards upon is:
1 Corinthians 11:3 (CSB) But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ.
Now, I hope you can tell from reading the last paragraph, that I have zero grace towards people who keep teaching ESS like it is a real and Biblical thing. Those are false teachers and I will not stand for it. Come into my church shooting that nonsense and you will be handled promptly and according. (Not a threat but a fact.)
Selah
Call it Western thinking. Call it whatever you want: just because the Father is usually mentioned first does not give him more ranking than the Son nor Spirit. I know, I know mankind has been so futilely obsessed with power and influence and we have been so since the Fall of Mankind. 4
So, because of being born of Adam, indwelling of sin, and the fact we cannot help but be nurtured by the philosophies of our time, we read into passages like 1 Corinthians 11:3 and we put our own spin and interpretation on it. Go back to all of chapter in the context of 1 Corinthians and look me dead in the eye and tell me that is how you would interpret verse 3? Nah, I didn't think so.
Protip: Don't take verses out of context. Now what does that mean? Don't take a standalone verse or passage out of the Bible and try to make it mean what you want it to mean and ignore the text before and after and all of Scripture. Cherry picking verses is how sects, cults, and false religions get started. See Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Restoration Movement, and a whole lot of fruit from the Second Great Awakening.
God the Father is God. The Son is eternally begotten with the Father. And the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son.
One interesting tidbit and I will step down from my soapbox.
Jesus declares "I cannot do anything unless I see my Father doing likewise":
John 5:19-20 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed.
Yet, because Christ perfectly saved his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), by perfectly fulfilling the law (Matthew 5:17-20), died the death we should have died for our sins (Romans 6:1-14), look how the Father glorifies the Son:
Daniel 7:13–14 (CSB)
13 I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.14 He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
Christ perfectly glorifies the Father. The Father perfectly and rightfully glorifies the Son. And they do so in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Glory be his name. Amen!
which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God and comfortable dependence on him
Especially in today's culture, we struggle with a lust for power--mostly because we don't want to be hurt or forgotten or abused. And I get that. But because of how we would run the world around us cannot be put on the perfection of the Triune God. God is the source of all good, all wisdom, and is holy and righteous. And God is love. And God is perfect in love and in all things good. That is the glory of God.
And upon that glory, we can rest assure that our salvation permanently and eternally secure--not because we can hope to do anything worthwhile. No. It is all rested upon the Triune God, who steadfast love towards will never come to an end because it never started. And his mercies towards will never come to an end--they are new and fresh every single morning.
To the great and mighty God, his promises are yes and amen. Our promises are easily broken. We are faithless, he remains faithful. Great is his faithfulness!
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
For the record, there are no new heresy. All heresies are historical. In other words, the church before us have already done the heavy lifting of hearing the false teaching, examining the Scriptures by the power of the Spirit, and put that heresy to death. There are no new errors and heresies. If you hear a false teacher or a Christian who says something in error, 100% of the time, it was already declared heresy--and more than millennium ago. Like the words says in Ecclesiastes 1:9, "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun." Sometimes, the modern mind will war against, not the idea we cannot come up with new heresies, but the fact that we cannot come up with new theologies and doctrines. But mankind will always try to come up with new ways to lower God to man or elevate man to God. And filed under "fact is sometimes stranger than fiction", when man comes up with a new theology and therefore a new religion, they never give their followers more license to sin but more laws and rules to follow. Imagine that.
John 1:18; Titus 3:3-7
Read Genesis 6:1-7. Stay put on verse 4. For my own exposition on this passage, see Genesis 6:1-7 The Gospel Certainty: The Wickedness of Man
Chapter 3 Of God's Decree
3.1 The Sovereignty of God
God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.
3.2 The Decretive Will of God
Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
3.3 The Predestination & Foreordination of God
By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.
3.4 The Certainty of God When It Comes To His People
These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
3.5 The Election of God
Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
3.6 The Free Purpose of the Will of God
As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
3.7 The Mercies of God
The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.1 The Sovereignty of God
The Text
Ephesians 1:3–6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
The Chapter
God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.
The Confession
God hath decreed in himself from all eternity
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
It is one thing to read and observe the attributes of God which are just found in the previous chapter of the 1689 confession. And not to make little of who God is, the question begs, "So what?" In other words, God is a being of all power, all knowing and wisdom, and ever present everywhere.
What does a being like that do?
Throughout the history of mankind, we have told stories: legends, folklore, mythos, tall tales, comics, video games and literature. Some are historical. Some are dramatized. Some are exaggerated in order to tell the tale.
You could, with unopened eyes and unrenewed mind, read the Bible and read about God and chalk it up as though it as another grand work of fiction, not unlike The Illiad, The Lord of the Rings or the X-Men. God of the Bible seems so fantastic that then how could the Bible be real. How could God of the Bible be so real?
When you know of the Bible, the descriptions of who God is written and communicated by himself, then you know not only who God is but what he does.
From the jump, we know that God hath decreed in himself from all eternity.
In himself is to simply state that God has not sought the counsel of another being, another time, another space, and another existence. From eternity to eternity, he has always been God and whatever he decrees to do, he has made the decision from within himself.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
When I have preached and taught this text, I have often said, "God has looked down the corridors and time and space, saw that you were not obeying him, you were sinning against him, that you were trespassing against him and you were running away from him. He saw that and sent his Son Jesus Christ to save you."
That is absolutely and wonderfully true. But I want to be a tad more careful. I don't want to give the impression that something that mankind does makes God do something. That is borders on paganism. But the fact is that we are created by God and we have fallen away from God. God is not a reactionary god as though he is the ambulance that comes and rescues us. But before we could sin, God had already determined he was going to create you, love you, and rescue you through his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will
Ephesians 1:11 (CSB) In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
From within God, there is not nothing. Where as we are made up of parts of our personality, will, intelligence, wisdom, knowledge, and emotions, God is simply all things that he is include all holy and all wisdom. For:
Job 9:4 (CSB) God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed him and come out unharmed?
And:
Isaiah 6:3 (CSB) And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth.
One thing that is remarkable through out the Bible is the will of God.
The hardest choices require the strongest wills.
Thanos
It is one thing for any being--mythological or otherwise--having the power and the ability to do what they want to do but do they possess the will to do so.
From his most holy and most wise counsel, God is not just powerful enough to do and able to do, he wants to do. God is the only being in the world that has the freedom to do as he will.
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
all things
Romans 8:28–30 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
For all of mankind's accomplishments, what makes us so unremarkable in this way--even if we wanted to save ourselves, we cannot. The argument for the freedom of will in mankind is invalid and lost because mankind is tinctured, fractured, broken and marred with sin. Even in trying to understand our sinful selves is broken--we can never see just how sinful we really are because we are sinful. Sin has broken not only minds, hearts, souls, and bodies but also our wills.
We might want to save ourselves but for what reason? In of ourselves, if we could save ourselves, we would not want to save ourselves to God but rather to our own selves. And because we are fractured by sin, we would un-save ourselves just as quickly.
But God, in everything he has and will do, he has the will to do it because he is sinless and perfect and holy.
freely and unchangeably
Hebrews 6:17 (CSB) Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,
For all of mankind's accomplishments, what makes us so unremarkable in this way--even if we wanted to save ourselves, we cannot. The argument for the freedom of will in mankind is invalid and lost because mankind is tinctured, fractured, broken and marred with sin. Even in trying to understand our sinful selves is broken--we can never see just how sinful we really are because we are sinful. Sin has broken not only minds, hearts, souls, and bodies but also our wills.
We might want to save ourselves but for what reason? In of ourselves, if we could save ourselves, we would not want to save ourselves to God but rather to our own selves. And because we are fractured by sin, we would un-save ourselves just as quickly.
But God, in everything he has and will do, he has the will to do it because he is sinless and perfect and holy.
whatsoever comes to pass
Romans 9:15–18 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
And herein lies the rub: we are not free to do as we please. And when the Almighty God, who possesses all power and strength, does something that we don't want to do or one step further, does something that interferes with our little lives, we become upset. We become upset that we can't do as we please and we are limited by sin at all times.
God, in his compassion and mercy, willfully saved us from our sins. The book of Exodus summed up in the 9th chapter of Romans demonstrates one thing clear: God is not above building up an empire and a king and bringing it low unto death so that his people are saved to the glory of his name.
What did these particular set of people of do?
yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein nor is violence offered to the will of the creature
James 1:13 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
1 John 1:5 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.
Only the sin to crucify the Son of Man.
God, in his perfection and holiness and might, did what he wanted to do and did so without sinning, helping sin, or disrupting our own wills.
Even when we lose a love one, you might be tempted to feel that God has done you wrong. But he has not because he is the source of all good. Our own sin and the sins of others is what took the life of your loved one. We were never met to die--when mankind was created, we were made in the image of God and we were to enjoy his presence forever and never to die.
We were never met to die. God knows that. That is why he sent his Son to live and to die in our place for our sin so that we can enjoy him forever. For:
Psalm 16:11 (CSB) You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away
Acts 4:27–28 (CSB) “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place.
John 19:11 (CSB) “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
And whatever freedoms and rights we possessed as humans were never violated.
Romans 1:21–25 (CSB) For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
God does not violate our sinful selfs nor our sinful wills that longs to suppress the truth that is a God. He simply gives some over to what exactly what we want.
That is what he did with Pharaoh. That is what he did with Esau. That is what he did with Judas Iscariot. That is what he does for every child of destruction.
but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things
Numbers 23:19 (CSB) God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?
With no violation of mankind's will, he sets the foundations and boundaries and the motion of all things by his most wisdom, intelligence and knowledge.
And if you think He is not considerate of the most mundane details of your life, consider:
Acts 17:24-28 (CSB) The God who made the world and everything in it — he is Lord of heaven and earth — does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’
The year and place of where you were born? That lease or mortgage you signed? That is not only the provision of God but the decree of God. Why? So that we seek him, might reach out and find him because the earth is filled with his glory.
It is in him that we live, move and have our being.
and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.
Ephesians 1:3–6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
We have spoken about the power and ability of God in his decree. We have spoken about the will of God in his decree. But what about his faithfulness?
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
God does not reveal all of what he will do to us. That is the right of the Creator over his creation. But if God has told us, his creation, that he will do something, then because of who he is, it is as good as done.
God cannot lie. He lacks the ability to lie because he is the source of all truth.
And it started when we broke our promise to God that we would obey him so we could enjoy him forever.
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
God's response was not death or un-create and start over. But rather a promise that he alone will make all things right.
And the Bible through the Old Testament was a unveiling of this great good promise that he will redeem what we broke.
And the fulfillment of that promise was Jesus Christ our Lord.
Consider that God is the only being ever in existence that will state what he intends to do and has the power, ability, will, and faithfulness to see it to completion.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Paul's use of the past tense, "glorified", was not a grammatical mistake. Because Christ has died, we ere saved unto him. Our salvation happened on Golgotha over 2,000 years ago.
Let us muse upon the fact that Jesus was conducted without the gates of the city. It was the common place of death. That little rising ground, which perhaps was called Golgotha, the place of a skull, from its somewhat resembling the crown of a man's skull, was the common place of execution. It was one of Death's castles; here he stored his gloomiest trophies; he was the grim lord of that stronghold. Our great hero, the destroyer of Death, bearded the lion in his den, slew the monster in his own castle, and dragged the dragon captive from his own den. Methinks Death thought it a splendid triumph when he saw the Master impaled and bleeding in the dominions of destruction; little did he know that the grave was to be rifled, and himself destroyed, by that crucified Son of man.
Charles Spurgeon. The Procession of Sorrow. Sermon 497. March 1, 1863.
My beloved, we were saved on Good Friday.
Therefore, we will be glorified because of all that Christ has done.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.2 The Decretive Will of God
The Text
Romans 3:25–26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
The Chapter
Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet had he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
The Confession
Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions
Acts 15:15–18 (CSB) And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by my name— declares the Lord who makes these things known from long ago.
God knows the end from the beginning because the Lord is in the end, the present as well as the beginning:
Ezekiel 48:35 (CSB) The perimeter of the city will be six miles, and the name of the city from that day on will be The LORD Is There.”
And:
Hebrews 1:1–2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Consider this.
One of the Doctrines of Grace that is perhaps the most controversial and yet the least understood is the Doctrine of Limited Atonement. Limited in this use is to describe not the limitation of the God's atoning work for his people but the perfection, defining, and complete atone work for his people.
If Christ died on the cross for our sins prior to the fall of mankind, then one could state that Christ's death on the cross was to make salvation possible for mankind. Proponents of this view will simply state that since Christ has made it possible, all the person has to do is believe and trust him within their own ability and will and power.
But we know that mankind's ability is lacking; our will marred and our power weak because of sin. And to choose God is a good and righteous choice. But since "There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one." (Romans 3:10–12 (CSB)), we cannot choose God.
Ephesians 2:1 says, "We are dead in our trespasses." Dead men do not make choices because they are dead.
This is true for us and true for the Old Testament saints who were in the grave when Christ died. Did Christ make it possible for the dead saints of old to believe and trust in him?
Romans 3:25–26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What looks like God passing over former sins was in fact God giving over his only begotten Son to live and die for his people.
yet had he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
Romans 9:11–18 (CSB) For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau. What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
Before you could have sinned and before you could have done any good work, God had determine that he would save you through his Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
All of our works, good or not, were infected by sin. They were not good because we had no good in us.
To put it another way: if God had not elected us and had not predestined us then we would have not been saved. No one would have chosen Christ because no one does good--no not even one.
Since our salvation was decreed by God before the foundations of the world, then it came to past because he decreed it so and not because the conditions were just right or our wicked, stone cold hearts were just soft enough or we were brought to the end of our rope. God does all that of that because he decreed it to be so. But he saves us because he decreed it to be so.
Praise be to his glorious name!
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.3 The Predestination & Foreordination of God
The Text
1 Timothy 1:17 (CSB) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Chapter
By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.
The Confession
By the decree of God
1 Timothy 5:21 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
So it was in this decree--by his holiness, his most wisdom, his power, his ability, his will, and his faithfulness that some are declared to be his people and some beings are turned over to their sin and wickedness.
for the manifestation of his glory
Matthew 25:34 (CSB) Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Just as God has a prepared a place for his people:
Hebrews 11:16 (CSB) But they now desire a better place — a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
So too has he prepared a place for demons and the wicked:
Matthew 25:41 (CSB) “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!
some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace
Ephesians 1:5-6 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
We were saved for one thing: to the praise of the God's glorious grace upon grace that he gives us all we need and want through his Son, Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 2:4-10 (CSB) For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment; and if he didn’t spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others, when he brought the flood on the world of the ungodly; and if he reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes and condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is coming to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, distressed by the depraved behavior of the immoral (for as that righteous man lived among them day by day, his righteous soul was tormented by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) — then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority.
But the judgment and the punishment and the everlasting wrath of the Son upon the wicked and the cursed and the damn is still to the praise of the glorious grace of God.
Sin is what broke God's good creation. And in the end, it will be eradicated with extreme prejudice, for:
Revelation 21:4 (CSB) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
This was accomplished by Christ because he was hung upon that tree, who bleed and died for me:
Colossians 2:15 (CSB) He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice
Romans 9:22-23 (CSB) And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—
Jude 4 (CSB) For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
The will of God is a powerful thing. We are made in the image of God and we have a will that is made in the image of God. Because of sin, our wills want nothing to do with God--only if God can give us what our wicked hearts desire.
There are two ways in this existence: continue to follow your heart unto death and wrath by the Lord Jesus Christ or God will have to give you his own heart so that you will come into life, joy, and pleasures evermore by our only, only Lord Jesus Christ.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.4 The Certainty of God
The Text
Luke 12:7 (CSB) Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
The Chapter
These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
The Confession
These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed
2 Timothy 2:19 (CSB) Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
We know that salvation is of the Lord. That means every facet of salvation--from election to calling to atonement to justification to adoption to sanctification to glorification is on the Lord alone.
and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished
John 13:18 (CSB) “I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me.
The Jehovah's Witness, a sect out and apart from the Christian orthodox faith, was founded and established by the notion that we, as mankind, should know this set number and work towards being apart of that set number. The Jehovah's Witnesses has that number and within their religion, they know the right things to do to be within that set number. But there are no guarantees that you will be saved.
And in a way, they are correct but not in the way you think. Jehovah's Witnesses know the right thing to do and will strive with all of their might to do the right thing. But the right thing does not guarantee their salvation.
But we know that salvation is of God because of his Son, we know that we have full assurance that we are saved. We know this because has nothing to do with our will, our sincerity, our baptisms, our filling of the Holy Spirit, our gifts or our perfect attendance but rather on the God who alone saves.
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
You might be curious, "Well, what is that number?" If God told you that set number, would that increase or decrease your anxiety? Would that increase or decrease your love for God. Truth be know: only God knows that set number. But thank God we are not mere numbers to him--we are his beloved children whom he adores and cares for all of our days.
Now, because we are finite beings with tiny perspectives, it would seem that God is increasing those numbers:
Acts 2:46-47 (CSB) Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
But that is just it, we are not like God in that we know the end from the beginning. We can't see it. But we do see the work of the Holy Spirit after he has wielded his incredible, almighty power:
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.5 The Election of God
The Text
Isaiah 42:6–9 (CSB) “I am the LORD. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house. I am the LORD. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.”
The Chapter
Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
The Confession
Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid
Ephesians 1:3–12 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.
Before time and space began, before he created the heavens and the earth, before Genesis 1:1, God had already set his affections and love and mercies upon his precious people.
Psalms 90:1-2 (CSB) Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
I have heard so many weird explanations from well-intended Christians try to do their best to explain away words like predestination and foreknew when it comes to God. We don’t have a frame for knowing before existing. We don’t have a mindset of loving before we were alive. But for the God was is from everlasting to everlasting, this is who he is and nothing more nor less.
There is one thought called Molinism that attempts to bridge the omniscience and omnipotence of God and the supposed free will of Mankind. Molinism explains it this way: “God sees throughout all of time and in every timeline and see where individuals would choose Him and makes that timeline happen.” But there is a couple problems with that:
First, the Bible states that we were dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). So how does a dead person able to choose God unless there is something outside of that dead person to give them life? Have you ever met a dead person who brought himself back to life? Christ did so by the Holy Spirit. How can any one else do more than that? And in this, Romans 5:8 is such a comfort:
Romans 5:6-8 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The Bible rightly states that we were helpless and ungodly. But God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Think about this: when did the crucifixion of Christ occurred? A little over two thousand years ago. When did you start sinning against God? Before or after that? Christ never looked down the corridors of time and saw that we were choosing God but rather, he looked down the corridors of time, saw that were running hard into sin and death. Titus 3 says it best:
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Christ saw all of that and with great joy descended into death upon the cross so that we would live!
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Second, the Scriptures never says “foresaw” as in “God looked into time and foresaw those who would choose him.” No, God foreknew his people.
Don’t overthink it. God loved his people before time began.
God is eternal like that.
and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
In every instance that we could possibly fathom when it comes to God saving us, it is not because of what we have done but what God has done. Nothing we have done. Not softening our hearts. Not praying the right prayer. Not having a broken heart. Not having the right parents. Going to the right church. Not being born in a certain country. None of that. God loved you from before time began. And why? For his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
If you asked God why did you love me before time began, he told you. For his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
We could romanticize it and try to make a feel good movie about it. But what about God has said. Is that answer good enough for you, Christian? I hope so. I hope it is balm to your wounds. I hope repairs in your broken heart. I hope that knowing God can't stop loving you due to something you did or did not do is because he never started loving you due to something you did or did not do. He loves you because he loves you.
hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (CSB) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
We could sit and argue about single and double predestination all the live long day. But predestination is not of us. That is the secret good and wise counsel and glory of God.
Do you know what we know? That he has not appointed us to wrath. All that wrath for all of our sins--past, present, and future--was poured out on Christ.
1 Peter 2:24 (CSB) He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1 John 4:10 (ESV) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Justice has been served. Death has been defeated. Sin has been paid for. And God has chosen us in Christ to be his forever.
out of his mere free grace and love
Romans 9:10-16 (ESV) And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
John 1:12-13 (ESV) But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
If none of us our good, no not even one, and yet, we love God, how is that possible? Because God loved us first. He is good and the only source of good, love, mercy and compassionate. He pours out lavishly and excessively and abundantly and perfectly on us.
Moreso, we cannot put God into our debt. Let me explain.
There is was a teaching that roared about when I was a kid and it infected many of my brothers and sisters in Christ. It was the false teaching that if you do good things, and do them right, then God will bless you. If you do them wrong, then God will curse you.
No one is denying there is blessing in the obeying God and curse when we sin against God. But this level of thinking was trying to "discern" the will of God and do exactly what he says. Or take the holy law of God and twist it to what it doesn't mean. "If I save myself and keep my virginity, then God will bless me with a godly spouse and we will live happily ever happy."
They do the work but the spouse turns out to be wicked and worthless. Addicted to porn, infidelity, anger, abuse, and eventually, divorce. They look around and know it was not suppose to be this way. But here is the folly that follows: "I did everything right."
But don't you know that God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45) Do you know he blesses and curses according to his most wise counsel and goodness?
Romans 9:19 (CSB) You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will? ”
But the Creator has absolute rights over the creation.
Romans 9:20-24 (CSB) On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this? ” Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor? And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory--on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
The Response
cause moving him thereunto.
In other words, we cannot put God into our debt. We don't do the right thing and move God to do our bidding. That is Paganism and God is above idolatries. For:
Psalms 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD,
are the Most High over the whole earth;
you are exalted above all the gods.
We do not move God or put in our debt. God does not and will never owe anybody anything ever for ever. He is the Creator of the heavens and earth.
Romans 4:1-5 (CSB) What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about — but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
Abraham placed his faith in God and it was credited to Abraham as the righteousness of Christ.
From that moment, Abraham set out to do the good works that God has prepared for him to do.
This life, this world, others, sin, Satan, demons are out to kick you upside your head and heart. And you cannot do anything except one thing:
Know that God knows all of that. He knew that you were too weak. He knows life is about that beat-down. And he knows that your faith will be tested. And you will fail. And you will sin. And you will try to depart from his grace. But my glorious God will never let you go! This guarantee is absolute because he sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God is God Eternal to come live and die for you so you will die and live for him with him in his maxed joy and pleasures forevermore.
Ephesians 2:1-13 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh — called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
This is complete conjuncture because the Scriptures are not explicit and I certainly was not there. But I always thought that before anything, the Father and the Son were in perfection expressing their love for one another and then the conversation took a turn: 1
Father: I love you
Son: I love you
Father: I love you so much
Son: I love you so much
Father: I had a thought
Son: Oh yea!
Father: Do you know who I love so much?
Son: Alex? What about Kim?
Father: Yes. What about Dieter?
Son: Oh snap… and how about Dwayne
Father: and Lori
Son: and Jessica
Father: and Natsuko
Son: and what about…
Father: and what about…
Son: laughs
Father: laughs
Son: You know what I am thinking
Father: I had the same thought. with tears in his eyes But you know what is going to happen?
Son: Yea, I know. tears welling up But don’t you worry, I will go get them.
Father: This is hard and I will send you to save them all… but you are going to need all the help in the world.
Son: I wouldn’t do it with him. Spirit, you ready?
Spirit: deeply exhales Ready!
Father: I love you.
Son: I love you.
Father: I love you so much.
Son: I love you so much.
Father: Here we go!
Son: Let’s do this!
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Beloved, you were always loved by God and he will never stop loving you. Praise be to his glorious grace forever.
Let me acknowledge that God does not have passions. But tapping into the times when he grieved, disappointed, jealous and sad because of the sins of his people, I took some literary liberties here.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.6 The Free Purpose of the Will of God
The Text
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
The Chapter
As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
The Confession
As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will
1 Peter 1:2 (CSB) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
It is this point, I want to jump on a table and yell, "Have you not known!"
No! We have not known because we don't know who is elect! Who all has God chosen? We don't know. Who has God chosen thus far? Ah, it is you and me because we believe in the Holy One of God.
Spurgeon said it definitively:
If God would have painted a yellow stripe on the backs of the elect I would go around lifting shirts. But since He didn’t I must preach “whosoever will” and when “whatsoever” believes I know that he is one of the elect.
Charles Spurgeon. The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit. Volume 1. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1855.
We don't know whom has he elected. I believe in Christ and that faith that God has given me has been counted to me as righteousness of Christ. Therefore, logic dictates that I am his elected.
What about you? Don't you believe in the One who has bled and died for you? That your most grievous, most wicked, most vile, most monstrous sins were all lavished upon the Perfect Spotless Lamb? Don't you know, the entire Roman kingdom bear witness that God's only begotten Son was slain in your place? Don't you know that Jesus Christ, the son of Mary and Joseph from Nazarene, perfectly sinless and perfectly obeyed his Father. Because he was blameless, good, and holy, by the sovereign grace of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, he was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
And because all of that, you have not your filthy self-righteousness but rather the righteousness of Christ alone.
Your most grievous sins? Cleansed.
Isaiah 1:18 (CSB) Come, let’s settle this,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool.
Your most wicked sins? Covered.
Psalms 85:2 (CSB) You forgave your people’s guilt;you covered all their sin. Selah
Your most vile sins? Removed.
Psalms 103:12 (CSB) As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Your most monstrous sins? Forgiven.
Psalms 103:3 (CSB) He forgives all your iniquity;he heals all your diseases.
And because of what God has done through Jesus Christ his Son by the power of the Holy Spirit alone, you are his elect.
foreordained all the means thereunto
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
Acts 17:26-27 (CSB) From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
From the preaching of the gospel to Adam and Eve, through the Law and the Prophets and through the birth of the Church through the Protestant Reformation to the churches you have attended and under the preached word of God, God has foreordained from the beginning all the means so that you would look upon his Son and be saved. Salvation is of the Lord and his sanctifying work in your life is of the Lord.
wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ
1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 (CSB) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
And:
Romans 5:12-16 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.
Because of Adam, we were all born into sin and we choose to sin. We were born to die.
But because of Christ, the Second Adam, we are now born again not to die but to live forever with him.
Adam broke creation. Christ restored creation.
Adam broke covenant. Christ fulfilled the covenant.
Adam died. Christ rose from the dead.
Adam was cursed. Christ was blessed.
Adam sinned. Christ redeems.
are effectually called unto faith in Christ
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
So God predestines. From there, God calls. When He actually calls, He actually saves. Salvation includes and new heart that springs forth new desires for God and His Spirit dwells within us.
If God charged a prophet to a call out to the valley of dry bones and they live, how much more powerful is the calling of God on those who are far from Him.
Consider the ultimate calling of God from death unto life.
John 11:38–44 (CSB) Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. “Remove the stone,” Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
We know Jesus has raised those who were extremely ill to the point of being thought of as death. But Jesus quickly corrects with, “She’s just asleep”. But Lazarus was someone who was dead for four days. His body was wrapped and laid in the tomb.
This is the first time we’ve seen Christ step before not just His friend’s dead body but at Death itself. Through the deepest and darkest grief and pain of losing his friend, even for a moment, Christ looked upon His Father and with tears running down his cheeks, he simply prays, “Father, I thank you that you hear me and have heard me. I knew that you always heard me but I want everybody around here to know that as well so that they believe in me.”
It is Jesus Christ—the Lord ruling over heaven, earth, and hell; the upcoming victor over Satan and his demons—faced death and with His own voice cut through Death’s power and call his friend back to life: “Lazarus, come out!”
When God calls us to himself, he saves us to himself. It is a 1:1 ratio. Romans 8:30 doesn't say, "For those whom he predestined, some were called..." No!
Let us theorized that we know the number of the elect. That number is 92,203,292,301. If 92,203,292,301 people have been predestined, then 92,203,292,301 people have been called, and then 92,203,292,301 have been justified and then 92,203,292,301 have been glorified. That means 92,203,292,301 have elected and that means 92,203,292,301 have been saved.
have been saved - I didn't make a mistake on the past tense of that statement. It is past tense because Christ died over 2,000 years ago. It's already done because of what he has done for us.
by his Spirit working in due season
John 3:5-8 (CSB) Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
It is the work of the Spirit that brings us to faith in Christ. We don't know when the Spirit starts or just how he does it. But the moment you first believe, that is evident of the work of the Spirit.
Let me take this moment to assure some of my brothers and sisters in Christ. If you ever been taught that you need to be filled with the Spirit, or you need to be baptized in the Spirit after you have been saved, then praise be to God, that has already happened when you first believed. You don't need more of God because you already have the Infinite God! That hole of eternity in your heart is already filled with the Eternal God! (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
There is no second baptism. There is no second or third or forth baptism of the Spirit. There is no higher life Christianity. There is no varsity level of Christianity. The moment you believed, the Triune God dwells in you. You already have everything you need to live a life that is pleasing to God because God has laid out those good works for you. Go and do in the name of Christ.
are justified, adopted, sanctified
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Philippians 1:6 (CSB) I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB) Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What God has started in you, God will finish in you. It is a done deal. We start things all the time and not finish them. God is not like us. What he starts, he completes it. If he started this work in you, he will bring it to completion. For:
Psalm 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
God will bring us all the way home. That is the gospel.
Our Response
kept by his power through faith unto salvation
1 Peter 1:5 (CSB) You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
Pop quiz: What is God's gift to us in Ephesians 2:8-9? Is it:
A) Salvation
B) Grace
C) Faith
The answer is yes! It's D) All of the above.
Salvation is the gift of God to you. Grace is the gift of God to you.
Did that faith come from within you or is it because God gave you a new heart and his Spirit and now you believe?
Because God gives the gifts to his children to save them unto himself and it's not dependent on us at all to keep ourselves to God, we are locked in forever.
John 10:25-30 (CSB) “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
This is the double snatch almighty grip of Almighty God the Father and the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ sealed by the Almighty Holy Spirit.
More math. How much strength is in infinite mighty times three? Answer: all of the strength.
God has three times infinite grip on you. God is the perfect Father who does not lose his kids.
neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
John 10:26 (CSB) But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep.
John 17:9 (CSB) “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.
John 6:64 (CSB) But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.)
Remember, election is not of us. It is not dependent on us. This is the secret counsel of God in his most holy and most wise.
The oft pushback I have heard of other Christians is, "Why would God violate my free will like that? That sounds like a tyrant."
God did not violate your will. You were dead in your trespasses and sins. Your will was imprisoned and wanted sin and death. Your will was in bondage to sin and death.
If God did any bit less than what he did to save you, my friend you would not be saved. It takes all of God to save all of his people.
Consider this.
Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Whom is Christ intercedes for the elect and non-elect? No, he intercedes for his people alone.
Does Romans 1:16 says that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe and don't believe? No, the gospel has no power to save those who do not believe. The gospel only has power to save those believe and trust in Christ.
Does John 3:16 states that God so loved the world in this way that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes and does not believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life?
Only those who are elect are saved by God. Election is of God and we are the people of God. And the blessing of salvation belong to the people of God alone.
My question to you, the reader and to any of my neighbors who would listen: What do you want? Do you want your own way? Do you want to figure out your own life? Do you hope that there isn't a God or if he exists, then you hope he grades on a curve because you are not as bad as Adolf Hitler?
You are going to take your destiny based on your comparison to someone like Adolf Hitler? Make that make sense.
Do you want God? Do you want to believe? Do you trust and believe that God has done it all to save you from yourself and unto him?
2 Corinthians 6:2 (CSB) For he says:
At an acceptable time I listened to you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.
See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
Today, you can believe, Today, you can trust in Christ. Today marks your day of salvation. I don't care what your life was like before. Believe and trust in the one who has done it all for you.
Ask God for God and you will have God. Why? Because you have God.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.7 The Mercies of God
The Text
John 21:17 (CSB) He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.
The Chapter
The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
The Confession
The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (CSB) For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit,
So, what now?
Historical, orthodox Christianity has this wonderful, blessed doctrine of assurance for the Church since the Law was penned by Moses. The hubris of the modern age has a host of Christians assume that the predestination of God does not actually mean what God said it means. We have had to soften the edges a bit because predestination does not fit within our humanistic, secular, rationalist, experiential worldview, culture and defacto mindset. Somehow, someway we have to make it more palatable to the modern mind because our minds cannot fathom a God that has the absolute freedom of choice and we do not. It is inconceivable and a bit offensive if we are honest with ourselves.
But as clear and perspicuous that the Bible's teaching on predestination is, herein the task of the preacher, teacher, minister, pastor, and saint in handling such a doctrine.
The Bible calls us to handle such teaching with special wisdom and care. For:
1 Timothy 4:16 (CSB) Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
2 Timothy 2:15 (CSB) Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
Matthew 18:6 (CSB) “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
And:
James 3:1 (CSB) Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.
It is unhelpful, unwise, and foolish to proclaim to someone that they are elect on the basis on election alone. To teach election without the facets of the gospel and atonement is foolishness. We cannot, in good conscience, proclaim someone is elect when there is no human who is privy to such information. There is one man who had such knowledge and his name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God, who has saved his people from their sins. Of course, Christ knew the people whom he was saving--that is why he came to live and die--to fulfill the law for us.
"Frozen Chosen" is not a thing. Nothing to celebrate. If you ever been told that you are elect on the basis outside the gospel of Christ, then just ignore. You, however, believe and trust in Christ. Call upon his name and you shall be saved. Because you had the wherewithal and the gumption and the will to ask for God, you have God. You couldn't call upon his name without having a new heart with new desires.
that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word
Psalm 19:7–10 (CSB)
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
And:
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Let Christ simplify this all the way:
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Christ has said: "The Scriptures are the mouth of God."
Want to know the will of God for your life? Picks up the Bible There you go. You have the mouth of God speaking to you through his pages. Praise be to God that he would speak to us.
In one particular Bible Study years ago, one elder who was leading the study confessed, "I don't have a inner monologue. Some people say they hear from God but I don't hear anything."
Then a few discussions later, seemingly unrelated to hearing God, he responds to a question with, "The Bible says..." I told him, "Stop right there, Pastor. You do hear the voice of God. You have it right there in the palm of your hand."
I know a lot of Christians, especially who grew up Charismatic, will come under great despair because they feel like they don't hear from God or they have to pretend that they hear from him.
My child, listen to me. You do hear from God. It is contained in his precious Scriptures. If you read or hear his word, you have heard from God.
Charismatic brother and sisters, what I am proposing may not seem supernatural enough for you. But this book, compromising of books, collected from over eons between the Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, penned by over 40 authors of God, inspired by the Spirit of God, which not only does not contradict itself but rather collectively and perfectly bears witness about the one, Jesus Christ. Give me something more supernatural than that. You cannot.
and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election
2 Peter 1:10 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.
1 John 5:13 (CSB) I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Now that God has saved us, we get to do good works. We get to please God because we are in the Son, with whom the Father is well-pleased.
We cannot obey enough. We keep failing to do the good thigns that we should have done. We keep doing the bad things that we should not have done. We keep falling short of the glory of God. We are not sincere enough in our repentance. We keep falling into sin even through we have been cleansed. We struggle. We are weak. We are frail. We are sinful. We are dust. We are nothing. We are worms.
But God knows. God already knew that about you. God already knew that about me. He knew we couldn't do it. We would have failed and be apart from him forever.
He knew that. He knew that already. That's why he sent his Son, who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
Now, as his child, go and sin no more. You are in Christ. Go and rest in Christ.
so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God
Ephesians 1:6 (CSB) to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Romans 11:33–36 (CSB) Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Some with certain personalities and dispositions and proclivities will be more prone to try hard. God knows that. Still, praise his name for what all he has done.
Some, because of the brokenness of the cosmos will fall into addiction. Certain sins will come to haunt you for what will seem like the rest of your life. God knows that and he has you. Still, praise his name for what all he has done.
Some will base the realness of God on their experience and feelings at the moment. But when they are in the valley of the shadow of death, they will question God's existence. God knows that and it is in those valleys where God will sit and dwell with you.
Some, still, will believe and doubt at the same time. They are the little boys's father who cries out, "I do believe; help me with my unbelief." Did you know, my child, that God is real and good and holy and loving and kind whether you doubt it or not. He is still for you. Still, praise his name for what all he has done.
And my beloved, if you have never sat in a church where the gospel was preached faithfully, where you were exhorted to rest in Christ because he has done it all and you have been taught and live as though sanctification is on you somehow. That is okay. God knows. And you are still his child. And you still get to rest in his Son. Praise his wonderful name.
and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation
Romans 11:2-5 (CSB) God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah — how he pleads with God against Israel? Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life! But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal. In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.
1 Chronicles 29:14-15 (CSB) But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand. For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
Psalms 22:6 (CSB) But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.
Or in the words of the Apostle Paul be our ever declaration:
1 Timothy 1:12-17 (CSB) I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry — even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” — and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
to all that sincerely obey the gospel
Luke 10:20 (CSB) However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
This is why we will praise his name forever. Amen.
Chapter 4 Of Creation
4.1 The Manifestation of the Glory of God
In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.
4.2 The Imagebearers of God
After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.
4.3 The Law of God
Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 4.1 Creation--The Manifestation of the Glory of God
The Text
Genesis 1:1-2 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
The Chapter
In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.
The Confession
In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
John 1:2–3 (CSB) He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
When we arrive to the creation of the Bible, we have to had done the work on the attributes of the Creator before we can understand his creation--to lest we attribute something on the why God created the world that is not in his word.
Let us remind ourselves on the two particular attributes: his impassibility and immutability.
- impassibility - God is not changed by anything that can happen to him
- immutability - God is not changed from the inside out
Now why is that so important. It is often said that God created the world out of the overflow of his love. There is an "yes and" moment there. God is simply love, and holiness, goodness, righteousness, and omniscient and almighty. Love is just a part of him but he is wholly and simply all of his attributes.
To say God created the world or us out of the overflow of his love is selling God short. It is here that the 1689 rightfully says that it pleased the Triune God to speak the creation into existence. Why did the Father, Son, and Spirit created the heavens and earth? Because it pleased him. It was his will. It was his desire. It was his pleasure.
Why for?
for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness
Hebrews 1:2 (CSB) In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Much ink has been spilled trying to help wrap our minds around the glory of God. We could say that the glory of God is the sum of all his attributes. But keeping in mind that God is simply all of his attributes perfectly and the glory is the sum of his attributes perfectly maxed.
It is it any wonder why God is jealous for his people?
Isaiah 42:8–9 (CSB) I am the LORD. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.”
Is it any wonder why God wouldn't let Moses see the full splendor of his glory?
Exodus 33:18–23 (CSB) Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.” He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the LORD’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” The LORD said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”
Yet, is it any wonder when God became His very good creation--that is when Jesus took on flesh--that we all now see his glory?
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Prior to the incarnation, we could only see ths semblances of his glory and sometimes in creation. But because of Christ, we see the fullness of his glory.
And you might say, "But we are not in heaven with him? How can we see him now?" But remember you were once blind but because of Christ, he has opened your eyes to see his beauty, majesty, and his great glory. When you were dead, there is no way you can see him. Now that you can see, you do see his glory.
to create or make the world
Job 26:13 (CSB) By his breath the heavens gained their beauty; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.
In the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, God could easily elected to do infinite other things besides create the heavens and the earth. What those things are? I lack the creativity and the intellect to even begin. God could have done anything he wanted to do but he chose to create the world.
and all things therein
Romans 1:20 (CSB) For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
God did not just make the spiritual realm as a big vast empty dwelling place. God did not just make a big world as a finite empty dwelling place. God made the heavens and the earth and all the things within.
He made the sun, moon, stars, the day sky and the night sky. He made the land masses and the waters. And he populated the earth from the humpback whales to the tardigrades and smaller. All the atoms. All the existence. All the dwelling places. All the things. God made it all.
whether visible or invisible
Colossians 1:16 (CSB) For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
What we can see is the material plane: the visible creation including the depths of the ocean we have yet to the explore and the vastness of the cosmos that we have yet to reach. But there is also the invisible creation: the spiritual realm that we cannot see with our eyes--namely, the angels and the heavens, the demons and the hells and all points in between.
in the space of six days, and all very good
Genesis 1:31 (CSB) God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.
In this point, I am not hear to debate the finer points of creation. Does six days means six days? Is our world older or younger? That is another debate for another day. In whatever your stance might be, it is the Lord's command that we rest on the seventh day because God rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth for the first six days. The six days of work? Not set apart. The seventh day? Set apart and called holy.
Our Sabbath observance bears witness to the world that our God did create the heavens and the earth in six days and all very good.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 4.2 The Imagebearers of God
The Text
Romans 1:20 (CSB) For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
The Chapter
After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.
The Confession
After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female
Genesis 1:27 (CSB) So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.
Mankind. Human. These are the only creation of God that carries the title, "imagebearers of God". In other words, we are made to look like him.
And it pleased the Father, Son, and Spirit for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness to create mankind in his image and from the start, created us two genders, male and female.
In the year of this writing, 2023, the term gender has been a bit of a controversial topic in the Western world. In our sinful brokenness, we have been so desperate in our strive for autonomy, we have taken upon ourselves to choose what are gender should be. Let me not mince words: to choose your own gender is sin against God. For:
Psalms 139:13-14 (CSB)
For it was you who created my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.
It was God that formed you in your mother's womb. He stitched you and fashioned you together. He is the one who granted you your intelligence, your soul, you body, your mind and your gender.
Your life was a blessing from God on this earth to us. Every part of you. The brokenness does not lie in your body parts but rather, what is going on in your soul and the empty, infinite void in your heart.
Transgenders seek a world where they are not discriminated against, never hated, and accepted as they are. So this also the world I want as well--not just for me but for transgender people as well. Yet, let us use our imagination: imagine a world where we had the technology to change who you are on the outside. But what about on the inside? What in your heart? Would you be happy? Are you happy and satisified?
Matthew 23:27-28 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
We are always so quick to read this passage and thinks that this does not apply to any about other than legalistic ministers. But that just it: a careful examination of word and letting his law cross-examine our hearts will reveal that each of these Christ declarations in Matthew 23 are about us. We want to appear a certain way on the outside: our mask, our proxy, our own normative based on the gender we have chosen. But inside, we are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
If you are reading this and think this is a bit personal, because it is. I have more than a few loved ones who have declared themselves transgendered. But my friends, this is not the identity you are seeking because it only changes you on the outside. It still doesn't satisfy your heart. It still doesn't fill the void in your soul. It still doesn't give you the peace that you are seeking.
The identity, the fulfillment, and the rest you are seeking is Christ alone.
Apart from Christ, our identity is so wrapped up in what we think we are or what we do. But in Christ, then our identity because about who he is and what he has done for us.
Apart from Christ, we seek fulfillment in pleasure, safety, comfort, or provision. Yet, God is the provider of all those things. You are not in control. We are not sovereign. God is absolutely sovereign.
Apart from Christ, we strive and work hard for something that will give us nothing in return. Not in our idols, not in our self-identity nothing. You might call yourself _______ Christian but you have just double the work and the labor to make yourself look a certain way on the outside.
Matthew 11:28–30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Christ holds the offer freely to you. Give him your self-identity and he will give you rest for your weary souls. Give him your despair and he will give you hope. Give him your sin and he will give you his righteousness. Take your pains and put them on him. Let the Almighty God carry your burdens. He is the only one who can.
with reasonable and immortal souls
Genesis 2:7 (CSB) Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
In our reasonableness, he did not make us chaotic beings with no sense and no purpose. We are reasonable creatures with sense as the conscience written on our hearts and the purpose to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Even in our sin and fallen short of the glory of God, we are not so utter depraved where there is absolutely no hope for our souls. For:
Isaiah 50:2a (CSB) Why was no one there when I came? Why was there no one to answer when I called? Is my arm too weak to redeem?
No, our God alone is mighty to save.
In the immortality of our souls, that comes from the fact we bear the image of God. Other creatures, do not bear the image of God and therefore do not have immortal souls like we do.
When God created Adam and Eve, he created mankind to live forever and ever and not die. But the wages of sin is death. When sin was committed, that was not a simple mistake but a trespass that had catastrophic consequences. You might say, "Why would God bring down such harsh judgement over one disobedience? That does not seem merciful."
When God gave mankind the one commandment, "do not disobey or you will die", that was a commandment that bore truthful consequences.
Adam and Eve did sin. But noticed that they didn't drop dead to the ground. But what did die? Their spirit. The spirit that was of God departed because God does not dwell in sin. Sin has no place with the Holy One.
With that, without the mercies of God, our immortal soul be under the wrath of Christ when our physical bodies expire.
But as soon as sin entered into his creation, the mercies of God were given to us in the his first gospel sermon:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
That mercy is in Christ alone. Our souls were made to always live forever, never to be undone or uncreated or destroy. That forever must live somewhere: either in hell under wrath or with God with pleasures evermore.
rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (CSB) Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.”
We often say that we are created by God to worship God. What boggles my mind is that God created us to worship him but gave us bodies, minds, wills, and hearts that can worship him.
being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness
And because Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, they were born righteous unto God. They were created holy because he is holy. They had the fullness of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control because they had the Spirit of God dwelling in them.
They could worship God and they did worship God perfectly because they were perfect in God from the start.
Genesis 1:26 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it
Romans 2:14–15 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them
The commandment of God to Adam:
Genesis 2:16-17 (CSB) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Was a law of God. But the law of God that we know today that could be summarized in the Greatest Commandments, love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself, were written upon the hearts of Adam and Eve. Mankind in Genesis 1 and 2 had no need for the Ten Commandments because God etched it into their consciences. They were born already righteous unto God and were born perfectly obeying him.
and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change
Genesis 3:6 (CSB) The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
We speak of the devastating consequences of sin. One of the most damage outcomes of sin that some Christians tend to forget or ignore is that because of sin, we do not worship God. We were not born to worship God from the womb--no matter what family we were born into. We were created to worship but because of sin, we tend to worship other things including ourselves.
Romans 1:25 (CSB) They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
With sin fracturing everything from the cosmos down to our hearts, it would be naive of us to think that somehow our free wills were impervious to the effects of sin. Our free will is as free as a prisoner in a prison cell. What ever a prisoner does in the midst of their cell is the limits of the freedom they have.
Acts 16:25-28 (CSB) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!”
For our imprisoned wills to choose God, believe God, trust God, and worship God, our wills must be set free by God.
Romans 8:20-21 (CSB) For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
Unless your have been set free by God, you are not a child of God and have not been set from the bondage of sin and death. You cannot enjoy the glorious freedom of God because you are not his child.
John 1:12-13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 4.3 The Law of God
The Text
Romans 2:14-16 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
The Chapter
Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.
The Confession
Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil
Genesis 2:17 (CSB) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
I know sometimes when we think of sin entering into the world, we can laugh and think, "Adam had one job! Why did he eat the fruit?" Truth be told, Adam and Eve's existence was to worship God and enjoy him. The one commandment was not the totality of the law of God for he had written all of the law on their hearts so that they would not sin against him.
which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures
Genesis 1:26–28 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”
This is what we call the Covenant of Works. The covenant of God to Adam, "do this and you shall live" was in perpetuity. So long as both God and Adam held up the covenant, we would enjoy the benefits of the covenant forever: live in perfection, righteousness, holiness, love, worship--in perfect community--unto God forever. And in addition, we would hold complete dominion over all the creatures of the earth.
Romans 5:12-13 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law.
Adam did not succeed. He failed in upholding his end of the covenant. And thus, he died. And all of his descendants, including you and me, will die.
Where is our hope? Only found in the one we call the Second Adam, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Romans 5:14 (CSB) Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.
Chapter 5 Of Divine Providence
5.1 The Governance of All Things
God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
5.2 The Causes of All Things
Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.
5.3 The Freedom of God
God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at his pleasure.
5.4 The Goodness of God
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.
5.5 The Discipline of God
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good.
5.6 The Rendering of God
As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening of others.
5.7 The Latitude of God
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.1 The Governance of All Things
The Text
Revelation 1:8 (CSB) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The Chapter
God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
The Confession
God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things
Hebrews 1:3 (CSB) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Job 38:11 (CSB) when I declared, “You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here”?
Isaiah 46:10–11 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for my purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.
Psalm 135:6 (CSB) The LORD does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.
God created the heavens and the earth. There is no contesting this among Christians.
But what is might be contested is the idea that God is actively involved in the day to day affairs of the world. It is the oft debate of the neo-atheists that, if God exists, then surely he just created the world and let it go on its own as thought God is some sort of divine watchmaker who wound up the world like a clock.
But the Bible is clear about God and his relationship to his creation. Aside from creating the material plane, God is actively and intrinsically involved in every minute detail and all the events of the world in a grand scale.
Colossians 1:17 (CSB) He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
In other words, Christ, with his mind, actively and perfectly holding every single atom of creation together. That is the opposite of the Divine Watchmaker caricature of God.
from the greatest even to the least
Matthew 10:29–31 (CSB) Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 6:26 (CSB) Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
Watch a National Geographic documentary. What you see, captured on film, is God providing for the life and death of his creation.
Then compare your own life and see how God has provided for you. To the good and evil and the just and unjust (Matthew 5:45), he whom all the animals belong to and the owner of all the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) is actively holding everything together and is actively providing your life and well-being--whether you acknowledge or not.
by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
Ephesians 1:11 (CSB) In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
What the Christian must realize and embrace is why is God so involved in the details of the world. More so, why my life? Why would I be interesting enough to garner attention of the Creator of the universe?
God sees you and knows you. If the God who knows the number of hairs of on your head, would it stand to reason that he might just see your heart and your thoughts and your will. He knows that with every waking moment of your life, your thought, and your heart, you do not love God has much as you should and you don't love your neighbor as you out.
God sees the details of your heart and knows every single detail. He knows. How do I know? Because he sent his Son to live because you and I could not live perfectly and to die the death we should have died so that we would gain the righteousness of Christ and be made right with God and be with God forever.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.2 The Causes of All Things
The Text
Romans 11:36 (CSB) For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever. Amen.
The Chapter
Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.
The Confession
Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly
Acts 2:23 (CSB) Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.
God is the first cause of all things. What does that mean? From his most wise and most holy council, he is the first cause of all things to be. And whatever he wants them to be, it will happened without being altered or changed in anyway (immutably). And whatever he wants them to be, it will happen without fail (infallibly).
We have seen this His bringing about all of Creation. But what happens when sin breaks the world? Is the God still the first cause? Yes. Does everything he wants to happen, happen? Yes. Does everything he wants to happen, happen without fail? Yes. Does it happen without being altered or changed in anyway or failing in anyway? Yes.
so that there is not anything befalls any by chance or without his providence
Proverbs 16:33 (CSB) The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Every dice roll result is has been provided and determined by God. Every lottery number drawn. Or the stack of the card deck in poker. Everything that appears to be chance is determined by God. He is the first cause of all things.
Let me address this one thought that you might be thinking: now do you see why Paganism is incompatible with Christianity. Humans invented idols that they could control by doing a set of things to please their idols in order to get something in return.
Throughout all of human history including the Bible, I could easily speculate that mankind enjoys the thought of an Almighty God. But the moment he doesn't do nor gives what we want--even if it is a very good thing--that thought wear us down and pushes against our harden hearts.
Romans 4:3–5 (CSB) For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
In other words, Paganism is putting God in our debt. And I know, that every Christian reading this would not willing fall for Paganism. "Come join us at Pagan Church." Christians be like, "Nope." But another term for Paganism is Legalism. Another, Works-Based Salvation. Another, Word of Faith aka Name it and Claim it aka Prosperity Gospel aka "You have to make sure you do the right things in order to step into the blessings of God." In other words, "let me do the right things that please God so that God will bless me with the life that I want and when that fails and my life falls apart, I will blame God for not doing what I wanted him to do." The term Paganism is not outright in American Christianity. It just takes on other forms and fully infect most of the evangelical churches in the world.
yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently
Genesis 8:22 (CSB) As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
Matthew 5:45b (CSB) For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
What if something he does and all down the line, sin happens? Answer the direct question: If God made Satan and Adam, and Satan rebelled against God and Satan tempted Adam and Adam sinned against God, is God still the first cause? Yes. Is the first cause of all sin? Absolutely not.
What is really going to blow your mind is that it is the God of the Universe who created not just the material but the situation and the circumstance that crucified our beloved Messiah:
So completely was Jesus bent upon saving sinners by the sacrifice of himself, he created the tree upon which he was to die, and nurtured from infancy the men who were to nail him to the accursed wood.
Octavius Winslow. The Life of Christ. 1855.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.3 The Freedom of God
The Text
Ephesians 1:9-10 (CSB) He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time — to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
The Chapter
God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at his pleasure.
The Confession
God
Acts 27:31–44 (CSB) Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away. When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing. So I urge you to take some food. For this is for your survival, since none of you will lose a hair from your head.” After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and after he broke it, he began to eat. They all were encouraged and took food themselves. In all there were 276 of us on the ship. When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea. When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could. After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach. But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape. But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore.
The God of details of all logistics of the providence. But what about the actions and events. We know that God is the first cause of all things and even when we sin against him, his first cause still caused the good and evil without being responsible for the sinful action of the rebels of God.
Genesis 50:20 (CSB) You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.
The death of the firstborn of Egypt? God.
The shipwreck of Paul's ship? God.
The fact that God created my dad to take part in creating me but this same dad abused me and introduced to pornography at a young age? Yet, my dad and stepmom and mom and grandma planned evil against me but God planned it for my good to bring about my born-again life.
I promise you: if I have gone through the trauma that I had not went through, I would not be in love with God as much as I am now. I would not desire to see his lovely face. I already know that I will kiss the face of my Savior with a thousand kisses because he has called me his own and saved me from his wrath. And I am here to praise him with my life and to do his will.
I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.
Charles Spurgeon.
Listen to what I am saying. Never did I say that deep love for God came easy nor cheap nor fast. God took all of eternity and over 2000 years and my lifetime to do what he wanted to do in order for me to be with him forever.
I have no formula for you. I have no to-do list for you. Just know that God loves you and whatever you are going through, watch and believe what God has in store for you for your good and the love of others.
in his ordinary providence maketh use of means
Isaiah 55:10–11 (CSB) For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
What makes the gospel even more amazing is that it is just a series of words. A few sentences. A small paragraph. A defining statement.
God saves sinners.
Romans 1:16–17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
We know that the salvation of God is amazing thing. But look how God chose to convey that good news: a few words.
Not miracles. Not healings. Not signs and wonders. Not visions. Not dreams. Not angels. Not demons. Not the dead rising. Not the blind seeing. Not the lame walking. Not the deaf hearing. Not good works. Not loving your neighbor. Not a worship song. Not a big revival event. Not a charismatic leader. Not a big church. Not a small church. Not any of that but a few words.
The gospel is the power of God in salvation for those who believe. Those words about the gospel that is the power of God in salvation for those who believe.
When you or I ever share the good news, that is the Almighty power of God who says, "so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do."
Couple that with Matthew 4:4 where Christ called the Scriptures "the mouth of God" and what you hold is the ordinary words being proclaimed. When we do this, God does the work. He does the work and executes the power and the gospel will never come back empty.
yet is free to work without
Hosea 1:7 (CSB) But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by the LORD their God. I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war, or by horses and cavalry.
I think what is even more fantastic that anything else is that if God chose to not use anything he has ever created, he can still bring it about. For:
Hebrews 11:3 (CSB) By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
God, who is Almighty and all-knowing and ever-present, created everything by speaking into existence. He didn't need raw material. He created the raw material. He didn't need blueprints or detailed instructions for he knows all things and he cannot know more nor nor less no learn anything because he knows everything. He did not have to shift or find the perfect time or place to create Creation for he just determine what was the right time and place for what he wanted to do.
Out of nothing.
What God wants to do, he can do it without or with anything or anybody.
above
Romans 4:19–21 (CSB) He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.
Whatever God does in and through us, he does from above our sins and our understanding. For:
Psalm 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods.
His perspective on all things is above all things and from all angles and all times. He does not miss a thing and what he does is always right and good and perfect.
and against them at his pleasure.
Daniel 3:27 (CSB) When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.
We see a description of the fantastic things that God has done: signs, wonders, and miracles. They do not happen often--they are done "at his pleasure." But our faith is not in the signs, wonders, and miracles. Our faith is in the God of the signs, wonders, and miracles.
There is going to be a time where you and I face certain death. And at God's good pleasure, he might spare our life or let us die. If he does either from means or does not, he is still entirely good. Even if we don't understand all the way or at all, he is still kind and loving towards us.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.4 The Goodness of God
The Text
Ephesians 3:14-21 (CSB) For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The Chapter
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.
The Confession
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God
Romans 11:32–34 (CSB) For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
In this section of Chapter 5, we are finally dealing with the question that some have dared to ask:
"Is God the author of sin?"
But let us not be quick to forget and we need to be oft reminded: God is all powerful, all knowing, and holy, holy, holy.
God is perfectly might, fullest of wisdom, and the only source of good.
God is almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness.
To engage with such a titillating question of "God as author of sin?" to be aptly and forever reminder of who God is. There is no exception.
so far manifest themselves in his providence
2 Samuel 24:1 (CSB) The LORD’s anger burned against Israel again, and he stirred up David against them to say, “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.”
In all that he does, in whatever he does, however he provides, he does from himself who is the source of goodness.
that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall
1 Chronicles 21:1 (CSB) Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel.
God himself ordained the actions of Satan:
Job 1:12 (CSB) “Very well,” the LORD told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the LORD’s presence.
God himself knew and ordained the actions of Adam and Eve. He could have stopped their actions. He could have not created them. He could have not created the angels and thus, not created Lucifer. He could have prevented all the pain, and sin, and brokenness, and iniquity.
and all other sinful actions both of angels and men
2 Kings 19:28 (CSB) Because your raging against me and your arrogance have reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth; I will make you go back the way you came.
He could have prevented my dad abusing me. He could have prevented my mom from leaving me when I was 6 never to return. He could have protected me from my stepmom. He could have protected me where my grandmother failed to do so. He could have stopped my previous failed marriages.
and that not by a bare permission
Psalm 76 (CSB)
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.1 God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
2 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he shatters the bow’s flaming arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah
4 You are resplendent and majestic coming down from the mountains of prey.
5 The brave-hearted have been plundered; they have slipped into their final sleep. None of the warriors was able to lift a hand.
6 At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both chariot and horse lay still.
7 And you—you are to be feared. When you are angry, who can stand before you?
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment. The earth feared and grew quiet
9 when God rose up to judge and to save all the lowly of the earth. Selah
10 Even human wrath will praise you; you will clothe yourself with the wrath that remains.
11 Make and keep your vows to the LORD your God; let all who are around him bring tribute to the awe-inspiring one.
12 He humbles the spirit of leaders; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
He could have. But what everybody, including myself, meant for evil, God, in his almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and the source of all good, did not only stop the evil but ordained it for his glory and my good and the good of others.
God is not above ordaining the worst kinds of evil if it means that his people are saved unto himself forever.
which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth
Psalm 10 (CSB)
1 LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide in times of trouble?2 In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims; let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.
3 For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings; the one who is greedy curses and despises the LORD.
4 In all his scheming, the wicked person arrogantly thinks, “There’s no accountability, since there’s no God.”
5 His ways are always secure; your lofty judgments have no effect on him; he scoffs at all his adversaries.
6 He says to himself, “I will never be moved— from generation to generation I will be without calamity.”
7 Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
8 He waits in ambush near settlements; he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;
9 he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket. He lurks in order to seize a victim; he seizes a victim and drags him in his net.
10 So he is oppressed and beaten down; helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength.
11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; he hides his face and will never see.”
12 Rise up, LORD God! Lift up your hand. Do not forget the oppressed.
13 Why has the wicked person despised God? He says to himself, “You will not demand an account.”
14 But you yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into your hands. The helpless one entrusts himself to you; you are a helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked, evil person, until you look for his wickedness, but it can’t be found.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
17 LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully,
18 doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more.
in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends
Genesis 1:20 (CSB) Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”
yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures
Isaiah 10:6–12 (CSB) I will send him against a godless nation; I will command him to go against a people destined for my rage, to take spoils, to plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets. But this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations. For he says, “Aren’t all my commanders kings? Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus? As my hand seized the kingdoms of worthless images, kingdoms whose idols exceeded those of Jerusalem and Samaria, and as I did to Samaria and its worthless images will I not also do to Jerusalem and its idols?” But when the Lord finishes all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for his arrogant acts and the proud look in his eyes.”
and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous
Psalm 1:6 (CSB) For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin
1 John 2:16 (CSB) For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (CSB) Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.”
And if any of this does not make sense for your life or my life, consider this.
It pleased God to ordain the sins of Judas Iscariot to betray his perfect and only begotten Jesus Christ who is always perfect innocent. Just as he rose the Pharaoh to power and crushed in order to save Moses and his people, so to he rose his son and was pleased to crush him in order all who looked upon his Son would be saved.
God does not wink at sin. God does not turn away from our sinful thoughts and actions. God does not play both sides of the board. Yet, God ordains the sin of angels and men. God presents the objects of temptation to expose the sin that is still within our hearts.
Evil is still evil. Good is good. Our sin is still sin against God. God is the only source of good. And in his ordination, we are here. We are here, born and broken in sin, but rescued and redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be his glorious name forever.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.5 The Discipline of God
The Text
2 Chronicles 7:14 (CSB) and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
The Chapter
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good.
The Confession
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled
2 Chronicles 32:25–31 (CSB) However, because his heart was proud, Hezekiah didn’t respond according to the benefit that had come to him. So there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart—he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—so the LORD’s wrath didn’t come on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime. Hezekiah had abundant riches and glory, and he made himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and every desirable item. He made warehouses for the harvest of grain, new wine, and fresh oil, and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and pens for flocks. He made cities for himself, and he acquired vast numbers of flocks and herds, for God gave him abundant possessions. This same Hezekiah blocked the upper outlet of the water from the Gihon Spring and channeled it smoothly downward and westward to the city of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything he did. When the ambassadors of Babylon’s rulers were sent to him to inquire about the miraculous sign that happened in the land, God left him to test him and discover what was in his heart.
The mystery of iniquity sometimes intertwines with the mystery of providence and of God's discipline. It is sometimes difficult to imagine that God would almost put us in harm's way when it comes to sin and danger in order to what? To test us? To discover what is in our hearts? To humble us? To make us more watchful against all future occasions of sin? To withdraw hidden sin in our hearts. Upon the examining of the Scriptures, the answer is clearly yes.
And that is where we cannot fathom a good Father doing such a thing even though he has absolutely promises that we will be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. It is hard for us to imagine because some of us who are parents could not fathom putting our kids in harm's way in order to shape and mold them.
And we would not. Why? The real reason is because we cannot control everything. We cannot control sin against our little ones. We cannot control sin against ourselves. And we cannot ordain the outcome. Only God who is perfect in every way and powerful in every way can do such a thing.
When we read in 2 Kings chapter 21, we read of a certain king of Judah named Manasseh, the son of the aforementioned Hezekiah. There is no doubt that Manasseh witness firsthand God's dealing with his dad while he was on the throne. Manasseh saw the mercy of God he had for both the repentance of and foolishness and fear of man that Hezekiah struggled with, to his own end. Within that home life, Manasseh ascended to the throne at the age of 12 years old. 2 Kings 21 accounts Manasseh's terrible and wicked ways which included witchcraft, sorcery, and sacrificing his own sons because of Manasseh's unrepentant idol worship. 2 Kings ends with this statement of Manasseh's reign:
2 Kings 21:16 (CSB) Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem with it from one end to another. This was in addition to his sin that he caused Judah to commit, so that they did what was evil in the LORD’s sight.
King Manasseh was vile, depraved, cruel, and wicked. The best and most epic novels could not fathom such an evil man. Ask yourself this, "Could God even save such a wicked man?"
And if we went by the Kings account, that is all we would know of him--he should be perishing under the wrath of Christ.
But where 2 Kings stops, 2 Chronicles gives another ending:
2 Chronicles 33:10-13 (CSB) The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they didn’t listen. So he brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria. They captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. He prayed to him, and the LORD was receptive to his prayer. He granted his request and brought him back to Jerusalem, to his kingdom. So Manasseh came to know that the LORD is God.
Don't you see that God will stop at nothing to save his people? Don't see that God will use whatever means he has to turn you away from your sin and back to him? God is willing, able, and wise enough and good enough to use all of Genesis 3 to conform you so that you would like his Son.
and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself
2 Corinthians 12:7–9 (CSB) especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
This is why Christ preached to us: count the cost!
Luke 14:26-30 (CSB) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, and even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
You want to follow Christ? This is what life will look like for you. The road is narrow. The path is not easy. The cost is high. But the reward is beholding the glory of the Triune God forever.
Some of us might not see it now. It might be hard through bleared eyes. But one day, even on this side of heaven, we will see the pain and anguish and the despair and the darkness of our lives and know that God was with us in the valley of the shadow of death, he was closer than a whisper, and he had never forgot us nor forsaken us to praise and glory of his name.
and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good
Romans 8:28 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Could God, in any other way, not allowing sin and temptation to befall us and to hurt us? There had to be another way. There has got to be a slightly less painful way.
Your eldest brother asked that same question.
Luke 22:42 (CSB) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me — nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Christ asked. But what Christ wanted and what the Father wanted and what the Spirit empoweres was to do one thing: save the people of God from their sins. And there was only way to do that:
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
The law was broken by all. The order and good of all things was in chaos and disarray. Everything must be restored and made right. And the only way we are going to be made right was through the washing of the blood of Jesus Christ who quick to forgive sins and mighty to save.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.6 The Rendering of God
The Text
Hebrews 6:4-6 (CSB) For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.
The Chapter
As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening of others.
The Confession
As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge
Romans 1:24–28 (CSB) Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.
We have firmly established that God is the first cause all things and by that, he is the creator of angels and men. Although his creation will sin and do evil and he is not the author of their sin, nevertheless, in certain times, by his almighty power, his unsearchable wisdom, and his infinite goodness, he will allow sin to happen.
We clearly see this when the Adam's fall, Judas' betrayal, and the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. These are events in history that God allowed to happen and in a sense of the word, ordained to happened. He, himself, is not responsible for the sin of mankind. He can do no evil and he is the source of all good.
All that established, that should suffice for those who ponder and ask, "What of personal responsibility?" If God allowed it to happen, can we be held responsible for our sins? If we were robots, then I suppose so. But since we are not robots, the answer is undoubtedly no.
If God is not the author of sin, then who is the author of sin? That is an incomplete question. The more precise question is, who is the author of your sin?
Your first instinct might be to blameshift to someone else whether that be someone who has caused you great pain or the environment you grew up in or take it all the way, blame Satan for that. Your instincts might suggest that because that is exactly what Adam and Eve did when God confronted them about their sin.
Genesis 3:11–13 (CSB) Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed Satan. But who is at fault for their sin?
We are to blame for we are the author of our sin.
For your sin, you are that author. It is your heart, born in the depravity and wickedness of sin, because of the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve, that just continually sins endlessly. For:
Genesis 6:5 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,
for former sin doth blind and harden
Romans 11:7–8 (CSB) What then? Israel did not find what it was looKing for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.
One of the greatest mysteries is the mystery of sin. The foremost reason why, because of sin and because we are not God, we cannot fully understand and comprehend the depth of destruction that sin has or will caused. Sometimes, we know after it happens. In some sin, like in traumatic sin against you, it will blind you in such a way you will not see the sin that was even committed against you. And in the worst cases, you will commit sin against others because of the sin that has blinded you and hardened your heart.
It is like you dig into a manure pit and the more you dig, all you find is more crap.
from them he not only withholdeth his grace
Deuteronomy 29:4 (CSB) Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
Isaiah 6:9–10 (CSB) And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looKing, but do not perceive. Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.
If God alone has to exchange your heart, deposit his Spirit, give you his only begotten Son, give you faith to believe, repentance of sin, a renewed mind, opened eyes, new soul, and ears to hear just for your to be saved, then by the Scriptures alone, for the wicked and ungodly, God will not only not give them his grace and not unveil his glory but rather, give them over to their own sin.
whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding
Matthew 13:12 (CSB) For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
And you might think to yourself, "Just how wicked must someone be for God to do that?!" In the previous subchapter, I mentioned of King Manasseh of his unadulterated wicked against the only good God for God not to turn him over to his sins but that save him from his sins. 1
I think is question is not "how much can we sin before God will turn us over to our sin?" but rather, "Who is like our God and who can compare to him?" For:
Isaiah 55:8–9 (CSB) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the LORD’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
And:
Isaiah 40:28 (CSB) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.
Even still:
Isaiah 46:9–10 (CSB) Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
and wrought upon their hearts
Deuteronomy 2:30 (CSB) But King Sihon of Heshbon would not let us travel through his land, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to hand him over to you, as has now taken place.
What we have seen time and time again is that what we can surmise is God has chosen to give the wicked and ungodly over to exactly what they want. For:
Psalm 81:12 (CSB) So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans.
Psalm 106:15 (CSB) He gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.
It is the same God who shines the sun on the good and evil, and rains on just and unjust. It is the same God who saves his people from their sins and gives those not his people over to their sins.
but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had
2 Kings 8:12–13 (CSB) and Hazael asked, “Why is my lord weeping?” He replied, “Because I know the evil you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their fortresses on fire. You will kill their young men with the sword. You will dash their children to pieces. You will rip open their pregnant women.” Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog, do such a mighty deed?” Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be King over Aram.”
This doctrine is not to be confused with:
Romans 11:28–29 (CSB) Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.
but rather is to be understood as:
Hebrews 6:4-6 (CSB) For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.
There are some of us, within our churches in the past, present, and future, will inevitably be attracted to the power of the Holy Spirit. They might see a little, taste a little and see that God is undeniably good, might participate in the works of the Holy Spirit, who sit under the preaching of the word, and in the powers of the age to come, only to fall away.
This should not be a mystery to any of us. Our Lord Jesus Christ already taught on this:
Matthew 13:18-23 (CSB) “So listen to the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word about the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. And the one sown on rocky ground — this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. Now the one sown among the thorns — this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground — this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”
Christ already taught that just because of preached word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, some will hear and either don't understand it; think it is fantastic but tap out when life gets too difficult; or circumstances of this life are too good and they haven't figured out how to make God for them--so they fall away.
This happens all the time. And I imagine to guess you know someone who has fallen away. I know I do.
What should we do in these times?
Keep in mind that where people are at now is not where they will be at in the end. Know that God is the perfect Father in heaven who has never lost one of kids, and the Lord Jesus who has not lost one of his sheep. And lastly and mostly importantly, pray that God would rescue them.
and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin
Psalm 81:11–12 (CSB) “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel did not obey me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans.
God does not tempt anyone but again, in the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, he does allow temptations to come upon us. For:
James 1:13-14 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
And:
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB) No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.
The giving over to our sins is a powerful damning of the Lord. You might wonder if this can happen to you.
Let me contend to you if you wonder this, take heart: God is with you. If you desire the presence of God, then be blessed, you are with God. Let the Spirit of God give you peace that belongs to you in Christ Jesus. Do not let the Satan and the world cause you to despair.
This is where instead of fleeing in isolation, we flee to the God of grace. Instead of wallowing in confusion, we pray to God for clarity and understanding. And if we doubt, God's promises are still yes and amen.
My child, it is not based on your the strength of your faith. You and I are weak and feeble. But our faith, given to us by God, is upon God who alone is Almighty. He has you. Christ has you. Spirit has sealed you. If you doubt and your faith is little, Christ still has you close to his bosom.
and withal
2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (CSB) and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.
For his people, he has never forgotten nor forsaken. For those whom he has hated, he flees from them.
Psalm 11:5 (CSB) The LORD examines the righteous, but he hates the wicked and those who love violence.
Psalm 5:5 (CSB) The boastful cannot stand in your sight; you hate all evildoers.
It is the mercies of God that holds his arms wide open until the day he does not.
gives them over to their own lusts
Exodus 8:15–32 (CSB) But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron: Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the land, and it will become gnats throughout the land of Egypt.” And they did this. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and when he struck the dust of the land, gnats were on people and animals. All the dust of the land became gnats throughout the land of Egypt. The magicians tried to produce gnats using their occult practices, but they could not. The gnats remained on people and animals. “This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. The LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh when you see him going out to the water. Tell him: This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. But if you will not let my people go, then I will send swarms of flies against you, your officials, your people, and your houses. The Egyptians’ houses will swarm with flies, and so will the land where they live. But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where my people are living; no flies will be there. This way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.” And the LORD did this. Thick swarms of flies went into Pharaoh’s palace and his officials’ houses. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go sacrifice to your God within the country.” But Moses said, “It would not be right to do that, because what we will sacrifice to the LORD our God is detestable to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what the Egyptians detest in front of them, won’t they stone us? We must go a distance of three days into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he instructs us.” Pharaoh responded, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but don’t go very far. Make an appeal for me.” “As soon as I leave you,” Moses said, “I will appeal to the LORD, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. But Pharaoh must not act deceptively again by refusing to let the people go and sacrifice to the LORD.” Then Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the LORD. The LORD did as Moses had said: He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people; not one was left. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not let the people go.
God sent Moses and Aaron to preach the gospel, "You are not a god but I am. And I have heard the cries of my people and I will save them."
Romans 9:17 (CSB) For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.
the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan
Isaiah 6:9–10 (CSB) And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looKing, but do not perceive. Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.
And it is God who hardened the heart of Pharaoh and Pharaoh, driven with madness from sin, caused the death of his firstborn son, his army, and himself.
God turned him over to his own lusts for power.
whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening of others
1 Peter 2:7–8 (CSB) So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone, and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
Romans 9:22-26 (CSB) And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory — on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As it also says in Hosea,
I will call Not My People, My People,
and she who is Unloved, Beloved.
And it will be in the place where they were told,
you are not my people,
there they will be called sons of the living God.
Paul in Romans 9 pulls back the curtain a little bit on the sovereignty of God in salvation. Evangelicals, especially those decidedly non-Calvinist, have interpreted Romans 9, 10 & 11, in that it pertains only to Israel and not to the Church--as though God is not the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Romans 9:16-19 (CSB) So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden. You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will? ”
In other words, God is not above raising and lowering and even marKing someone as an object of wrath in order to save his people who were marked as objects of mercy.
God alone gives mercy. God alone gives grace. God alone is compassionate. God alone saves.
Pharaoh in his own sin turned over to the deepest desires of his heart. To the people of God, he saved them for nothing they have done but rather everything he is--good, glory, and grace.
Do you not think that the hardening of Pharaoh's heart was on full display not only to Moses and his people but to the people of Egypt as well? God was aptly proclaiming, "Choose on this day whom you will serve!" The God of the greatest power is the same God who is the greatest redeemer. He had stopped at nothing in order to rescue his people from the bondage of sin and death.
The rising and lower of another King happened again in the Bible. But this King was not wicked nor cruel nor narcissistic. This King loved the Lord his God and he loved his people with all of his might. His people were wicked and not did love God. They have turned away from God and they worshipped their own gods. But this King was not moved by the sins of his people but rather mercies and compassion and the steadfast love he had for them. For they were his and he was theirs.
And this King was not made to lower after being in glory forever past but rather "for the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame". (Hebrews 12:2)
And at the same time, the King was being lowered unto death on the cross, God raised him up, for:
John 3:14-15 (CSB) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
And:
John 12:32 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”
The Pharaoh was a king who was low as a baby, brought high by God and then brought low unto for his own sins in order the name of God would be glorified and the salvation of his people would be made known.
Jesus is the Son of God who is God was always in glory with the Father and the Spirit. He was low as a baby, lived the perfect life that the people of God should have lived. But he too was brought low unto death on the cross not for his own sins but rather the sins of his people in order the name of God would be glorified and the salvation of his people not only be made known but also be perfectly, eternally, completely, and fully accomplished. And now Jesus is glorified by the Father as King of kings and Lord of lords forever and ever. Amen.
Aforementioned in 1689 5.5 The Discipline of God
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.7 The Goodness of God
The Text
Numbers 11:21-23 (CSB) But Moses replied, “I’m in the middle of a people with six hundred thousand foot soldiers, yet you say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ If flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough? ”
The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm weak? Now you will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you.”
The Chapter
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.
The Confession
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures
1 Timothy 4:10 (CSB) For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
For:
Acts 1:7–8 (CSB) He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
And
Mark 16:15 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
And
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
It is not based on our faithfulness of preaching the word or sharing the gospel. My beloved, please give that anxiety over to the Lord. The goodness of God will reach all people and all creatures. For some of us, whom the Lord has called, to carry his gospel to the ends of the earth. These people know who they are for they want to do the will of God.
And you do too! You have the Triune God dwelling in you. Christ has saved you. The Father has adopted you. The Spirit has lead you. It is not dependent you to reach every creature. Don't you know that where God has given the commandment, he has given the predestined work, the grace, and power to do his will?
The salvation of his people is completely in the sovereignty and will and love of God. Depend on him. And when he calls you to carry his gospel, do as a child would go to work with his Papa: with joy and excitement.
so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church
Amos 9:8–9 (CSB) Look, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will obliterate it from the face of the earth. However, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob— this is the LORD’s declaration— for I am about to give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations, as one shakes a sieve, but not a pebble will fall to the ground.
For:
Ephesians 3:4-13 (CSB) By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.
This grace was given to me — the least of all the saints — to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.
The Church is the manifold wisdom that is put on display--the preaching of God--to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. God vehemently declares to the angels, Satan and the demons: "Look at my People! Look at my Church! See what my Son has done!"
And you might say, "But the people of God have always failed and will continue fail. We are so weak and feeble? How can he possibly be proud of us?"
Zephaniah 3:17 (CSB) The LORD your God is among you,
a warrior who saves.
He will rejoice over you with gladness.
He will be quiet in his love.
He will delight in you with singing.””
And:
Proverbs 24:16 (CSB) Though a righteous person falls seven times,
he will get up,
but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
Don't you see! Our God brags on us! Some in the heavenly realm might doubt the power of God in such weak and feeble people. But God puts us on full display. He did that a show to the throne and people of Egypt. He does that continuously to the world and to the heavenly realm.
Why? Because he alone is glorious and majestic. Because his Son has all dominion and power and glory.
Daniel 7:13-14 (CSB) I continued watching in the night visions,
and suddenly one like a son of man
was coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
He was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
so that those of every people,
nation, and language
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.
Praise his glorious name!
and disposeth of all things to the good thereof
Isaiah 43:3–5 (CSB) For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior. I have given Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place. Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you, I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west.
All I will do is say no more but praise his glorious name forever.
Psalm 113 (CSB)
1 Hallelujah! Give praise, servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.2 Let the name of the LORD be blessed both now and forever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the LORD be praised.
4 The LORD is exalted above all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God— the one enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap
8 in order to seat them with nobles— with the nobles of his people.
9 He gives the childless woman a household, making her the joyful mother of children. Hallelujah!
Chapter 6 Of the Fall of Man, Of Sin, And of the Punishment Thereof
6.1 The Fall of Mankind
Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof, yet he did not long abide in this honour; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given unto them, in eating the forbidden fruit, which God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory.
6.2 The Death of Mankind
Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.
6.3 The Corruption of Mankind
They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.
6.4 The Inclination of Mankind
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
6.5 The Nature of Mankind
The corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 6.1 The Fall of Mankind
The Text
Matthew 4:8-10 (CSB) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”
The Chapter
Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof, yet he did not long abide in this honor; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given to them, in eating the forbidden fruit, which God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory.
The Confession
Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof
Genesis 2:16–17 (CSB) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
The law of God is the measurement, the standard of the holiness of God. For:
Leviticus 7:1 (CSB) “Now this is the law of the guilt offering; it is especially holy.
Romans 7:12 (CSB) So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.
What God is and does and says is holy. And this commandment was given to and the law was written on the hearts of Adam and Eve.
Romans 2:14-16 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
From the start, the breaking of the law of God was sin and death was the consequence.
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
One might read the Bible and think that God is giving the law and then adding stipulations and addendum to the law. But the law of God was set in the beginning and proceeds from the Eternal God.
Let me contend to you that God is giving the consequences of breaking his holy law because those are the consequences. In other words, God didn't make up a law and then randomly assigned a consequence to breaking said law. The breaking of his law is disobedience of the Holy and Eternal God. This is not a random, arbitrary consequence. God was telling us about sin and death from the beginning.
And I must think that in their righteousness, did Adam and Eve have a grasp on the concept of death?
yet he did not long abide in this honor; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given to them, in eating the forbidden fruit
Genesis 3:12–13 (CSB) The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
The beginning and ending of the complete free will of mankind was right here. Because Adam and Eve were perfectly righteous unto God, they have freely choose to worship and obey God--which they sure did. But they could have freely choose to disobey God and sin against him. And they did.
For some reason, most Christians think that the will of man that Adam and Eve enjoyed in Genesis 1 & 2 was unaffected when sin entered into the world from Genesis 3 until now. Make that make sense to me.
It is clear as day that sin has broken our bodies, our minds, our judgment, our spirits, our emotions, our desires, our work, our relationships and everything else in all of creation but oh, our wills are perfectly sin-free and clean. That is illogical.
The moment Adam and Eve sinned against God, there was no going back. We are created creatures. We do not exist in eternal past and future. We only live in the present. We could not go back and undo the decision we just made. If we could traverse time and space like that, I don't think we would be created creatures. That is the one of things that makes us different from God and not God.
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
which God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory
2 Corinthians 11:3 (CSB) But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
We have firmly established that God is the first cause, the source of all good, and not the author of sin despite what his creation does. And yet, because he is all powerful, endless wisdom, and all good, he alone ordains and allows all things to come to past--this includes sin and death starting with Adam's trespass.
Isaiah 45:7 (CSB) I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I am the LORD, who does all these things.
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Whatever and why-ever God did what he did in the beginning is the mystery that God alone knows. But since day and time we are living is not in fact Genesis 3 but rather, according to Christ, we are in the last days:
Matthew 24:22 (CSB) Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.
In other words, because we hold the entirety of Scriptures in the palm of our hands, one mystery has been solved for us on why God allowed Adam and Eve to be tempted by Satan and fall into sin:
Romans 5:17 (CSB) If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
God allowed Adam and Eve to sin so that he could show his grace and mercy to all of mankind. And he did. We know he did because he gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is God, to take on the sins of Adam and Eve and every single person who believed on him for eternal life.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 6.2 The Death of Mankind
The Text
Romans 7:24 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
The Chapter
Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.
The Confession
Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Despite the clear warning from God on the consequences of sin, no one could have been prepared for the chaos and destruction and the breaking of the chaos.
I wonder what around Adam and Eve unfolded, unraveled, and even disintegrated around them. Events like disintegration, destruction, and chaos were not even in their vernacular.
all becoming dead in sin
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
God warned of death but not what they have experience. Their spirits departed them because of sin. For:
1 Samuel 16:14 (CSB) Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and an evil spirit sent from the LORD began to torment him,
Just as the Spirit of God left Adam--the one who held dominion over the earth--so too did the Spirit of God leave Saul--who held dominion over all of Israel. But in the same sense, when the King of kings, who now holds dominion all over creation,took on all of our sins upon the cross, his spirit left him.
Matthew 27:50 (CSB) But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.
What did Adam and Eve felt, who were perfectly righteous in the sight of God, as sin entered in? I imagine the pain and torment and death was in a similar vein as the perfectly righteous Christ being crucified on the cross.
and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body
Titus 1:15 (CSB) To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled.
Genesis 6:5 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,
Jeremiah 17:9 (CSB) The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?
Romans 3:10–19 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.
The reckoning. For all of mankind's glorious, it is marred and stained and defiled by sin and death. It is always a zero-sum game with mankind. For the good we do in our own power, there has to be something taken away from somewhere else. Exploitation for profits. Oppression for power. Death for a supposed life. These are just some of the effects of sin.
And here is another layer of sin: most of humanity accepts it as normal. This is completely fine. There is no need to question anything. But then trauma and tragedy strikes. And we are awaken to the death and destruction and sin of our existence.
Romans 7:24 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 6.3 The Corruption of Mankind
The Text
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
The Chapter
They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.
The Confession
They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation
Romans 5:12–19 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:21–49 (CSB) For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death. For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them? Why are we in danger every hour? I face death every day, as surely as I may boast about you, brothers and sisters, in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus as a mere man, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Come to your senses and stop sinning; for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame. But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the body that will be, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. But God gives it a body as he wants, and to each of the seeds its own body. Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; in fact, one star differs from another star in splendor. So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. Like the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; like the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.
In all of the theological terms that are used in church, the term, Federal headship, is rarely used and probably get more confused looks from even the more theological astute members of your church. It is not a term that we use often.
But in the Reformed tradition, it is oft-famous passage of the comparison of the First and Second Adams in Romans 5:12-21.
When God made the covenant with Adam:
Genesis 2:15-17 (CSB) The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
And:
Genesis 1:26 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
... it was contingent on if Adam did what God said, he would be live with God and rule over the earth and do so forever.
So in this, God had marked Adam, his first image-bearing creation, as the federal head of all of mankind. He was the representative of all of mankind. Think that about that weight of responsibility. Yet, whatever tasks that God has for us, he gives the grace to do his will.
Ligonier Ministries quotes Dr. James M. Boice. He:
argues that it was because the people of the pre-law age had sinned “in Adam.” Because he was the God-appointed representative for all humanity, God counted his sin as their sin and imposed on them the guilt and penalty he incurred.1
Furthermore:
Federalism, Boice says, is “a proof of God’s grace,” for while the failure of our first federalhead brought terrible results, federalism “was the only way it would later be possible forGod to save us once we had sinned.” This is a difficult subject, and we must pray for graceto trust God’s wisdom and the testimony of His Word as we study it. 2
being now conceived in sin
Psalm 51:5 (CSB) Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Job 14:4 (CSB) Who can produce something pure from what is impure? No one!
There are too paths for mankind to proceed after sin entered the world: reproduce or die. There is no third option. Despite the brokenness of the world, there are some couples who have been blessed by God to have babies. But these babies born, since we are all born sons and daughters of Adam, have been conceived with indwelling sin.
and by nature children of wrath
Ephesians 2:3 (CSB) We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
In John's Gospel, chapter 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that for one to see the kingdom of God, you must be born again. This leads into the defining and the most famous verse of all time:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
With all the brokenness of our born selves, there is hope--God has to rebirth you. But what if you are not born again?
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
How do you believe in the Son? You must be born again! Why? Because if you are not born again, then the wrath of God remains on you because you have inherited sin from Adam. Are you human? Then you are a descendant of Adam. If you are a descendant of Adam, the you were conceived with sin and by nature a child of wrath.
the servants of sin, the subjects of death
Romans 6:20 (CSB) For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
One of the hills I am willing to fight on was the righteousness of Noah. Mostly because I was always taught that Noah was righteous all of his days and that is why Noah was saved by God.
But look at the text:
Genesis 6:5-6 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.
Was Noah a son of Adam? Yes. Did he have a human mind? Also, yes. Was every inclination of Noah was nothing but evil all the time? Yes.
If Noah was evil, why did God save him?
Genesis 6:7-8 (CSB) Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky — for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.
Noah, for no other reason, found favor with the Lord because God alone is good and all he does is good and he is the only one who saves. That is it.
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
Noah was not only not good, not righteous but just as wicked as the rest of mankind. But God saved him.
It was only when God gives him grace that he is now made righteous:
Genesis 6:9 (CSB) These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
The Bible does not have more than one way to be saved by God. There is not a gospel for the goody two-shoes people and a gospel for the rapscallions of the world. No! All have sin and fallen short of the glory of God. We have all have broken all of the law of God. No one is righteous. No not one.
It was our born selves that were servants of sin and subjects of death.
and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.
Hebrews 2:14–15 (CSB) Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 (CSB) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
There are not multiple ways out this life. There is no two gospels. There is not a gospel for the Jews and a different gospel for the Gentiles. For:
Romans 1:16 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
There is just one good news and that is God saves sinners through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Believe on him and trust in him and you will be saved.
James M. Boice, Romans: An Exposition of Chapter 5:12–21 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1991). As taken from Our First Federal Head 2: Ibid.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 6.4 The Inclination of Mankind
The Text
Genesis 6:5-6 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.
The Chapter
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
The Confession
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil
Romans 8:7 (CSB) The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.
Colossians 1:21 (CSB) Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.
We, as humans, as the only sons of Adam, cannot hope on our best day, be able to approach the holy throne of God. We are infected, tinctured, shaped, molded, and developed in sin by sin.
So sin cannot approach God, and God cannot tolerate sin.
John Stott, The Cross of Christ. 107-111
John Stott further expounds five ways in which God and sin cannot coexist together:
- God is high above our sin - He is above wickedness.
- God is far from our sin - He is does not tolerate it
- God is the light that exposes sin - the darkness cannot overcome God's light
- God is the fire that burns sin - he is a consuming fire that refines his people as many times as he wants to
- lastly, God is "vomits" and rejects sin - when he comes into his world, sin cannot infect him. His being rejects the thought and vomits it out of himself
In other words, for the children of Adam, we cannot just simply breach the gap between us and God. That distance is infinite. Infinite minus one step or a billion steps is still infinite. That is how far we are from God because of sin.
Sin has broken so much that I am not sure if all the books in the world could adequately describe the complete effects of sin. Only God knows the full, devastating effects of sin upon his creation.
do proceed all actual transgressions
James 1:14–15 (CSB) But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
Matthew 15:19 (CSB) For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.
From this corruption, all we do is sin. Now, you might push back and say, "Unbelievers give and do good works all the time. Are you saying that they are not good?" In terms of salvation and gaining favor with God. No. Not in the least bit.
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
All of our good and righteous acts are filthy rags before a holy God. Why is that? Because whatever good we attempt to do is born out of corruption. It is never done from a pure source of good. Remember, God alone is the pure source of goodness. He alone does good.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 6.5 The Nature of Mankind
The Text
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Chapter
The corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.
The Confession
The corruption of nature, during this life, does remain in those that are regenerated
Romans 7:18 (CSB) For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
Romans 7:23 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (CSB) There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.
1 John 1:8 (CSB) If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
The Reformer Martin Luther called this state of the saved believer: Simul Justus et Peccator. In other words, the people of God are both justified and sinner at the same time.
I cannot account for all of Christian history, but seemingly, especially in Evangelistic circles, the debate surrounding Romans 7:7-25. And the debate is attempting to answer this: In this passage, is Paul describing the Christian life, or is he describing the life of the unbeliever?
The answer lies in verse 22:
Romans 7:22 (CSB) For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,
Does the unbeliever delight in the law of God?
If you know the answer to that question, then this Romans passage should be a balm to your soul. Christian, there will be in sin your life. But you are righteous not because of what you have or have not done but because of your Christ has done for you.
and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin
Romans 7:23–25 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
You will struggle. You are going to fail. You will sin. You might even doubt. Your salvation was never dependent on you. Your salvation was always dependent on the ALmighty God.
Rest in that. If just for today. If just for this moment. Rest in him. He has you for all of eternity.
Chapter 7 Of God's Covenant
7.1 The Infiniteness of Righteousness
The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.
7.2 The Covenant of Grace
Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace, wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.
7.3 The Preaching of the First Gospel
This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman, and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was completed in the New Testament; and it is founded in that eternal covenant transaction that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption of the elect; and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all the posterity of fallen Adam that ever were saved did obtain life and blessed immortality, man being now utterly incapable of acceptance with God upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of innocency.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 7.1 The Infiniteness of Righteousness
The Text
Psalms 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD,
are the Most High over the whole earth;
you are exalted above all the gods.
Psalms 90:2 (CSB) Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from eternity to eternity, you are God.
The Chapter
The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.
The Confession
The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator
Luke 17:10 (CSB) In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’ ”
It is because of our fallen state and in sin, each child of Adam is wholly presumptuous that we, somehow, bridge an infinite gap between us and God. This sin in us clouds our judgment, keeps us blind, and fills us with hubris to fool ourselves that we are have done enough good not be damned to hell, that God grades on a curve because we are certainly not as bad as "that guy", or worst yet, bet our entire existence on the asinine notion that there is no God.
Within all of that sinfulness, we will stop at nothing to justify our self-righteousness.
And yet, every single thing that we do in our own power might as well gift wrap a used toilet wad and hand it to God as a gift. It is utterly offensive to the God of the Universe. For:
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
And utterly useless to God for:
Acts 17:25 (CSB) Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.
yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant
And if our filthy rags of self-righteousness are worthless and offensive to God, why would we even think that we could somehow do enough good in order to force God to do something for us? The God of the Universe has not, have not, and will never owe anybody anything anywhere of all time ever. For:
Isaiah 45:21–22 (CSB) Speak up and present your case— yes, let them consult each other. Who predicted this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior; there is no one except me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.
And:
Romans 4:4–5 (CSB) Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
Furthermore:
Job 35:7–8 (CSB) If you are righteous, what do you give him, or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness, a son of man.
In short, there is no other way to explain this. Righteousness is perfection and we have all fallen infinitely short of the glory of God.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 7.2 The Covenant of Grace
The Text
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Chapter
Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace, wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.
The Confession
Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace
Genesis 2:17 (CSB) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Galatians 3:10 (CSB) For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.
Romans 3:20–21 (CSB) For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law. But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.
See what God has done for the world. Hear what God has proclaimed since the moment sin entered into the world. Reach out for this free gift of God!
wherein He freely offers unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved
Romans 8:3 (CSB) For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,
Mark 16:15–16 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
You cannot earn it. You sit there and receive it. Just believe and trust in him. Listen, I have nothing else to convince you. You receive gifts on Christmas and your birthday? Do you reject those because they are free and thoughtful from people who love you dearly?
And yet, your loved ones who give you gifts don't and can't love you as much God loves you. He gives the free offering of eternal life. You do not have to perish. You do not have to sit under the wrath of His Son. You do not have to go to hell. You do not have see corruption.
Psalm 16:10 (CSB) For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
Psalm 49:15 (CSB) But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol, for he will take me. Selah
In Christ, you have given me so much that heaven and earth could give me no more.
The Valley of Vision.
and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, His Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe
You say that you cannot believe. You say that this gift is too fantastic. It's too wild. It's too gracious. It's too good to be true. Then I say that you are beginning to believe! You are beginning to see the glory of God. You are beginning to see the beauty of the gospel. You are beginning to see the wonder of the cross. There are people who have gone to church their entire lives just numbed to the good news. There are people walking this earth thinking that God owes them something other than himself.
And you say, I cannot believe--there is no way. But hear the Lord! See what everything that he does in you in order for you to believe!
The Father calls and draws you:
John 6:44–45 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—
The Father gives you his own soft heart and his Spirit:
Ezekiel 36:26–27 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
And then he gives you the strength to believe:
Philippians 1:29-30 (CSB) For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.
Psalm 110:3 (CSB) Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
And then, he gives you grace, faith, and salvation for you to believe:
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
John 6:37 (CSB) Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
What are you waiting for? Why would you resist the easiest thing you could ever do? Why would you resist the most gracious thing that you could ever receive? Why would you resist the most beautiful thing that you could ever see?
John 6:40 (CSB) For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
There is no planning. No overthinking. No "I am need time to think about this."
2 Corinthians 6:2 (CSB) For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
Now is the acceptable time! Today is the day of your salvation! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 7.3 The Preaching of the First Gospel
The Text
Ephesians 1:3-8 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
The Chapter
This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman, and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was completed in the New Testament; and it is founded in that eternal covenant transaction that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption of the elect; and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all the posterity of fallen Adam that ever were saved did obtain life and blessed immortality, man being now utterly incapable of acceptance with God upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of innocency.
The Confession
This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman
Adam and Eve, who were perfect in the righteousness of God because they were created in the image of God, disobeyed God and sinned against God.
God approaches. God calls out to his children. They hid because they will filled with shame and guilt instead of joy and pleasures which they once knew.
Adam blames his wife. Eve blames Satan.
God does not address the blameshifting because his kids are now in dead in sin. He understands that they come from dust.
But instead of undoing Creation, destroying Satan, or disintegrating Adam and Eve, God preaches for the first time this incredible good news.
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
What just happened? In the midst of our shame and guilt and sin, God declares war on Satan. God does not threaten but promises that he will defeat Satan once and for all.
But he will do it with the son of Eve.
and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was completed in the New Testament
God speaks:
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
And gives us the Old Testament:
Luke 24:27 (CSB) Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Hebrews 1:1–2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
And the New Testament:
John 5:39 (CSB) You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.
And
2 Peter 3:15–16 (CSB) Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
In other words, he gives us the Bible:
2 Timothy 3:16 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
and it is founded in that eternal covenant transaction that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption of the elect
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Titus 1:2 (CSB) in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
Listen, this salvation might sound new to some but this was at work way before the creation of the world. In other words, before you could have sin, God saw you and loved you and chose you to be his child. For:
Ephesians 1:3–6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
And:
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all the posterity of fallen Adam that ever were saved did obtain life and blessed immortality, man being now utterly incapable of acceptance with God upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of innocency
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:13 (CSB) These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
Romans 4:1–2 (CSB) What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God.
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
John 8:56 (CSB) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
Our original parents failed and fallen. They introduced sin into our existence and broke everything. The cosmos descends into ruins. Murder, rape, abuse, trauma, stealing, disobedience and a myriad of other negative words will become familiar in our world as the air we breath.
But our God was not phased by this. Not shook. Not scared. Not angry. Not frightened. He took his stand in the garden, stared Satan right between the eyes, and proclaimed defiantly, "My Son is coming and he will smash your head."
Then his Son did come. Not with legions of angels and a sword but rather, as the tiniest baby--helpless, dependent, and feeble. And this Son grew in wisdom and stature and love unto God--perfectly obeying his Father's law and his given parents. And the Son of God, also stood face to face with Sin that hovered over the grave of his friend. He stared Death right between the eyes, and proclaimed defiantly, "Lazarus, come forth!"
I tell you these things so that your joy may be full.
Chapter 8 Of Christ the Mediator
8.1 The Pleasure of God
It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them both, to be the mediator between God and man; the prophet, priest, and king; head and saviour of the church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world; unto whom he did from all eternity give a people to be his seed and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
8.2 The Son of God
The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father's glory, of one substance and equal with him who made the world, who upholdeth and governeth all things he hath made, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures; so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.
8.3 The Son of Man
The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, in the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell, to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be throughly furnished to execute the office of mediator and surety; which office he took not upon himself, but was thereunto called by his Father; who also put all power and judgement in his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.
8.4 The Cross of Christ
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake, which that he might discharge he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have borne and suffered, being made sin and a curse for us; enduring most grievous sorrows in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no corruption: on the third day he arose from the dead with the same body in which he suffered, with which he also ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession, and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.
8.5 The Slaying of the Lamb
The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of God, procured reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him.
8.6 The Eternalness of the Messiah
Although the price of redemption was not actually paid by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the elect in all ages, successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the seed which should bruise the serpent's head; and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, being the same yesterday, and to-day and for ever.
8.7 The Two Natures of Jesus
Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture, attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.
8.8 The Work of the Lord
To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same, making intercession for them; uniting them to himself by his Spirit, revealing unto them, in and by his Word, the mystery of salvation, persuading them to believe and obey, governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit, and overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation; and all of free and absolute grace, without any condition foreseen in them to procure it.
8.9 The Office of the Mediator
This office of mediator between God and man is proper only to Christ, who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof, transferred from him to any other.
8.10 The Prophet, Priest and King
This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 8.1 The Pleasure of God
The Text
Psalm 16 (CSB)
A Miktam of David.1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you.
2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.”
3 As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones. All my delight is in them.
4 The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips.
5 LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I will bless the LORD who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
8 I always let the LORD guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely.
10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
The Chapter
It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them both, to be the mediator between God and man; the prophet, priest, and king; head and saviour of the church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world; unto whom he did from all eternity give a people to be his seed and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
The Confession
It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them both, to be the mediator between God and man
Isaiah 42:1 (CSB) “This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations.
1 Peter 1:19–20 (CSB) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.
It is one thing to call God sovereign. Another, Almighty. And still, the will of God accomplished. But what we rarely talk about is the pleasure of God. For whatever God does in the salvation of his people, it pleases him. For:
Isaiah 53:10 (CSB) Yet the LORD was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the LORD’s pleasure will be accomplished.
Psalm 35:27 (CSB) Let those who want my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them continually say, “The LORD be exalted. He takes pleasure in his servant’s well-being.”
Psalm 115:3 (CSB) Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
Psalm 149:4 (CSB) For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
For God to have done this:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
... he was pleased to do this:
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
the prophet
Acts 3:22 (CSB) Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to everything he tells you.
Luke 7:15-16 (CSB) The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.”
The Prophets from Abel to John the Baptist testified that the coming of the Messiah. But prophets also testified that the Messiah would be a prophet. For:
Deuteronomy 18:15 (CSB) “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.
It was only John the Baptist that knew that Jesus Christ was that Messiah and the Prophet. For:
John 1:21 (CSB) “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?” “I am not,” he said. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he answered.
The last and final Prophet that the Jews were looking for is fulfilled in Jesus Christ our Lord.
priest
Hebrews 5:5–6 (CSB) In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, also says in another place, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:24–25 (CSB) But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
And
Hebrews 9:11–12 (CSB) But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
The priests of old had to stand continuous for the work of cleansing the people from their sins was never ending. And, not only that, what they did only ceremoniously did so--those animal sacrifices didn't cleansed them once bit. What made all the people of God was their faith and trust in the Messiah.
But Christ, the Priest forever, has sat down:
Hebrews 10:11-12 (CSB) Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.
Because what Christ did upon the cross was perfectly effective to save his people from their sins. Since he is done forever, he gets to sit down at the right hand of God.
king
Psalm 2:6 (CSB) “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
Luke 1:33 (CSB) He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
Revelation 11:15 (CSB) The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.
When God established the nation of Israel, he was always to be their king. For as his people, they were set apart from the other nations and he was to be king forever.
1 Samuel 8:6-7 (CSB) When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the LORD. But the LORD told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.
God knew that they would do this. God knew all things. In his law, he made provision for such a day.
Deuteronomy 17:14–15 (CSB) “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, take possession of it, live in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations around me,’ you are to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. Appoint a king from your brothers. You are not to set a foreigner over you, or one who is not of your people.
And Saul was "voted" in as the people's king. And he failed so tragically as a king that the Lord regretted in doing so:
1 Samuel 15:11 (CSB) “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the LORD all night.
Saul could never be the king that the people needed. Even his replacement, whom God said, "was a man after my own heart", fell short. Both lines of kings, Israel and Judah, failed way short.
Matthew 1:1 (CSB) An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Jesus Christ, through the lineage of Solomon through Joseph and Nathan through Mary is the double Son of David. And by his life and death and resurrection sits on the throne as God covenanted with David:
2 Samuel 7:11a-16 (CSB) “ ‘The LORD declares to you: The LORD himself will make a house for you. When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”
Christ is not only that king but he alone is King of kings. For:
1 Timothy 6:15-16 (CSB) God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
And.
Daniel 7:13–14 (CSB) I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
head and savior of the church
Ephesians 1:22–23 (CSB) And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Ephesians 5:23 (CSB) because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.
Colossians 1:18 (CSB) He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
The Church is the body of Christ. Not a body, or a denomination, or a building, but the people of God, whom Christ has paid for:
Mark 10:45 (CSB) For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (CSB) For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
the heir of all things
Hebrews 1:2 (CSB) In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
And
Daniel 7:13–14 (CSB) I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
Side note: if Christ is the heir of all things and we are fellow heirs with Christ, what do we inherit?
Romans 8:14-17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father! ” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and coheirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Our original father, Adam, had dominion through the Covenant of Works. But he lost it all due to sin. And we have no dominion. But our Second Adam has perfectly fulfilled the Covenant of Works and therefore, has inherited everything. Because we are in Christ, we are co-heirs with Christ, and we too have regain dominion over all things.
and judge of the world
Acts 17:31 (CSB) because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Because Christ has taken back dominion, he is the judge of the living and dead:
2 Timothy 4:1 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:
For the guilty, he judges them into his wrath:
Matthew 7:22–23 (CSB) On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
Revelation 20:11-15 (CSB) Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
unto whom He did from all eternity give a people to be His seed and to be by Him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified
Isaiah 53:10 (CSB) Yet the LORD was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the LORD’s pleasure will be accomplished.
John 17:6 (CSB) “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
For those who belongs to Christ, he judges them into his glory:
Matthew 25:21 (CSB) “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
Revelation 21:5-8 (CSB) Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars — their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Oh close and blessed union! Justified by God, accepted in Christ, condemnation there cannot be. I stand in the Divine presence as Joshua stood before the Lord, or as the woman stood before the Savior, charged, accused, guilty; but I am in the presence of him who, though now he sits upon the throne as my Judge, once hung upon the cross as my Savior. And, investing me with his own spotless robe, he proceeds to pronounce the sentence- "NO CONDEMNATION!"
"These things write I unto you that your joy may be full."
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation in Christ Jesus. 191.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 8.2 The Son of God
The Text
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
The Chapter
The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father's glory, of one substance and equal with him who made the world, who upholdeth and governeth all things he hath made, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures; so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.
The Confession
The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father's glory, of one substance and equal with Him who made the world, who upholds and governs all things He has made, did, when the fullness of time was complete, take upon Him man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities of it
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Galatians 4:4 (CSB) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
I am writing this particular exposition on 1689 Chapter 9 Paragraph 2 on April 21, 2023. Why is that important?
Back on February 9, 2023, I posted my expositing on the 1689 2.3 Of The Triune God. In that exposition, I wrote:
There is a new-old heresy being circulated around that fired up about ten years ago then sort of fizzled like a fart in church, called the Eternal Submission of the Son (ESS). Those who are spouting out such nonsense are always those who fall so far into hard Complementarianism camp (those who believe genders of mankind are different but equal) that they are indistinguishable from Patriarchy (men are always right and women need to shut up and stay quiet.) There one verse that they have built their house of cards upon is 1 Corinthians 11:3.
Now, I hope you can tell from reading the last paragraph, that I have zero grace towards people who keep teaching ESS like it is a real and Biblical thing. Those are false teachers and I will not stand for it. Come into my church shooting that nonsense and you will be handled promptly and according. (Not a threat but a fact.)
Little did I know that what I was writing ended up being prophetic. At the same time I posted that, I am sad to say that my former church, a large Evangelical non-denomination, had made a hard pivot into not only preaching and teaching ESS but go as far as to double-down on the heretic doctrine. This heresy, in my former church, has already disqualified my best friend from leadership because he, being a former church planter, an ordained pastor and a well-educated, Ph. D from a conservative Baptist seminary, would not affirm ESS as true. My friend could not affirm ESS as true because it is not true. It is crap. It is a heresy because the Bible does not teach it. It is outside the Bible.
Everything in my flesh wants to fire shots. Everything in me wants to call that church to repent of their false teaching, apologize and tell them to change course today. And because I am not here to divide his church, I sit and grieve for my friends who still attend that church.
This is the humble reminder that Christ is the Bridegroom. Christ alone will open and close the doors of his church where he sees fit because he alone is the Head Pastor.
In the last month of praying for my precious friends, one friend, whom another I call a best friend still faithfully attends that church. I prayed that God would do something, anything to spare him from that heretic teaching. But in God's provision, this same friend is considering moving to my part of the country. God is in the business of answering prayers.
This is why we need Confessions. We need the work of those who came before us hundreds of years ago who tirelessly worked out the details of the right orthodox Christian doctrine. Confessions and Creeds never supersede the authority of the Bible--that strawman argument is tired and dead. Please put it to rest.
The 1689, both in Chapters 2 and 8, carefully and clearly lays out the doctrine of the Trinity. I am not a well-learned scholar. I graduated high school with a 1.70 GPA. So I am utterly dependent on my brothers and sisters before me who has done the work to point me back to Christ. We cannot use the Doctrine of the Trinity to invent new hierarchal in dealing with male and females.
I will not waste one byte of data, not one bit of ink speaking about this heresy. I am here to the preach Christ and him crucified.
yet without sin
Romans 8:3 (CSB) For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,
Hebrews 2:14–17 (CSB) Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 4:15 (CSB) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Since Christ was not born of Adam because he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, he did not get Adam's sinful nature. Christ alone was born into the world without sin. That is why is the Perfect Spotless Lamb of God. That is why his death is worthy to cleanse us from our sins.
If one person bore witness to Christ committed one sin, then the cultish belief surrounding a carpenter's son from Galilee over 2,000 would be nothing more than a night time story or at least, worth a couple books with the Apocrypha.
But the truth is that no one bore witness to the sins of Jesus because he committed none.
Take this all the way. Surely, the family of Jesus bore witness.
His half-brother, James, who went on to pen the Epistle of his name. This is what the famous Roman historian, Josephus, wrote of James, the brother of Jesus:
Ananus, who, as we have told you already, took the high priesthood, was a bold man in his temper, and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees, who are very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of the Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus was of this disposition, he thought he had now a proper opportunity (to exercise his authority). Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the Sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, (or, some of his companions); and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned
Flavius Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews, Book 20, Chapter 9, 1, based on the translation of Louis H. Feldman, The Loeb Classical Library.
Have you met of one sibling in all of the history of the world who willing let themselves be killed in the name of their brother who claimed to be Son of God who is God? Never in the their right mind.
Yet, all the disciples of Christ laid their lives down in order for the gospel of their Christ reached to ends of the world.
being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures
Matthew 1:22–23 (CSB) Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
Matthew 1:1 (CSB) An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Christ, never taking on the nature of Adam, but conceived righteously by the Holy Spirit from the sovereign grace of the Father, to be perfectly born of as the double-son of David. This is to say, Christ is the Son of David by adoption by Joseph and the Son of David by nature through Mary. This is to fulfill the covenant that God made with David:
2 Samuel 7:11-16 (CSB) “ ‘The LORD declares to you: The LORD himself will make a house for you. When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”
so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man
Luke 1:27–35 (CSB) to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Romans 9:5 (CSB) The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen.
1 Timothy 2:5 (CSB) For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
God is immutable--that is God does not change. Not inside out. Not outside in. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
But yet, herein lies the mystery of the Christ. Because Christ is fully God. He is spirit. He is invisible because God is immutable, spirit, and invisible. And yet, the Son became Jesus Christ, very much flesh, very much visible and at first glance, very much changed.
But the Son of God changed nothing about himself in order to take on the flesh to become fully man. All his glory, might, wisdom, goodness, and love which he was simply and in whole, remained unchanged as he took on the flesh as Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the son of Mary and Joseph. He takes this on and he will never discard it. It pleased him to do so. A quick examination of the Gospels and you will soon see that his favorite title for himself was the Son of Man.
And we know he has never discard his flesh, for:
John 20:27 (CSB) Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”
Revelation 12:11 (CSB) They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives to the point of death.
Jesus Christ is our Savior forever. Amen.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 8.3 The Son of Man"
The Text
Daniel 7:9-14 (CSB)
“As I kept watching,
thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was white like snow,
and the hair of his head like whitest wool.
His throne was flaming fire;
its wheels were blazing fire.
A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from his presence.
Thousands upon thousands served him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was convened,
and the books were opened.“I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.
I continued watching in the night visions,
and suddenly one like a son of man
was coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
He was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
so that those of every people,
nation, and language
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.
The Chapter
The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, in the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell, to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be throughly furnished to execute the office of mediator and surety; which office he took not upon himself, but was thereunto called by his Father; who also put all power and judgement in his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.
The Confession
The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, in the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure
Psalm 45:7 (CSB) You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.
Acts 10:38 (CSB) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him.
John 3:34 (CSB) For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure.
Second chapter of the 1689 deals with the Attributes of God. So by the time you got to the Chapter 8 on the Person of Christ, you would have seen this statement from Chapter 2 Paragraph 1:
...whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts...
The authors of the 1689 broke a little from the Westminster in that instead of their use of the word, "essence", we use the word, "subsistence", which is defined as, "the quality or state of being self-derived or self-originated specifically the absolute self-sufficiency, independence, and autonomy of God." (Merriam-Webster)
Now why is that so important. In the humanity of Christ, it could be easily not remembered that, in everything that Christ is, he is absolutely fully God. So within that, Christ, who is God, is eternal, immutable (does not change), impassible (without passions) and co-equal with Father and Spirit.
In and around the 4th century, a bishop named Arian was attempting to solve the issue: how can Christ be God and man? His erroneous conclusion was that since that:
- Christ was human
- Christ was therefore created
- Christ was therefore not eternal
- Christ was therefore not co-equal with the Father and Spirit
- Christ is submitted to the Father
- Then, Christ cannot be fully God.
Arianism was a heresy that denied the full deity of Christ. It was a heresy that was condemned by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and is heresy in all of Christianity.
One may think, like myself, that this is one and done, and we never have to deal with this again. But I, playing the role of the sweet, summer child, will always have to be reminded that new revelations are just old heresies for "there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
In the 19th centuries, two sects of Christianity arose out of the Arian heretic weed growth. One, the Mormons. The believe that God the Father was an mortal being in another universe but came to our universe as a immortal being and thus created the heavens and the earth. From the Father, he created both Jesus, his Son, and Satan, Jesus' brother. In essence, they teach that Jesus was a created being. If created, then he is not co-equal with the Father but rather, in submission to the Father.
The other was Jehovah's Witness, who like the Muslims, flat out deny that Christ is God and tht whom we would call Father is the one and true God.
In our current age, we are dealing with yet another erroneous teaching that has sprung up out of the Arian heresy: Eternal Submission of the Son to the Father (or ESS, for short). In the pervious times I have spoken about ESS, I spoke about my fiercest opposition to the heresy of ESS but I never explained why. So, let me take a moment to explain why now.
ESS is a clever heresy in that, it never denies:
- Jesus is fully God
- Jesus is fully human
- Jesus is co-equal with the Father and Spirit
- Jesus is eternal
Because those would give you red flags and booted out of Christianity.
But here is the flaming hot red flag: because of the incarnation of Christ, that is, he took on flesh.
Proponents of the ESS would insist that Christ does not change because Christ is God and does not change. But because he took on flesh, the incarnation of Christ makes Christ subordinate to the Father.
Why the confusion when the Bible is so clear especially on matters concerning salvation? Defenders of this heresy is trying to overlay the Doctrine of the Trinity onto gender roles based on an eisegesis of 1 Corinthians 11:3 and Ephesians 5:21-33 which was inspired by the work of John Piper and Wayne Grudem in their book, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
I don't need to tell you that superimposing the a view of gender roles onto the Doctrine of the Trinity is most unhelpful and unwise. If you are doing this, please stop.
ESS, in short, is having to talk out both sides of your mouth.
Fighting for the truth in the theology of Christ has gone back to the first century church. The Earliest Church already fought this fight and won. We don't need to fight it again only to defend. Out of the Arian controversy, two distinct Creeds were formed to combat this heresy.
Nicene Creed's excerpt on the Jesus Christ as fully God and fully human:
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
And the same from the Athanasian Creed:
That we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, is both God and human, equally.
He is God from the essence of the Father, begotten before time; and he is human from the essence of his mother, born in time; completely God, completely human, with a rational soul and human flesh; equal to the Father as regards divinity, less than the Father as regards humanity.
Although he is God and human, yet Christ is not two, but one. He is one, however, not by his divinity being turned into flesh, but by God's taking humanity to himself. He is one, certainly not by the blending of his essence, but by the unity of his person. For just as one human is both rational soul and flesh, so too the one Christ is both God and human.
The fight was long won by the grace of God. But we must be vigilant and fight the good fight of faith. We must be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us. We must be ready to defend the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
Colossians 2:3 (CSB) In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (CSB) For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
At this point, I could have just quoted 1 Corinthians chapters one to three.
Romans 8:5-6 (CSB) For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace.
This passage in Romans 8 is an exposition of the ministry of Christ in Mark 8. In other words what God must do in order for us to be believe and trust in his Son. This is not an intelligence or knowledge ascent--all the Christian schooling and seminary won't save you. And this is not an emotional ascent--feel all the good feels to make you feel like you are in the presence of God. God literally has to open your eyes (Mark 8:22–26), open your ears (Mark 7:31-37), swap out your heart (Mark 8:14–21), renew your mind (Mark 8:11–13), and feed us his word (Mark 8:1-10) so that we might be made fully alive (1 John 5:1) and believe in Christ.
Apart from God doing any of that, you and I cannot hope to believe and trust in his Son.
Romans 8:8 (CSB) Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
However:
Romans 8:9-11 (CSB) You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
My Beloved, Christ dwells in you. The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you. The Father has made his home in you. Because of what God has done, we have the mindset of Christ to truly know him and love him:
1 Corinthians 2:16 (CSB) For
who has known the Lord’s mind,
that he may instruct him?
But we have the mind of Christ.
in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell
Colossians 1:19 (CSB) For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
And:
Colossians 2:9-10 (CSB) For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
When we speak of the fullness of God, it would be easy to think of only the Father. Yet, it is the Spirit, the fullness of God as well, that dwells in the Son, as well. For:
John 3:34-35 (CSB) For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.
The Son of Man, fully God and fully man, descended into his Creation, to live perfectly unto his Father. But Jesus, for all of his divine and glory, did not do this by himself. Himself, fully God, having the Father, fully God, and the Spirit, fully God, dwelling in him fully at all times. For:
John 1:1–2 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Father, Son, and Spirit were always together from eternity past. They are in perfect love and community and fellowship and relationship and presence with each other. They are in the fullness of joy and pleasures evermore with one another. (Psalm 16:11)
If Christ came to our world to minister to others, why would we think he did this by himself? If he has called us to love God and love our neighbors, did he think we could do that without the Triune God? Absolutely not. That is why he came to us was so the Son, Father, and the Spirit could make their home in us so we could we be with him forever.
to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled
Hebrews 7:26 (CSB) For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
When the Bible speaks of the spotless Lamb, it is referring to Jesus Christ, the Worthy Lamb that was Slain.
1 Peter 1:18–20 (CSB) For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.
He is the Passover Lamb that has saved us from death:
Exodus 12:5-7 (CSB) You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats. You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight. They must take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat them.
He is the Lamb that was slain for our sins:
John 1:29 (CSB) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Christ is perfect in his obedience to the law of God. But Christ is holy because he is God who is holy.
and full of grace and truth
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
For:
Psalm 85:10 (ESV) Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
When Christ came to live and die upon the cross, this meeting, joining, melding, and intertwining of all that is God--steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace--was made manifest in the person of Jesus Christ for us upon the cross.
It was only because of what Christ did so that we could be made holy, harmless, and undefiled. It is only because of what Christ did that we could be made righteous and at peace with God.
Romans 1:17 (CSB) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
He might be throughly furnished to execute the office of mediator and surety
Hebrews 7:22 (CSB) Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.
All of what and who Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant.
The Better Adam: he is the Second Adam who upheld the covenant of works forever.
The Better Noah: he has bore the wrath of God for our sins and saved us from our sins forever.
The Better Abraham: it is not a piece of land that we seek to dwell with God. Yet, God has made is home in us and he dwells with us forever.
The Better David: he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who sits on the throne forever and ever.
All the Old Testament Covenants were perfectly, distinctly, completely, totally fulfilled by Christ and Christ alone for us forever and ever.
Now we lavish in the Covenant of Grace--which was established before the foundation of the world between the Father and the Son, sealed with the Holy Spirit, to save his people from their sins forever.
The previous covenants were good and holy. But they were for a moment in time until Christ came to fulfilled what God preached the good news starting in Genesis 3:15--I will rescue my people.
which office He took not upon himself, but was thereunto called by His Father
Hebrews 5:5 (CSB) In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father,
Christ did not do this alone. He did not ascend to any of the offices on his own. He was sent here by the Father and he did only what he saw his Father do. Christ is perfectly and eternally begotten of the Father. The Father and the Son are always in perfect lock step and they glorify one another.
who also put all power and judgement in His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute the same
John 5:22–27 (CSB) The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
Matthew 28:18 (CSB) Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Acts 2:36 (CSB) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
And because Christ, the Son of Man, was perfect in his execution of the salvation of the people of God, God the Father has now given him all authority, power and dominion, glory and honor forever.
Matthew 28:18 (CSB) Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
And:
Daniel 7:13–14 (CSB) I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
That is why we sing:
Romans 11:33–36 (CSB) Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
And:
Revelation 5:12 (CSB) They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!
Amen!
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 8.4 The Cross of Christ
The Text
1 John 4:10 (ESV) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The Chapter
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake, which that he might discharge he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have borne and suffered, being made sin and a curse for us; enduring most grievous sorrows in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no corruption: on the third day he arose from the dead with the same body in which he suffered, with which he also ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession, and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.
The Confession
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake
Psalm 40:7–8 (CSB) Then I said, “See, I have come; in the scroll it is written about me. I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me.”
Hebrews 10:5–10 (CSB) Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said: You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said, “See— it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, God.” After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
John 10:18 (CSB) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
We have made a lot about the power and the ability and the will of God to save his people. But what can never be forgotten nor missed is that God wanted to save his people.
Much in life, we are reminded of our limitations because we are created creatures. I am not even speaking about our mortality--for our souls last forever. Think about the angels and demons: created creation all, eternal, and varying levels of power. But one thing they cannot do: take on flesh. They cannot appear in our material plane unless God wills it do be so. So even an angel could not save us, even if they wanted to, because they lack the power to do so.
But many of us want to save our loved ones but in the end, for all of our wealth, knowledge, and wisdom, we are futile in truly saving our selves and our loved ones from the sin of death.
God alone has the power and wants to save us--despite our deadness, and depravity, and tragic ways.
And within the office of Savior, Messiah, King, Lord, and Christ, the Son of God took on flesh to become the Son of Man, that is Jesus, willing to live an entire life, full obedience to God, and descended unto the cross with great joy.
Hebrews 12:2b For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
which that He might discharge He was made under the law
Galatians 4:4 (CSB) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Matthew 3:15 (CSB) Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.
The prophecy that God would send a Messiah to come and rescue and redeem us is, in itself, the limitation. From the word go, for the moment sin entered into the world, God preaches the gospel and to our feeble minds, he handicaps himself:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
This protoevagelion is just that: the first instance of the preached gospel. This declaration of God did not come after the Covenants or the Law or the Prophets but rather from the start--however God was going to save his people, he would do so through a man that is born of Eve.
Before Christ, one can read the Old Testament or even the Apocrypha 1, the people of God experienced mighty and good rescuers from God--but they all came up way short of being the Chosen One whom was the begotten Son of God. Not only did they fall short, they knew they were not the Christ. For:
John 1:20 (CSB) He didn’t deny it but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”
Not only that, the saints of old rejoiced in seeing the day of Christ arrived:
John 8:56 (CSB) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
Hebrews 11:26 (CSB) For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward.
John 3:29-30 (CSB) He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.
The prophecy of the Christ is fully contingent on he was being born as mankind. Whatever God was going to do, he would do so in the flesh.
and did perfectly fulfill it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have born and suffered
Galatians 3:13 (CSB) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.
Isaiah 53:6 (CSB) We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished him for the iniquity of us all.
1 Peter 3:18 (CSB) For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
being made sin and a curse for us
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
enduring most grievous sorrows in His soul, and most painful sufferings in His body
Matthew 26:37–38 (CSB) Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”
Luke 22:44 (CSB) Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Matthew 27:46 (CSB) About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
This is what Christ did to save his people from their sins: he perfectly took on the sins of his people and completely bore the wrath of God for our sins. Once and for all, forever.
This is propitiation.
1 John 2:2 (ESV) He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:10 (ESV) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Hebrews 2:17 (CSB) Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
This is the love of God, the grace of God, the mercy of God and the justice, holiness, and righteousness of God all in one fell swoop.
Psalm 85:10 (CSB) Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace.
This embrace and the kiss of God is the cross of Christ.
All the saints before and the all the saints since have been finally, definitely, completely, perfectly, effectively, and eternally saved by God for God by God from God through the blood-drained, broken body of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no corruption
Acts 13:37 (CSB) but the one God raised up did not decay.
Psalm 16:10 (CSB) For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
Jesus Christ, perfectly God and perfectly holy and perfectly righteousness, was crucified and did died and was dead, but did not see decay. Why? Because he is perfect, holy, and good.
In the religions of the world, we have two of that are close to Christianity: Jewish and Muslim. The Jews flat out deny that Christ is the Messiah. The fact that Christ died on the cross is a stumbling block for them. For:
1 Corinthians 1:22-23 (CSB) For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
The foolishness of the Gentiles: the theories and myths are endless. For myth of the Muslim in order to make sense of Jesus, who to them is a great and mighty prophet, to die on the cross only means one thing to them. That Jesus didn't actually die but suffer for three days. The Muslim contradict the Scriptures say that Jesus did die and did not see decay.
on the third day He arose from the dead
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (CSB) For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Acts 2:24 (CSB) God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death.
Acts 2:32 (CSB) “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this.
This is the resurrection of our Lord. This is Easter.
For all that Christ did in his death on the cross, the proof of what this particular dead man accomplished was literally brought to light when Christ rose from the dead.
The proof was delayed--three days. Christ told the disciples:
Matthew 12:40 (CSB) For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
Mark 10:33-34 (CSB) “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles, and they will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him, and he will rise after three days.”
He told them that he would have to die. He told them he will rise. The death part came. The disciples saw it happen. But they couldn't believe it came to past. But it did. And for a moment, they were in despair even though Christ told them of his own resurrection.
with the same body in which He suffered
John 20:25–27 (CSB) So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”
The same physical body that Jesus died in is the same body he was resurrected in. Jesus did not shed his earthly body in order to be more glorious. He was already glorious because he is God. He came not to do away or replace creation but rather to redeem to redeem creation, starting with mankind and starting with our physical bodies. For:
Romans 8:11 (CSB) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
with which He also ascended into heaven
Mark 16:19 (CSB) So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Acts 1:9–11 (CSB) After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”
Since Christ, fully God and fully man, lived among us, died, and rose all as the Son of Man, he ascended to heaven not as the Eternal God but as the Resurrected Man--together as one and now forever at the right hand of the Father with all dominion and power and glory forever, interceding for his people forever.
With his life, he fulfills the covenant of works as the Second Adam--the Son of Man.
With his death, he fulfills the covenant of redemption as the Son of God.
With his resurrection, he fulfills the covenant of grace as the Worthy Lamb of God
With his ascension, he is glorified as King of kings and Lord of lords.
and there sits at the right hand of His Father making intercession
Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Hebrews 9:24 (CSB) For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.
Make no mistake: since Christ has perfect saved his people from their sins, what does he do? He makes intercession for them along with the Spirit:
Romans 8:26-27 (CSB) In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
What would it look like in your life if you knew that both Christ and the Spirit was in the next room, praying to the Father on your behalf?
If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.
Robert Murray M'Cheyne.
When we say loudly proclaim and celebrate that we have God, that is to be taken literally. God has us and by his grace alone, we get to behold the Risen God. Just as nothing will ever be broken in the Triune God, so too, nothing will ever be broken with us.
It is the covenant with Adam that was broken by Adam. From that point on, notice the covenants he makes with men.
None of them were dependent of them but rather on God alone.
Genesis 15:12-17 (CSB) As the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him. Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens for four hundred years in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed. However, I will judge the nation they serve, and afterward they will go out with many possessions. But you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals.
Think of that. What about Noahic was dependent on Noah. What about the Davidic covenant was dependent on David or his descendants? What about the New Covenant is dependent on us?
None of it. All dependent on God. Therefore it is unbreakable.
Christ, as the Risen Lord, intercedes for you forever and ever. He is always praying for you because you are his forever.
Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world
Acts 10:42 (CSB) He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.
Romans 14:9–10 (CSB) Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living. But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
Acts 1:11 (CSB) They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”
2 Peter 2:4 (CSB) For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment;
Since all dominion, power, and glory is given to Christ because he has fulfilled all the promises, he will return to judge the living and the dead.
This is why we preach Christ and him crucified. For:
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
And:
2 Timothy 4:1–2 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
And the most important thing to remember is that: this office, this duty, this assignment, this task this rescue, this redemption? The Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake. For:
John 10:17–18 (CSB) This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Let us be reminded from the author of Hebrews of what to do now everything that Christ has done for us perfectly.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (CSB) Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
We give over our sin to him, the bearer of all of our sin and the author and finisher of our faith.
This is the office Christ most willingly undertook. And never forget, he undertook in saving you not in despair, or fear, or regret, or anger, or frustration, or annoyance, or impatience, or sadness. He undertook all of it with joy.
For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 8.5 The Slaying of the Lamb
The Text
Revelation 5:12-13 (CSB) They said with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!
I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the >earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
The Chapter
The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of God, procured reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him.
The Confession
The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience and sacrifice of Himself, which He through the eternal Spirit once offered up to God, has fully satisfied the justice of God
Hebrews 9:14 (CSB) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?
Hebrews 10:14 (CSB) For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
Romans 3:25–26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
In England, October 16, 1555, there were two men, Catholic priests, named Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley. They were imprisoned together under the rule of Mary I for 18 months before being led through the streets of Oxford to a heavy stake on the north side. Latimer, in his frock and cap with Ridley in his bishop's gown, marched earnestly. Some of the crowd jeered and mocked. Others, still, try to encourage and emboldened the two prisoners. After the two men embraced, prayed to God, they were then chained to the stake, back to back. Kindling was built at their feet. A satchel of gunpowder around their midsection so that they would be obliterated when the soon-to-be flames licked up.
The Queen's officers, come to give the two men one last change to recant, and repent of their heresy. They refused, but instead praised the Lord.
The fire was lit.
In their most desperate moment, with his loudest voice so that his friend could hear, Latimer yells to Ridley:
Be of good heart, brother, for God will either assuage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to abide it.
The fires began to strengthen and burn their legs. But Latimer pressed on:
Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.
When the flames reached the gunpowder, they were both annihilated--their bodies exploding into millions of pieces and quickly turned into ash.
What was this belief that both men were willing to be imprisoned and die in the most brutal fashion--leaving behind loved ones and parishioners and friends? What was this belief that they were willing to die for?
It was this doctrine: The doctrine of the atonement. And the fact that Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, made this sacrifice once and for all.
Hebrews 9:28 (CSB) so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
These men died for the truth in Hebrews 9:28.
The entire Roman Catholic church is built upon the superstition that at ever Mass, that is, ever Sunday service, the priest is able to say a few words in order to make the bread and wine of the Eucharist will be turned into the physical body and the real blood of Jesus. And because we are reasonable people with a reasonable faith, you might think, "Sure they are meaning figuratively or even spiritually?"
The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: "Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation."
Or take it from the book, Mangiare Dio: Una storia dell’eucarestia, which the title is translated into, Eating God: A History of the Eucharist, by the Italian historian Alberto Melloni.
Why is that so important to the Roman Catholic church? For the bread and the wine to physically turn into the body and blood of Christ, the priest is then able to crucify the Son of God again and again and again for the sins of the people.
Latimer and Ridley, both ordained in the Roman Catholic church. Both born again by the Spirit and both possessed the indwelling of the Triune God within them. Both had their hearts of stone removed, given God's own heart, eyes opened and minds renewed in order to look up the Scriptures and know that the Catholic Church was, in fact, going against the very Word of God. It is the Roman Catholic church that is heretical.
And for the doctrine of atonement--that Christ died once for all time to cover the sins of his people and to satisfy the wrath of God--Latimer and Ridley were willing to die.
procured reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father has given unto Him
John 17:2 (CSB) since you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.
Hebrews 9:15 (CSB) Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Christ did not come to make salvation possible. For the Old Testament saints, from Adam to John the Baptist, who died before the cross, Christ died to save them. For the New Testament saints, from Stephen until Christ returns, he died for them.
His death was satisfactory. His crucifixion was complete. His blood spilt was perfect. His body broken was enough. His sacrifice was sufficient. His atonement was all that was needed to save every single person within the family of God.
God did not look upon the annuals of time and picked the timeline where you choose him. No! Before Genesis 1:1, when the Father and the Son saw us, all he saw that we were sinning and sinning all the morning and running into death as fast as we can.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
It was there--before the foundations of the world were even form--that the Father, Son, and the Spirit set the love and affections upon you. They did this not because you were good nor because you were going to be a sinner destined unto hell but rather, they predestined you to be adopted as sons and daughters of God forever.
Ephesians 1:4–5 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
God loves you. God knows you were far from him. He knows that. He knows that you sin continuously all the time. He knows that you cannot be holy and good on your own. You and I are made from dust. He knows that. If he does nothing, we were doomed with Satan, demons, hell and death for all of eternity.
Yet:
1 John 4:9-10 (ESV) In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Latimer, Ridley and nearly 300 other Christian men, women, and children died during the reign of Bloody Mary because they believe that Christ came to save sinners, once and for all, and there is nothing we can do to add to his perfect and final work.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 8.6 The Eternalness of the Messiah
The Text
Revelation 1:8 (CSB) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The Chapter
Although the price of redemption was not actually paid by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the elect in all ages, successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the seed which should bruise the serpent's head; and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, being the same yesterday, and to-day and for ever.
The Confession
Although the price of redemption was not actually paid by Christ until after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the elect in all ages, successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices wherein He was revealed, and signified to be the seed which should bruise the serpent's head
1 Corinthians 4:10 (CSB) We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
Hebrews 4:2 (CSB) For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith.
1 Peter 1:10–11 (CSB) Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
You must consider all that is God!
Our Lord who does not change from the outside in and the inside out:
Malachi 3:6 (CSB) “Because I, the LORD, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
Our Lord who is all wise and all knowing and therefore is incapable of learning or discovering anything additional because he knows all things. For:
Isaiah 40:13–14 (CSB) Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or who gave him counsel? Who did he consult? Who gave him understanding and taught him the paths of justice? Who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of understanding?
And Triune God--Father, Spirit, and the Son--do not and have not changed. For:
James 1:17 (CSB) Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
And each person of the Godhead have always been spirit. For:
John 4:24 (CSB) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”
Deuteronomy 4:15–16 (CSB) “Diligently watch yourselves—because you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb—so you don’t act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form,
Now why I am driving this.
Because the Son is God, spirit, eternal, and does not change, we have firmly established that while Christ did not accomplish his mission of saving his people from their sins until he died on the cross, because of all of who God is, the Son was able to communicate the virtue, efficacy, and benefit of his work to the elect in all ages. For:
Hebrews 1:1 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
And in that, because everything that God promises will absolutely come to past:
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
The salvation of Christ was going to happen whether we believe him or not. God does not operate within our confines and our limitations and our reality. He is far above our sins and our gods.
and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world
Revelation 13:8 (CSB) All those who live on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.
Ephesians 1:4 (ESV) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
It is because God is absolute that before the foundations of the world were in place--before Genesis 1:1--Christ was slain. For:
John 17:24 (CSB) “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation.
Because of the Father and Son promised, we were saved.
Yes! Despite our fall. Despite our wickedness and our sin and out trespass and our iniquities. On our worst and best days. When we think we do good but for impure reasons. And we think we have pure reasons, and have fooled ourselves. When we respond in bitterness, gossip, anger, and lust because we have deceived ourselves that we are gods of our little worlds of sand--but we're the ones made from dust?
And when the fiery darts and lies and accusations and truths and temptations of the enemy and the world finds our flesh and sinks deep into our being and as the sizzling aroma of our skin reaches our nostrils and our minds, we change our minds and flee in desperation away from the only one who is good.
Despite all of that, we were saved.
being the same yesterday, and today and for ever
Hebrews 13:8 (CSB) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Because God alone is eternally absolute and love and wise and holy and merciful and gracious.
Because he saw our desperate state and rescued us from hell.
And he decided before the moment we could have sinned.
He alone is God.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 8.7 The Two Natures of Jesus
The Text
John 3:14-18 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
The Chapter
Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture, attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.
The Confession
Christ, in the work of mediation, acts according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the unity of the person
John 3:13 (CSB) No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
The Athanasian Creed--which some modern scholars contend was not written by Athanasius himself but rather, because in the same way he defended the doctrine of the Trinity, this creed likewise.
And because of the times in which I write this exposition, I must explicitly protest and contest the modern-day revival of the heresy we call the Eternal Subordination (or Submission) of the Son. Whatever you want to call it, my friend calls it heterodoxy because he is a gracious and kind man. I call it heresy because it stands in contrast to the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds.
Luke 22:42 (CSB) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me — nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Teachers of the ESS heresy are trying to deal with that passage. Their erroneous conclusions state that "Well, the Son must have always been submitted to the Father." when we pair that up with:
1 Corinthians 11:3 (CSB) But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ.
Which in itself is harmful because it is not Orthodox Christianity. But then, if that wasn't well enough, they apply the Doctrine of the Trinity to the their hierarchial views on gender roles. It is not enough that we live in an age where people struggle with gender identity, but some churches want to double down and apply what is meant for the Godhead as a back-breaking burden upon the people of God.
I have said often: ESS goes against the Creeds. In case you are not familiar, in dealing with the two natures of Christ, here is what the Athanasian Creed says:
That we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, is both God and human, equally.
He is God from the essence of the Father, begotten before time; and he is human from the essence of his mother, born in time; completely God, completely human, with a rational soul and human flesh; equal to the Father as regards divinity, less than the Father as regards humanity.
Although he is God and human, yet Christ is not two, but one.
I would love to exposit the Athanasian Creed, but that is another book for another day. The point I am driving here is that we do not have to re-toil the work of the relationship between the Father and the Son because we have over 2,000 years of Historical Orthodox Christianity to draw from. And the ESS heresy is not Orthodox Christianity.
Our forefathers in the faith already did the hard work. Why would we re-plow the field when we are bountiful in their harvest?
that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture, attributed to the person denominated by the other nature
Acts 20:28 (CSB) Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.
This is what is so amazing about the two natures of Christ.
Christ, eternally begotten of the Father, was and is and forever shall be. Since Christ is God, and God is immutable, Christ did not change one single bit when he became incarnate.
When he was born of Mary, he took on flesh. He himself unchanged but he took on humanity as his own.
Let me explain it this way. The first instance we see of this was all the way back in Genesis 3. Remember the first preaching of the gospel?
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Adam and Eve, sinful and corrupted to the core, yet in the presence of the God, heard the good news. Like every Christian born again, they were saved by grace through faith. They believed the gospel of Christ and it was counted to them as righteousness.
We know this because just a few verses down:
Genesis 3:21 (CSB) The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
Stop me when you've heard this before. God slays an animal and clothes us with what he does.
Yet, Christ takes on humanity. Now you have two wills of Christ. But in the two wills, divine and humanity, both reside in the one Jesus Christ. The divine of Christ was going to carry out what God does because Christ is God. But the human will of Christ will also carry out and fulfill the covenant of works because Adam failed to do so.
In the sharpest contrast, how Christ models this is exactly what is going on in us. When Christ put on flesh, he had two wills and two desires. The difference between Christ has us is that his wills were in submission to the Holy God. While the Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God, our flesh is still at war with our spirit on this side of heaven.
Romans 7:18-20 (CSB) For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me.
How do we know we are in Christ with this war waging inside of us?
Romans 7:22 (CSB) For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,
Listen to me: unbelievers do not delight in God's law. They do not want to obey God's law. For:
Romans 8:7-8 (CSB) The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Okay. But we still struggle. We still sin.
Romans 7:23-24 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Who is going to rescue me from this body of death and sin? The only answer is the only Man whose both divine and human will was in perfect submission to the Father. That is Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 7:25 (CSB) Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
When we see the will of Christ, you must distinguished, "Is this the divine or human will of the Son?" But do not worry if you get it right--distinguishing is not a test of faith. Just know that you are in Christ and because he perfectly obeyed the covenant of works, you are saved. And because of what Christ has done, you have zero condemnation coming your way.
Romans 8:1-2 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Praise be to God!
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 8.8 The Work of the Lord"
The Text
Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
The Chapter
To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same, making intercession for them; uniting them to himself by his Spirit, revealing unto them, in and by his Word, the mystery of salvation, persuading them to believe and obey, governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit, and overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation; and all of free and absolute grace, without any condition foreseen in them to procure it.
The Confession
To all those for whom Christ has obtained eternal redemption, He does certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same, making intercession for them
John 6:37 (CSB) Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
John 10:15–16 (CSB) just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.
John 17:9 (CSB) “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.
Romans 5:10 (CSB) For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
When I was a young Christian, faithfully attending a rather large evangelical non-denominational church. Your assumptions that they were not Calvinistic would be true but they love the Lord their God and that huge church was so crucial to my upbringing as a new born-again Christian life. God did start the process of helping me understand theology and I had embraced much of the Calvinistic soteriology. The one I couldn't quite articulate nor teach well (without sounding like a pompous jerk) was, as you might guess, the doctrine of Limited Atonement--that the Bible does not teach that the cross of Christ made salvation possible but he actually saves. I got that but I didn't "get it", if that makes any sense.
It didn't make sense until I was attending a young adult Tuesday evening service and we had guest speaker. In the middle of his intro, he had a one-off, a side comment, if you will. He stated this, "I don't know how Christ went to cross to die hoping that we would turn to him. If I did something like that, I would need absolute certainty!" That was it. He went back to his topic and moved on. Didn't elaborate. Didn't expound it. It was his opinion.
But his opinion was the battering ram that knocked down the final wall in my heart and in my mind. My heart instantly responded, "No, Christ knew! Christ had absolutely certainty because he completely saved his people!"
When that wall got knocked down and I went back to the Scriptures to see whether or not the death of Christ made salvation possible.
The Bible never says the birth, the work, the cross, the resurrection, the ascension of Christ made salvation possible. Let us walk through a couple verses and tell me what you see.
Romans 1:16 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
Does Romans 1:16 states that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes and does not believe?
Then take this one step further: does the gospel of God save unbelivers? Noticed I asked "does" and not "can". Can the gospel save sinners? He saved a wretch like me so yes. But does it save unbelievers? No. The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
The most famous, oft quoted, and oft used defense for the possibility of salvation is the most famous passage of all time ever: John 3:16. Since many of us have it memorize, you already know where I am going with this:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Again, read a little closer. Does the passage state that everyone who believes and does not believe will have eternal life?
You might reply with, "But it states everyone! That means there is a possibility of them believing!" I would agree with you. But that is not what the passage states.
Go to the end of the chapter and in case we wanted to make John 3:16 mean something wanted and not what the passage is stating:
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Not twenty verses later, the Apostle John clearly lays it out: eternal life only belongs to those who believe.
Why I am belaboring the point? When it comes to eternity, salvation, life and death, and the goodness of God and the riches of his mercy and the glory of his grace, why do we Christians, especially here in America, want the possibility of being saved like we are playing the lottery hoping to win a billion dollars?
God, in his precious word to us, him speaking to us, the One whose promises are yes and amen when it comes for his saving love for us, never speaks in ambiguity and possibilities and open-endedness like a romantic comedy of sorts? When it comes to our souls either perishing or pleasures forevermore and to chalk up to possibility, that is insanity.
When God speaks about his steadfast love for us never ceasing, when the grip of the Triune God on us will never be broken, when there is no condemnation for those who are in his Son and there is no separation from the love of God in Christ Jesus, it is not a possibility. It is a certainty. It is definite. It is perfect. It is absolute.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
uniting them to Himself by His Spirit, revealing to them, in and by His Word, the mystery of salvation, persuading them to believe and obey
John 17:6 (CSB) “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Ephesians 1:9 (CSB) He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ
1 John 5:20 (CSB) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Or to take it all the way forward:
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.
What is God's gift? Is it:
- Salvation
- Grace
- Faith
The answer is of course D. all of the above. If we agree that all three are gifts of God, then consider this:
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
My friend, be born in a Christian home. Be baptized early in the church. Faithfully attend church all of your life. Never miss a Sunday school, go to Christian private school, Bible college, seminary, become a missionary, evangelist, monk, preacher, pastor, elder, teacher--do all the things for God!
But if you do not have the Spirit of God, you cannot understand any of this nor believe any of this. All the seemingly Christian education in the world will not save you.
Christ calls us to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And yet:
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The gospel, the Bible, the understanding, the wisdom, the obedience, your spirit, your faith, your heart all of it comes not from you but completely, definitely perfectly from God. This faith is not simply rational, intellectual, or emotional--although it definitely contains all of those things. It is spiritual. It is supernatural. It is a miracle.
governing their hearts by His Word and Spirit
Romans 8:9–14 (CSB) You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you. So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.
In other words, for you to read the Bible and understand his word and believe that Christ has saved you from your sins by what he has done in you, that is nothing to do with with your IQ or schooling or upbringing or anything else. It is all God.
Does that mean you and I are utterly dependent on him to see his glory? Yep. Does that mean you and I are utterly dependent on him to believe in him? Yep. Does that mean you and I are utterly dependent on him to obey him? Yep.
Does that mean if I sit on my butt, twiddle my thumbs, and do nothing I will be able to know and love God more? That is what James was arguing against, "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:17) Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) And yet, Abraham was called to sacrifice his son Isaac. (Genesis 22:1-19) If Abraham "believed" and did nothing, he would have not believed.
When humans believe, they act upon that believe. The Christian faith is no different.
And make no mistake: God does not need you to do anything for him. He needs nothing. He, in himself, has everything. But why are we compelled to obedience? For the sake of others:
Matthew 5:16 (CSB) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
To love others because of God in you.
and overcoming all their enemies by His almighty power and wisdom
Psalm 110:1 (CSB) This is the declaration of the LORD to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”
1 Corinthians 15:25–26 (CSB) For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death.
Colossians 2:15 (CSB) He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
We are in this life and because we live in a fallen world, we will not only sin against others but rather, and this hurts the most, others will sin against us. It hurts a lot. And I wish I could go back in time and take that sin away from me and from you. But that wasn't how God works. His plan of redemption is the perfect plan for you and me.
Make no mistake: those who have hurt you is not your enemy. I don't care what they do. And when I preach this to you, I preach this to me. My dad who abused me, my mom who abandoned me, my stepmom who neglected me, my grandmother who put me in harms way--all of that pain and suffering and then I carried that into my adult life. People have hurt me, used me for their own gain, and then threw me away like trash. But nobody on that list is my enemy.
Ephesians 6:10-12 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
There's a war goin on outside, no man is safe from
You could run but you can't hide foreverProdigy. Mobb Deep. Survival of the Fittest.
If we were able to see the spiritual warfare that is always going on, that would immediately put everything in to perspective and in the order most important. And the thing about it is, God sees and knows the war going on and he is telling you about it.
Don't get geared up against your fellow man. Get geared up to go against Satan and demons.
We know of the story of David and Goliath. But do you know of the other giants in the land? Read 2 Samuel 21. When David was older and could not fight the giants, the mighty men of David stepped in and slew the other giants.
We are to fight against our enemies in the spiritual war.
We are more than conquerors through his grace who loved us in the very circumstances that threaten to overwhelm. Fear not, then, the darkest cloud, nor the proudest waves, nor the deepest needs- in these very things you shall, through Christ, prove triumphant. Nor shrink from the battle with the "last enemy." Death received a death-wound when Christ died. You face a conquered foe. He stands at your side a crownless king, and waving a broken scepter. Your death shall be another victory over the believer's last foe. Planting your foot of faith upon his prostrate neck, you shall spring into glory, more than a conqueror, through him that loved you. Thus passing to glory in triumph, you shall go to swell the ranks of the "noble army of martyrs"- those Christian heroes of whom it is recorded, "THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD Of THE LAMB."
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation in Christ Jesus. 229.
Even if we die, we win for to live is Christ but to die is behold the risen Christ!
We cannot lose! We are more than conquerors!
Christ has put Satan and demons to open shame. The war is won. The satanic forces are in retreat. Christ who has conquered has made us more than conquerers. So stop fighting against people who are not your enemy but love them. And wage war against the enemy of your soul.
in such manner and ways as are most consonant to His wonderful and unsearchable dispensation; and all of free and absolute grace, without any condition foreseen in them to procure it
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Ephesians 1:8 (CSB) that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
In short, none of us can earn the grace of God.
Consider the story of Noah:
Genesis 6:1–7 (CSB)
1 When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them,2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves.
3 And the LORD said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
5 When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,
6 the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.
7 Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”
Before we can even mention Noah, answer some basic, non-trick questions:
- Was Noah a man?
- Was Noah a sinner?
- Was Noah wicked?
- Did every inclination of Noah's mind was nothing but evil all the time
- Did the Lord regretted that had made Noah?
There is one right answer: Yes. You might be tempted to give me a, "Yes, but..." because we have gotten to the next verse. Fair enough.
Genesis 6:8 (CSB) Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.
Oh, you might say, "The Lord gave Noah favor because Noah was good and righteous! Read the next verse, Joseph!" Okay.
Genesis 6:9 (CSB) These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
I see what it says. But put it altogether and read it:
Genesis 6:5–9 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the LORD. These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
Noah was given grace. He found favor with the Lord. Then was righteous.
The order of events is important. Read in the right order is the gospel of Christ.
Romans 1:17 (CSB) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
Get the order mixed up and you have the classic heresy of mankind: works based on self-righteousness.
We cannot earn the grace of God. We cannot earn the favor of God. We cannot earn the righteousness of God. We cannot earn the salvation of God.
God gives grace.
In other words, God saves sinners.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 8.9 The Office of the Mediator
The Text
Hebrews 9:15 (CSB) Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
The Chapter
This office of mediator between God and man is proper only to Christ, who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof, transferred from him to any other.
The Confession
1 Timothy 2:5 (CSB) For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
In recent times, from usually Christians, will balk at the audacity of the preached word. Here is what I mean. If the preacher dares to declare, "This is what the word of God says!", sometimes the listener will either retort, debate, reject or downright ignore.
And to be honest, I see their point. We have so many preachers and teachers who have mishandled the word of God, used the Scriptures for their own ill-gotten gains, and wrap up their gross sin by aptly declaring, "this is the word of God declares", and secretly hoping you don't read the word of God for yourself and you don't test every prophecy (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21).
What is true about false teachers now is always been true since Genesis 3. False shepherds, exactly like their father Satan, will not outright deny the Bible but in fact, twist it in order to deceive you. Unless these false preachers repent of their wickedness, they will burn in hell. And they, like their father Satan, will try to hurt as many of the children of God along the way. They twist the words of God not unintentionally but intentionally in order to build their kingdoms of feces for their lives made of vapor.
Jeremiah 23:1-4 (CSB) “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! ” This is the LORD’s declaration. “Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, banished them, and have not attended to them. I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts” — this is the LORD’s declaration. “I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous. I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them. They will no longer be afraid or discouraged, nor will any be missing.” This is the LORD’s declaration.
In his time, Christ will replace those hired hands with under-shepherds he has raised up. Christ alone is the Good Shepherd.
What true in the Evangelical age of the church was certainly true in the pre-Reformation age of the church. The church in power at the time, the Roman Catholic Church, heretically and with grave error, that there was another meditator between man and God and that would be the be Pope.
That false teaching from false teacher in complete contradiction to the word of God.
1 Timothy 2:5 (CSB) For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
And if you try to use the argument for needing a mediator between Christ and mankind, I got some news for you. Christ is not only the Son of God who is God but also the Son of Man because he is fully man. We do not need another mediator between us and God because no man, born in flesh, was ever qualified to be the mediator between us and God other than Jesus Christ, who was always fully God and took on flesh in order to bridge the infinite gap between God and mankind.
There is no other name by which we are saved.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 8.10 The Prophet, Priest and King
The Text
John 19:19-22 (CSB) Pilate also had a sign made and put on the cross. It said: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The king of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the king of the Jews.’ ” Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.”
The Chapter
This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom.
The Confession
This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of His prophetical office
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need His priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God
Colossians 1:21 (CSB) Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need His kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to His heavenly kingdom
John 16:8 (CSB) When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:
Psalm 110:3 (CSB) Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
Luke 1:74–75 (CSB) since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.
Chapter 9 Of Free Will
9.1 The Freedom of the Will
God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.
9.2 The Power of the Will
Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well- pleasing to God, but yet was unstable, so that he might fall from it.
9.3 The Bondage of the Will
Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.
9.4 The Rescue of the Will
When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he doth not perfectly, nor only will, that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.
9.5 The Glorification of the Will
This will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the state of glory only.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 9.1 The Freedom of the Will
The Text
Genesis 1:27 (CSB) So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.
The Chapter
God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.
The Confession
God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice
Because we are made in the image of God, we have been gifted with a mind, heart, soul, emotions and a will. God has made us to achieve, work, create, love, and to choose and act upon that choice.
Matthew 17:12 (CSB) “But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
that it is neither forced
James 1:14 (CSB) But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
This is not a forced decision. This is a not a reprogramming or a flip of the switches. Again, our wills are corrupted. Our souls are in decay. Our minds follow the flesh. Our hearts are cold as rocks. Try reprogramming a rock. Doesn't make sense, does it? Then why would God flip a couple switches in our minds, hearts, and wills as though we are some kind of robots?
nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil
Deuteronomy 30:19 (CSB) I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,
There is nothing in nature, circumstance, fixed, destiny, mechanical, or physical forcing you to choose life or death. This decision that stands before you is not coerced. It is not forced.
We outright reject fatalism--that our predetermined actions are inevitable and there is nothing you can do.
Make no mistake: there is a choice to be made. Follow God or descend into death.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 9.2 The Power of the Will
The Text
Joshua 24:15 (CSB) But if it doesn’t please you to worship the LORD, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship — the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD.
The Chapter
Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well- pleasing to God, but yet was unstable, so that he might fall from it.
The Confession
Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (CSB) Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.”
Again, because we were made in the image of God, Adam and Eve had, not only the freedom of the will, but the ability to choose good because we were good. God is the source of good, he declared us very good, and therefore, what we did was good.
but yet was unstable, so that he might fall from it
Genesis 3:6 (CSB) The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Within that freedom comes boundaries and boundaries come in the form of the law of God. In our original free will, we could choose to go to the left or the right or straight ahead. We do not know how long Adam and Eve lived in perfection--chosen to go ahead straight--but they always had the ability to go left or right of center.
In Genesis 3, they chose to go not straight ahead but to fall.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 9.3 The Bondage of the Will
The Text
Hosea 6:6–7 (CSB) For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But they, like Adam, have violated the covenant; there they have betrayed me.
The Chapter
Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.
The Confession
Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation
Romans 5:6 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 8:7 (CSB) The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.
I have asked this question before and I will ask it again: How can we honestly believe that in all the devastation in the wake of sin, down to our very core, that somehow Adam and Eve, now dead in their sins, were able to choose God as they had the moment before they were tempted.
The only attempt I have seen from Christians in explaining the freedom of the will of the children of Adam is this: "We were born with some semblance of good so that we could choose God." That is fine and good but that is not what God says:
Psalm 51:5 (CSB) Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
And
Psalm 58:3 (CSB) The wicked go astray from the womb; liars wander about from birth.
And
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
I remember one pastor responded this way, "Well, 'No one is righteous' does not mean absolute corruption." Which, I think, was the most honest answer I have ever heard in response to Romans 3:10. But I digress.
so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin
Ephesians 2:1–5 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto
Titus 3:3–5 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
We were born in sin. We were born apart from God. And unless God gets involved, we are born as children of his wrath and we will perish in our sins.
But Christ:
John 6:44 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 9.4 The Rescue of the Will
The Text
Romans 8:20-21 (CSB) For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
The Chapter
When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he doth not perfectly, nor only will, that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.
The Confession
When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, He frees him from his natural bondage under sin
Colossians 1:13 (CSB) He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
Your will, before the intervention of God in your life, was a free as a prisoner in their cell. You had freedom to roam the confines of your own sin.
God, because of the work of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, who alone has complete freedom of the will, frees you from your bondage to sin.
When Christ frees you, you are no longer in bondage to sin. You are free!
John 8:36 (CSB) So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
and by His grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good
Philippians 2:13 (CSB) For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
God, by His grace, enables you to will and to do that which is spiritually good. Remember, he gives you a new heart so now you have new desires. (Ezekiel 36:26; Psalm 37:4) You have his Spirit and you are now lead by him. (Romans 8:14) God has saved you and has prepared good works for you to do. (Ephesians 2:10) Now, your neighbor needs these good works. Go love them as you would love your self. (Matthew 22:39)
yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he does not perfectly, nor only will, that which is good, but does also will that which is evil
Romans 7:15–23 (CSB) For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me. So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me. For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
My Beloved, this is the life of the Christian. We still live in post-Genesis 3 and not yet-Revelation 22. We are still at war with sin. We will still sin. But don't you see, God has you because you are so precious to him. How do I know that? He was willing to give up his Son so that you would be with him forever.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 9.5 The Glorification of the Will
The Text
Psalm 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
The Chapter
This will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the state of glory only.
The Confession
Ephesians 4:13 (CSB) until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
From the beginning, God worked six days to create the heavens and the earth. On the sixth day, he created mankind, male and female, in his image. The seventh day of God that he marked as the Sabbath which is holy and restful was the first day of life for Adam and Eve.
We started off in resting in the Lord. Sin marred and messed it up so bad that work works against us and we have no rest.
But Christ came. He worked so we could rest in him. And one day, we will get to perfectly, finally, definitely rest all because of what God has done for us in Christ.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Our final Sabbath is coming, brothers and sisters. Rest in his amazing grace.
Amen.
Chapter 10 Of Effectual Calling
10.1 The Calling of God: At Us
Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.
10.2 The Calling of God: Independent of Us
This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit; he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.
10.3 The Calling of God: Outside of Us
Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and how he pleases; so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.
10.4 The Calling of God: Not By Us
Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that receive not the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 10.1 The Calling of God At Us
The Text
John 11:43-44 (CSB) After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out! ” The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
The Chapter
Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.
The Confession
Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, He is pleased in His appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call,
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 11:7 (CSB) What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,
Ephesians 1:10–11 (CSB) as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As humans, we are made to reflect the image of our Creator. Needless, to say, while we are not all the way exactly like God, we have distinct traits with God in that separates us from the rest of creation. Not cute puppy dogs nor the angels in heavens nor Satan and demons reflect the image of God like we do. With that said, it should be no surprised that the imagebearers of God would do what pleases us because God does exactly what he wants to do that pleases him.
The obvious difference is that God is the Supreme Ruler, omniscient, omnipotent, ever present, holy, good, righteous, just, merciful, compassion, tender, kind, perfect and glorious--he is perfection. When he does that pleases him, he is the source of good and all that he does is good.
But we, as his creation, will always do what pleases us. So why is that a bad thing? Because we have no good within us and we are not the source of good and because of our fallen sinful state, whatever we do is infected with sin and is not wholly good.
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Jeremiah 17:9 (CSB) The heart is deceitful above all things and incurable—who can understand it?
All throughout the history of mankind, we will do something that is evil and sinful and because of God's judgment, we can be turned over to a debased mind to worship what we have created rather the Creator. (Romans 1:18-31).
And we always take it one step more and celebrate our sin.
Romans 1:32 (CSB) Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
Yet, when God, who is good and the source of all good and does only good, does exactly what pleases him and we balk at his audacity.
We do we balk at that?
The best and most succinct passage that deals with the pleasure of God in his calling of his elect to himself is a particular passage that many Christians, and most Evangelicals have balk at.
Romans 9.
And instead of taking Romans 9 in context of chapter 8, Romans, and the Bible, many Christians have a difficult time dealing with what God does as he pleases and will then try to explain away the text.
What does God, source of all good and is good, wants to do in this case?
Romans 9:22-26 (CSB) And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory — on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As it also says in Hosea,
I will call Not My People, My People,
and she who is Unloved, Beloved.
And it will be in the place where they were told,
you are not my people,
there they will be called sons of the living God.
According to Romans 9, God wants to show mercy.
Why do we balk at that?
God does as he pleases. He is God. He is not like us under some sort of authority. The Triune God is himself authority because he is God. He created everything and he rules and reigns over all.
In the blessing of the temple, David corporately prays to our God in the midst of the entire nation of Israel. Look at the distinction between God and us.
1 Chronicles 29:10–12 (CSB) Then David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly. David said, May you be blessed, LORD God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.
God is Lord. God is our Father. God is eternal. God holds greatness, power, glory, splendor and majesty. More so, everything in the heavens and on earth belong to God. His is the kingdom. He is exalted far above all our gods. Whatever riches and honors we think we have, it comes from him. Power and might are in his great and he alone raises up kings and leaders and tears them done.
When we read of this greatness and at the same time, God wants to bestow pure mercy and grace and love and affections upon his people. Should we try, in complete vanity and futility, dismiss what he has done or should we thank our great God?
1 Chronicles 29:13 (CSB) Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.
Why should we?
1 Chronicles 29:14 (CSB) But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand.
Because we can only receive what is good because nothing in us is good. (Psalm 14; Romans 3:10-12)
1 Chronicles 29:15 (CSB) For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
Because we are temporal creatures temporarily walking through this temporary home just like all the sons of Adam before and after us. We are here but for a fraction of a moment. Our lives are like a vapor on grass and the noon sun comes quickly. (James 4:14)
1 Chronicles 29:16 (CSB) LORD our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand; everything belongs to you.
Whatever we think we can do--build, create, restore, renew or even choose--that comes from God alone.
1 Chronicles 29:17 (CSB) I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to you.
Goodness, pleasure, righteousness--God alone.
1 Chronicles 29:18 (CSB) LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of your people, and confirm their hearts toward you.
Affections, desires, love, thoughts, our new hearts? God alone.
by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 2:1–6 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
And
Titus 3:3–7 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
And
John 3:7-8 (CSB) Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
And
John 3:14-17 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
The Triune God--Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit--from eternity to eternity, saw a most wicked and depraved people who strived to run from his presence and goodness. We were made from dust and we are futile in everything we do. We sometimes even pretend to do what is good but only not to face all the consequences. But this lie only delays the evitable.
God saw us in our vain, debased, depravity, and wickedness. He saw that no one was going to choose him. And in his tender mercies and sweetest grace, he rescues and redeems us. Not just a promises but the ultimate accomplish done--by the life and death of his wonderful, only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is God, who perfectly, definitely, completely saved his people from their sins by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Who is like our God and who can compare to him? He alone is worthy.
enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God;
Acts 26:18 (CSB) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Ephesians 1:17–18 (CSB) I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
Knowing God is not a intellectual pursuit. It is not based on what you know. For you and I to know God, God must make us new creatures from the inside out.
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
If someone who is not righteous, does not understand, does not seek after God but in fact, turned away from God, is worthless before God, does not do good and yet, for us to see God and understand God is good in the sight of God, how is this possible?
taking away their heart of stone, and giving to them a heart of flesh;
Ezekiel 36:26 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Swapping our old dead, rock hearts for a new soft heart with new desires for him. And a new heart is not complete without his Spirit inside of us to give us life and keep us alive to him forever.
renewing their wills, and by His almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ;
Deuteronomy 30:6 (CSB) The LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.
Ezekiel 36:27 (CSB) I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Ephesians 1:19 (CSB) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.
Does the Spirit does this saving work over the course of one's life or in a moment? The answer is yes. The Holy Spirit is all powerful, eternal, and never ceasing--he constantly and consistently at work within each of us--not just for believers but for the unbelievers and Satan and demons as well.
John 16:7–11 (CSB) Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.
Psalms 18:17-19 (CSB) He rescued me from my powerful enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the LORD was my support.
He brought me out to a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.Psalms 116:8 (CSB) For you, LORD, rescued me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.Psalms 34:4 (CSB) I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and rescued me from all my fears.
We too were once disobedient and enslaved and dead in our sins. How does God respond?
Psalms 81:7 (CSB) You called out in distress, and I rescued you;
I answered you from the thundercloud.
I tested you at the Waters of Meribah. Selah
Psalms 103:13-14 (CSB) As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
For he knows what we are made of,
remembering that we are dust.
We have been rescued and redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. And God rescues >us from sin, Satan, demons, hell, and death.
Now we possess the heart of the Father and the Spirit of the only begotten Son! What shall we do?
Psalm 110:3 (CSB) Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
And now we rest because we have assurance because we have the Christ!
Song of Solomon 1:4 (CSB) Take me with you—let’s hurry. Oh, that the king would bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and be glad in you; we will celebrate your caresses more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.
Amen.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 10.2 The Calling of God Outside of Us
The Text
John 11:11 (CSB) He said this, and then he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m on my way to wake him up.”
The Chapter
This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit; he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.
The Confession
This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature,
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Ephesians 2:8 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
In other words, God has not seen down the corridors of time and seen that we would choose him, and then called us. Likewise, God has not seen those with soft tender hearts and then he decided, "I'll call them."
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
In fact, the Bible never says he foresaw but rather, he foreknew. What did he foreknew in us? That we were good?
Romans 3:10-12 (CSB)
There is no one righteous, not even one.
There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.
What does God know about all who were born of Adam?
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
What God knows about each of us born of Adam--that is the entire human race--that we were running from him, we denied him, we hated him and wanted nothing from him.
being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit;
1 Corinthians 2:14 (CSB) But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
Ephesians 2:5 (CSB) made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
John 5:25 (CSB) “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
What God knows about that us is that we are dead because of sin. What he knew about us is that we were good as a valley filled with dry bones.
It is no coincidence that the book of Ezekiel is bookend with the gospel of Christ in chapters 11 and 36:
Ezekiel 36:24-30 (CSB) “ ‘For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and I will not bring famine on you. I will also make the fruit of the trees and the produce of the field plentiful, so that you will no longer experience reproach among the nations on account of famine.
After God declares the his great and mighty gospel, what is the first example he gives to Ezekiel? The Valley of Dry Bones.
God takes the prophet Ezekiel out to the middle of some forsaken valley filled with the dry bones. No sinews. No tendons. No guts. No skin. Devoid of life completely.
God turns to his prophet and asks:
"Son of man, can these bones live?"
Look at what God commands Ezekiel to do:
Ezekiel 37:4-6 (CSB) He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”
he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.
Ephesians 1:19–20 (CSB) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—
Isaiah 55:11 (CSB) so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
From the moment sin entered into the world, death started its vile, cruel work by turning everything light into darkness. Seemingly so, God steps into the fray like he will so many times, and he calls to Adam and Eve:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
God has called you! Do you believe?
Genesis 3:21 (CSB) The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
God has declared the gospel to a pagan heathen named Abram:
Genesis 12:1-3 (CSB) The LORD said to Abram:
Go from your land,
your relatives,
and your father’s house
to the land that I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation,
I will bless you,
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,
and all the peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.
God has called you! Do you believe?
Genesis 15:6 (CSB) Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
The gospel is proclaimed to the valley filled with the shadow of death--filled with the skeletons who apart from God are dead and under his wrath forever:
Son of man, can these bones live?
What is dead's response?
Ezekiel 37:7-8 (CSB) So I prophesied as I had been commanded. While I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. As I looked, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
God has called you! Do you believe?
Ezekiel 37:9-10 (CSB) He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man. Say to it: This is what the Lord GOD says: Breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so that they may live! ” So I prophesied as he commanded me; the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army.
The Son of Man, Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Living Word, the Blessed Redeemer, the Messiah and the Savior of the world, condescended from his perfect communion with the Father and Spirit, into our broken world and sin-filled existence and steps into not to avoid death but looked into the face of death and said:
John 11:41-43 (CSB) ... Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.”
After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out! ”
What is dead's response?
John 11:44 (CSB) The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth.
God has called you! Do you believe?
Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
God only calls the dead and not alive. Christ has come for the unrighteous and sinful, not the righteous. Jesus is here for those who are sick and dying in our sins and so desperately need to live!
Romans 10:13 (CSB) For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
God has called you! Do you believe?
Romans 10:17 (CSB) So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
My beloved, I tell you things so that you might live and not die! I tell you these things that you might believe and be saved! I tell you these things so that you joy may be complete!
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 10.3 The Calling of God Independent of Us
The Text
Romans 1:18-19 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
The Chapter
Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and how he pleases; so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.
The Confession
John 3:3–6 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Matthew 6:33 (CSB) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
When you depart from right, proper, historical, orthodox theology, you end up having to make up some additional theories in order to cover what your new theology has left behind. Departure and rejection of Calvinistic soteriology and placed the salvation of man on man himself now exposes the question:
What about those who cannot choose God for themselves?
The confession starts by talking about infants but also addresses "who are incapable". In other words, the mentally handicap.
I am reminded of my dear friend's sweet uncle whose elderly mom spent her entire life caring for him. When I met him, he was in his 60s. When he was quite young, he suffered a head injury that kept his IQ and maturity around two years old. What about him who cannot choose God for himself?
The age of accountability concept that is one, not Biblical at all, and two, tends to bend the believer's heart into thinking that they can judge a person's salvation from the outside in.
But what does the Bible say?
You must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God.
The Bible has already declared of those who--and stop me if you've heard this before--who are weak, who cannot believe apart from the Spirit, who are not good, who are not righteous, no, not one and who are incapable of choosing God for themselves unless God gives his Spirit and his heart.
To tell you the truth, when it comes to the power of our wills and whether we can choose God or not God, we are just as weak and feeble as an infant or like my friend's uncle. The Bible has already declared: for us to follow the command of Christ to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, we must be born again. Otherwise, we lack the power to choose God and see his kingdom because we are not born of the Spirit.
We are just like the infant. We are just like the mentally handicap. All the IQ and EQ and knowledge and smarts and wisdom will not save us. God must have mercy on our souls. God must choose us. God must save us.
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
The Spirit must give life. And to the elect--that would include the miscarried, the stillborn, the mentally handicap, dare I say, the emotionally handicap, the infant, the child, the teenager, the adult, or the elderly--the Spirit gives life so that God's people will now seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 10.4 The Calling of God Not By Us
The Text
1 Corinthians 12:3 (CSB) Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
The Chapter
Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that receive not the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.
The Confession
Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit,
Matthew 22:14 (CSB) “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 13:20–21 (CSB) And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Hebrews 6:4–5 (CSB) For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age,
You have to deal with the magnitude, vastness and the almight of the Lord God Almighty. Start with the Triuneness of God. Each of the persons of the Godhead--Father, Son, and Spirit--are, by themselves, the fullness of God.
... all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.
And when God himself, whether it be just the Father, just the Son, or just the Spirit, does anything within this material plane, there are the effectual, precise definite work of God and the effects of God on a individual or a people group.
But when you are dealing with that amount of power--infinite, that is--you have to know that there will be residual affects of that power. Think of any sort of bomb. That bomb will destroy its intended target to be sure but the magnitude of the bomb will have residual affects on the surrounding area. And what is a bomb, even a nuclear warhead, pales in comparison to the power of God.
And that is just it: every analogy I could use to try to compare to God will more than likely be a weapon of destruction. God's holy and righteous saving power is one of salvation, healing, restoration, reconciliation, and love.
If you and I know that the almighty power of God will have residual effects, you and I must know that people might be attracted to that power but, hear this, for all the wrong reasons--even reasons that will lead to their destruction unless God saves them unto himself.
If you have been in church for longer than a moment, you have already seen people attracted to the things of God, do the things of God, and then fall away from the holiness of God for one reason or another. Christians often are perplexed that something like this could have happened. Mostly perplexed because this falling away from grace has happened to someone they know and love--like their dad, or brother, or child.
Hebrews 6:4–6 (CSB) For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.
God said they have merely tasted the heavenly gift. Christ explains this in two places:
Matthew 13:20–21 (CSB) And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.
And
Matthew 7:21–23 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
Christ preaches these sermons not to shake the assurance of his people but rather, to show his people the power of God. When God does something, it will come to pass. And when it does, there are affects on the fringes of that power.
God was so merciful and kind to display his glory to all of the earth. He did this by sending his Son to die for the sins of his people. Some are effectually called by God to be saved by God. Some look at what God has done and they want the gifts and power of God but cannot stand and bear his holiness and goodness. Let the world kick them in the chest, and they fall away. Let God show them who he is, and they fall away. Let the happy times leave them for a moment, and they fallen away.
But for his people, to the believer, to you and I, God saves us and holds us to the utmost.
yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:
John 6:44–65 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father. “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” At that, the Jews argued among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, because my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna your ancestors ate—and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?” Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
1 John 2:24–25 (CSB) What you have heard from the beginning is to remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life.
And that is the hard truth we must know of God: God saves whom he will save.
And immediately, one might think, "Why doesn't he just save everyone?"
But we know:
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
And
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
We have all sinned mightily and completely against the Holy One of God. That sin deserves death.
We didn't know that because we are ignorant in our trespasses and sins. But God knew this because our sin is against him. And the breaking of the holy and righteous has introduced sin into his creation.
For the wages of sin is death
We don't our mistakes to have consequences or perhaps, ease up on the consequences. Or we want to think that our mistakes are not that bad--sometimes harmless.
But our mistakes have consequences. The bigger the mistake, the more severe the consequence. When we sin, we sin against either God himself or against the creation he created in his likeness and image--mankind. Which is still sin against God ultimately.
But I have some good news to this bad news:
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God knew. God knew we were far because he knows our hearts. God knew we were too far from him and we were utterly helpless in getting back to him. God knew this.
God knew this and he knew that. He knew that the wages of sin is death. And he knew that we would die in our sins and be apart from him forever. He saw the wickedness of our state and then sent his Son not only to live for us but to conquer sin and hell and Satan and demons by dying for us. Not only to die for us but to resurrect back to live and conquer death for us. Not only to resurrect for us but to ascend to the heavens in power to the right hand of the Father in order to intercede for us and rule and reign over all of creation.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
So what shall we say to these things?
Romans 9:15 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
God is both perfectly in kindness and in wisdom. This plan of salvation? No way could we have concocted this scheme! How do I know? If we came up with the plan of salvation, then somehow, someway, we would make ourselves the hero of the story.
But in fact, we are not the hero of the story. We are the helpless ones, rotting in the dungeon of our own filth and iniquity. We are but skin and bones--it's a wonder how our manacles haven't slipped off our wrists and ankles because we are so skinny, weak, and frail. We are far from the heroes but we are the madmen, locked in a bottomless dungeon with our own feces, piss, and vomit, dwelling in the mess that we have made.
But you have best look at our God!
For here is love:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
And here is love:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
And here is love:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
And here is love:
Ezekiel 11:19–20 (CSB) I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh, so that they will follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
And here is love:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
And here is love:
Romans 8:1 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,
And here is love:
Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And here is love:
Romans 9:25-26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea,
I will call Not My People, My People,
and she who is Unloved, Beloved.
And it will be in the place where they were told,
you are not my people,
there they will be called sons of the living God.
And here is love:
1 John 4:10 (ESV) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
And here is love!
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christ has not come for the heroes of the story--the strong, the brave, the might!
Christ has come for the sick and sinner!
Christ has come to save his people!
much less can men that do not receive the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
John 4:22 (CSB) You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews.
John 17:3 (CSB) This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ.
It is not the church nor the pastor nor denomination nor the movement nor the theology nor your parents nor your family nor your baptism in water nor your filling of the Spirit nor anything is what saves you to God.
God alone saves us to God.
Hear these truths! Do you believe? Then you belong to Christ! That is all.
You cannot know the truths of God unless God reveals them to you. You cannot receive the gifts of God unless the Spirit dwells in you. You cannot proclaim and preach that Jesus is Lord unless the Triune God dwells in you.
If you know these things, then rejoice for your name is written in the book of life!
Chapter 11 Of Justification
11.1 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Righteousness
Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.
11.2 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Faith
Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.
11.3 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Son
Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due unto them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in their behalf; yet, inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them, their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.
11.4 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Spirit
God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification; nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.
11.5 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Eternity
God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure; and in that condition they have not usually the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
11.6 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Saves All
The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 11.1 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Cleanses Us From All Unrighteousness
The Text
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Chapter
Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.
The Confession
Those whom God effectually calls, he also freely justifies,
Romans 3:24 (CSB) they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Previously, Chapter 10 dealt with the calling of God upon his people. At this moment, let us not undersell or downplay how God effectually calls those who would believe and trust in him. This means whom God calls, he will perfectly and definitely save that person. This might be a strange thing for any person to fathom. When I call out to my children, although they may hear me, they may not respond. And to that, we might be tempted that God is like us and since we have no power to control or save others, perhaps God may not be as powerful, might, sovereign, or graceful in his calling to any of the sons of Adam.
But God is not like us and we are not like God. Whom God calls, he will justify. Whom God calls from death to life, that person will live. For:
Isaiah 55:11 (CSB) so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
And
John 6:44 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
And
John 12:32 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”
This is not some sort of "God calls and then a person will struggle and wiggle and think and ponder about that calling." The calling of God is the effectually calling of the Almighty God upon one who is dead in their trespasses and sins.
John 11:42-44 (CSB) I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice,
“Lazarus, come out! ” The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
And we know this because of the Bible--more specifically in Romans:
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and
those he called, he also justified ; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Let me contend that the entirety of the gospel of Christ in this verse is summarized and reduced to a simple mathematical equation:
One hundred percent of those predestined (let's call this w) equals one hundred percent of those called (x) equals one hundred percent of those justified (y) equals one hundred percent of those glorified (z).
Ergo: w = x = y = z
Whatever that set number is, that is the set number of those who will be saved.
Do we know what that number is? As much as I love my Jehovah's Witnesses neighbors, we are not God so no, we do not know what that number is. That is not for us to know. Ours to know is Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God. For:
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This glorious doctrine, that is, whom God effectually calls, he also freely justifies, is historically summed in the doctrine of Limited Atonement. That is, God has perfectly saved his people from their sins. How do we know he has already accomplished this? Because he sent his Son to live and die and resurrected for his people. And the fact that Jesus has done this is not a myth or a theory, but rather, an historical fact that happened over 2000 years ago.
not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous;
Romans 4:5–8 (CSB) But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness. Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the person the Lord will never charge with sin.
Ephesians 1:7 (CSB) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
In Ordo Salutis (the Order of Salvation), there is particular set of what God does in order to save his people. Predestination occurred in the covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son before the creation of time and space--before Genesis 1:1. From that, the Son came after the saints of the Old Testament lived and came before the born again saints of the New Testament. Those are moments in time.
What does happen, seemingly all at one time, is the work of the Spirit upon the believer. One is that the Spirit gives the heart of the Father and makes his home in the person. There the gift of faith is bestowed. And now the person believes and trusts Christ.
But it is never that God is adding on or infusing his righteousness with our righteousness. We have no righteousness of our own. It does matter how good we think are. We have zero righteousness of ourselves. For:
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
What is even worse: what we think our righteousness might be is actually dirty, filthy rags before God Almighty:
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Our self-righteousness is trash before a just and holy God.
How can God infused his righteousness with trash?
Let me put it another way: how can God simply forgive sin?
There is a teaching among Progressive & Liberal Christians that state since God can simple declared, "Your sins are forgiven--go and sin no more" then Christ death on the cross was not necessary. In other words, Christ did not have to die for our sins. God could have simply forgiven us. Some Liberal Christians suggest, in the name of Social Gospel, that Jesus of Nazareth was a good and moral teacher who was falsely accused, falsely tried and false executed. Christ simply forgive sins and his death was a tragic mistake.
That is an interesting theory. But for that theory to hold up, you will need to disregard the rest of the Bible.
Leviticus 17:11 (CSB) For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Now make no mistake: it was not the blood of the animal sacrifices that washed away our sins. For:
Hebrews 10:4 (CSB) For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
It is the blood of Christ that washes away our sins. For:
Hebrews 10:10 (CSB) By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
And
Hebrews 10:14 (CSB) For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
And
Colossians 2:13-14 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
In order for Christ to save his people from their sins, he must live for his people and then die for his people. And that is the gospel of Christ--because Christ did so perfectly for his people--once and for all time. For:
Hebrews 9:24-28 (CSB) For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.
And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment — so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone;
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (CSB) It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption —in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
Romans 5:17–19 (CSB) If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
For Christ's sake alone. You miss this and you miss the gospel.
Many well-intended gospel-centered Evangelicals will start to hold fast "it is all about Christ" but in due time, will slip, much like Adam and Eve, and start to add on to the gospel. In the early 18th century, a controversy arose in Scotland, called the Marrow Controversy, where the General Assembly of Presbyters insisted on the repentance of sins in order to be justified in the sight of God.
Stop right there. If you grew up Evangelical like I did, repenting of sins in order to be justified, seems good and right and orthodox. But it is not so. Look at that teaching a little bit more closer and ask this question, "Who is doing what in order to be justified?" The Marrow Brethren taught that it was not any action that we have done that justifies us, not even our repentance of our sins, but rather, the work of Christ alone. Christ alone justifies us. Christ alone saves us. And what the Marrow Brethren contended for: because of what Christ has done, and you being saved by Christ, you are going to repent of yours sins, because of what Christ has done. The Father gives you a new hear, the Spirit dwells in you because of Christ's live and death on the cross.
Look at it this way: can you ever perfectly repent of your sins? The answer is obviously no. If we cannot perfectly repent of our sins and if justification of God depends on our repentance of our sins, then we are most certainly doomed. But because of Christ, who is perfect in every way, we are perfectly saved.
Praise be to God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 (CSB) And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole righteousness by faith
Philippians 3:8–9 (CSB) More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.
Many of us chant, shout, proclaim, preach, & sing: "in Christ alone." But see this: everything that Christ did was to save his people from their sins. In order to save you and me, Christ is our complete propitiation, expiation, imputation, obedience, and righteousness. Nothing we have done or will ever do will ever add to what Christ has done to save us from our sins. We could not have added one bit. Not one thing we have done or will do will sway Christ love for us. Does that make sense?
If you are in Christ now, your obedience is still filthy rags in the sight of God. Only Christ's obedience makes you righteous.
So why obey Christ? God does not need anything--for he is not be served by human hands (Acts 17:25). But we are to do what Christ has command us to do because our neighbor so desperately needs our love--and it starts with the commission of Christ to preach the gospel of Christ to all creatures, everywhere, to the ends of the earth.
The arms of God are wide open. You cannot prepare yourself enough to come to God. You cannot change your mind about God. You cannot repent hard enough fo your sins. You cannot do one good thing to bring yourself to God.
But it is God who sent his only begotten Son, Christ Jesus, fully God and fully man, so that he would fully obey every single commandment of God, perfectly, wholeheartedly, and then die on the cross, so that you can be with God the Father forever.
Remember the 5th chapter of Romans:
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You cannot clean yourself up in order to approach the throne of grace. You and I are wicked sinners. Just stay dirty and come the Fount of Life--whose blood washes away all of our sins, makes us clean the first time, all the time, every second of every day until you come all the way home to him.
What if you sin? The death Almighty Son of God, fully God and fully man, was so perfect and strong that it already cleansed your sins the moment Christ died on the cross. Yes, that sin, too. Yes, the one you are going to commit one minute from now, one year from now, and one decade from now. Yes, even the one you struggle with every day. God's grace is more. You don't want to sin against God because he is so good. But you and I will fail. That is okay. God already knew that. That is when he sent his Son to live and die for you. And when you and I do, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).
Galatians 2:16 (CSB) and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.
which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.
John 1:12 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
Romans 5:17 (CSB) If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Read the following passage:
Ephesians 2:8–10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Pop quiz: what is the gift of God to believers?
A. Salvation B. Grace C. Faith
Correct answer: D. All of the above.
You have nothing to give God but the sin that made it necessary to sacrifice his Son on your behalf.
If you do not know this Blessed God, call upon the name of the Lord, and you will be saved instantly. For:
Romans 10:9–10 (CSB) If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
And
Acts 2:21 (CSB) Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
And
Acts 16:31 (CSB) They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
And
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Again, when is it a good time to be saved by God?
2 Corinthians 6:2 (CSB) For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.
Don't you see? Now is the acceptable time! Today is the day of salvation!
I dare you to call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved!
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 11.2 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Faith
The Text
James 2:22-24 (CSB) You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Ephesians 2:8–10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
The Chapter
Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.
The Confession
When we speak of justification, right from the get go, we have to deal with the supposed contradiction between Paul and James.
Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;
Paul says:
Romans 3:28 (CSB) For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
James says:
James 2:24 (CSB) You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Therein lies the apparent contradiction. It is apparent if, again, we read and engage the Bible by elevating passages above and apart from other passages in the Bible. This is what we call Biblicism. You might hear defenders of this type of engagement or hermeneutic by saying something like, "It clearly says it right here" as they point to the text in the Bible.
On the other hand, those who hold to sola Scriptura will say, "The whole counsel of God says this" as they take all the passages of the Bible to interpret this one particular passage. In other words, no passage, no verse, no word, no book of the Bible stand alone and apart from the rest of the Bible.
So take Paul and James' apparent contradiction and cross examine by the whole counsel of God. Let us go back and see what Paul says:
Romans 3:28 (CSB) For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Why is that?
One, we have broken all of the law.
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
Two, when we try to do any good works to please God, it is rightfully judged as filthy rags in the sight of God:
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. 1
yet is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by love.
Galatians 5:6 (CSB) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.
James 2:17–26 (CSB) In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
If we have been saved by God--that is, if we have the indwelling of the Triune God within you--you are not saved by anything that you have or will ever do. However, because you have God, you get to do good works.
Salvation of man is a packaged deal--that the person chosen by God gets God for the glory of God. As the people of God, we get all of God. There is Evangelical language of "fully surrendering" and "part of my heart" that is really not so much about the will of the person but rather the lifetime work of the Holy Spirit in us.
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Philippians 1:6 (CSB) I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
In ourselves and in the lives of others, we never see what the Spirit is doing until he actually does it. It is a similar way in the way James is contending for works that proceed because you have been saved by God.
James gives the right example of Abraham:
James 2:21 (CSB) Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar?
Now, legalistic and pietistic religions like the Catholics, Mormons, and Churches of Christ will debate that works are proof of your salvation. But remember sola Scriptura. What is the context of James 2?
James 2:14-17 (CSB) What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.
Now examine that with what Paul says in Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:10 (CSB) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Our good works don't prove anything. Both the unbeliever and the believer can do the same good works. Take it one step further: the Mormon will out-good work the believer every day of the week and twice on Sunday. What is the difference? The Mormon's and every single son of Adam's self-righteous works are as filthy rags in the sight of God. The believer in Christ must know that their own self-righteous works are filthy rags before God and yet, the righteousness that they possess is not their own but Christ's alone. The believer knows that they cannot love God enough or love their neighbor enough to please God. We know that we cannot repent hard enough. We know even when we try to do good, it isn't good enough. And again and again, I tell you that God knew that. God knew that from before Genesis 1:1. He isn't surprised at your failure to do good. He sent his Son to do the good perfectly for you so that all you have to do is believe in him, trust in him, and rest in him.
Now go, do good works for your neighbor. The Lord God who in himself needs nothing because he has everything never ever needs your good works. But your neighbor, co-worker, gym buddy, barista, waiter, spouse, kid, girlfriend, boyfriend, friend, student or even your enemy will always need your good works.
I do not know Hebrew. But I will let you do your own Hebrew homework and see the literal meaning of טָמֵא (ta-me).
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 11.3 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Son
The Text
Colossians 2:13–14 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
The Chapter
Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due unto them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in their behalf; yet, inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them, their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.
The Confession
Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those who are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due to them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in their behalf;
Hebrews 10:14 (CSB) For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
1 Peter 1:18–19 (CSB) For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.
Isaiah 53:5–6 (CSB) But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished him for the iniquity of us all.
This is the crux of the gospel. The point. The main focus. The tip of the spear. And here it is: the payment and the cost of our born sinful state and the sins that we have committed and will have committed against the Holy Triune God is our death. That punishment lies in the eternal wrath that is hell which was made for Satan and fallen angels.
The only way to pay that debt is to die. But because of our sin against, our death cannot begin to hope to pay for what we have done against God. Our sin makes our death and sacrifice worthless.
Psalm 51:4–5 (CSB) Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Galatians 3:10 (CSB) For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.
yet, in as much as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them
When God knew our heart, he did not know a heart that was soft and tender towards him but that was cold and harden against him. We are rebellious against our Creator.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
We are dead in our sins and trespasses.
Ephesians 2:1-2 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.
We are enemies of God.
Colossians 1:21 (CSB) Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds expressed in your evil actions.
God did not see anything good in us.
Romans 3:10-12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
How can we be saved? How can we be spared from the wrath that is to come? How can a sinner be set from debt of death that is owed to God? How can we be justified?
God knew our hearts. God saw our actions. God knew this. God knews this and he sent his Son to live for us so we would not die and to die for us so we can live unto him forever.
God bore the just wrath that was properly and rightfully due to us and instead poured it all completely and perfectly upon his Son:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
In other words, for the people of God, God gave up his Son to us so that we would have God forever:
Romans 8:32 (CSB) He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?
their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.
Romans 3:26 (CSB) God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Ephesians 1:6 (CSB) to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Ephesians 1:7 (CSB) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
Ephesians 2:7 (CSB) so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
In God saving us, we are not owed anything. We have done nothing to earn God's grace, favor, love, and salvation.
Romans 4:4-5 (CSB) Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
How can a sinner put God in their debt when we are the carriers of the debt. We are the one who owes God. And nothing we have is worth anything to the God who has everything and needs nothing.
All we have done is evil against him, we have blasphemed his holy name, we have sinned against him and him alone. And because we have sinned against others people, that is, the ones who bear the image of the Triune God, that is even more we have sinned against God.
All the sin in all of creation has been ulimately and totally against the Holy Creator--the one who is without sin.
Romans 7:24 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Jesus Christ is his name. He alone is the name above all names. Blessed Redeemer. The Living Word. He alone is Emmanuel--God who is with us.
Blessed be his glorious name forever.
Amen.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 11.4 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Spirit
The Text
Ephesians 1:4-6 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
The Chapter
God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification; nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.
The Confession
God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect
Galatians 3:8 (CSB) Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.
1 Peter 1:2 (CSB) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
1 Timothy 2:6 (CSB) who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
God's election of his people unto salvation is the glorification of his people eternal. Whatever that number of people is, God has chosen and will not lose one of them. If the number is 3 trillion and 1, the God has glorified 3 trillion and 1. Not 3 trillion and 2. Not 3 trillion.
His predestined is called is justified is glorified.
and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification;
Romans 4:25 (CSB) He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
And that salvation of his people was on Good Friday--the day in history when Jesus of Nazareth was hung upon that tree.
nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit in time does actually apply Christ to them.
Colossians 1:21 (CSB) Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.
Colossians 1:22 (CSB) But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—
Titus 3:4–7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
And yet--this is the only yet you will here pertaining to the gospel--individual persons are not saved until the Spirit quickens them, the Father swaps out their dead hearts for his soft heart, and the Triune God dwells in them.
We are not saved by election alone. No person ever born or will ever be born, aside from Christ, can ever determine who is elect and not elect.
I know for a fact that there are churches who will have their churchgoers stand before a church board and the church will take one look at the member and declare them elect or not elect. That is blasphemous. They have put themselves in the place of God and have broken first, second, and third commandments against the Holy God.
Christ speaks this judgement who would be so blasphemously arrogant:
Matthew 23:13-15 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!
You shut the door to heaven. A door you do not possess. Woe to you!
Furthermore:
Matthew 11:25-27 (CSB) At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure. All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
Then Christ will turn to the rejected, the outcast, the disavowed:
Romans 9:25–26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
Come to Christ! All that are tired, weary, worn-out, oppressed, crushed, and broken. You come to Christ. If you are tapped out and you have nothing left to give? Come to Christ! Come to Christ. What does he have? More burden? More laws you cannot obey. More striving that you cannot keep up? Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God, has none of that for you.
He has rest for your soul and he has balm for your broken heart.
That weight of sin you carry upon your back? That belongs to Christ. Give it to him. Right now. Give it him. Every day, give him the sin that he died for. He is the King of kings. Give him what he is due--your sins.
But Christ alone is good. He is good alone because he is God alone. He has something for you. Something that he carries. It is nothing like your sin that breaks your back and grinds your heart. His burden? It is his righteousness. It weighs nothing. It is light as air. It has to be--because it will carry you into the restful arms of your heavenly Father.
If you do not know God like this--come to him. Right now.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (CSB) For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
Right now is the day of salvation. Right now is the time to come to Christ. Come to Christ. Give him your sin--you cannot hope to even repent of your sins perfectly because you are not perfect. Christ knows. That is why he died. Come to him. Come rest in him. He is gentle and lowly. Come to him and finally come to rest forever.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 11.5 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Eternity
The Text
The Chapter
God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure; and in that condition they have not usually the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
The Confession
God continues to forgive the sins of those that are justified
Matthew 6:12 (CSB) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
1 John 1:7–9 (CSB) If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
All of the sins of the New Testament saints--that is, believers as you and I--are forgiven once and for all because Christ has died once and for all.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Hebrews 10:10 (CSB) By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
Hebrews 9:27-28 (CSB) And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment — so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
That death that Christ died over 2000 years ago? That happened in the past. But think about your sins in relation to time and to the cross. Did you sin before, during, or after the cross? God did not foresaw your heart repenting and turning to him so in that, he would save you. But what God foreknew is our wicked, evil, cold, stone hearts who rejected God and wanted nothing to do with God. And them the tender mercies of God before you were born and before the creation of the world, he saved you.
He saved you, on the hill called Golgotha, once and for all time.
and although they can never fall from the state of justification
What more can be said? Christ definitely, perfectly, completely, totally, and finally saves his people from their sins.
Here's the proof.
John 10:28 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 6:37–40 (CSB) Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:44 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:65 (CSB) He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
John 17:2 (CSB) since you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.
John 17:6 (CSB) “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
John 17:9 (CSB) “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.
John 17:11–12 (CSB) I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I was protecting them by your name that you have given me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture may be fulfilled.
John 17:24 (CSB) “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation.
Romans 8:28–39 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What more do you need?
yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure;
Psalm 89:31–33 (CSB) if they dishonor my statutes and do not keep my commands, then I will call their rebellion to account with the rod, their iniquity with blows. But I will not withdraw my faithful love from him or betray my faithfulness.
Hebrews 12:6–8 (CSB) for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives. Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
1 Corinthians 11:32 (CSB) but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world.
What? The sons of God who are in Christ Jesus still sin? How can this be?
I cannot tell you how many people whose hearts would break because they sinned against God and they begin to shake their heads and ask, "How can I be saved if I still struggle with sin?"
Believe it or not, the Apostle Paul, who wrote more books of the Bible than any other author, who was so radically transformed by God that he changed his name and was the greatest church planter the world has every known, asked the very same question.
Romans 7:24 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
There is no doubt that the old man you used to be is dead in the death on Christ. For:
Romans 6:6 (CSB) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
And yet, all the sons of God, formerly known as the sons of Adam and formerly known as the sons of disobedience and children of wrath, all have sin and will sin.
How can this be?
Romans 7:22 (CSB) For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,
That is it, my beloved. Know the difference between the hearts of the unbeliever and the believer. The unbeliever does not delight in the law of God. The believer does delight in the law of God.
See what David sings in Psalm 119.
Psalm 119:97 (CSB) How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long.
But listen, your heart might be broken and you might repent. But will it be broken all the way for all time? No! Will you repent sincerely enough? Of course not--you were once a slave to sin. That slave is no more because of Christ. But remember, as Martin Luther once said, "the dead man float." But because you are in Christ, and you are a child of the Father, you are going to love what he loves and hate what he hates because you have his heart.
and in that condition they usually do not have the light of his countenance restored to them, until they humble themselves, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
Psalm 32:5 (CSB) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Psalm 51 (CSB) For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Matthew 26:75 (CSB) and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
There has been a call in America for revival. We pray for it and we want it for our country because this is a good thing that only God can do.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (CSB)
14 and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
We are counting on God who alone can do this in a people: bear his name, humble themselves, pray and seek his face, and turn from their evil ways. God must do this in us. If he does not, then we are as good as doomed.
But because Christ dwells in you, despite the sins you struggle with and will commit until Christ comes and brings you home, you have the heart of the Father, the indwelling of the Spirit and the life and death of Christ within you. Before that, there is no way you could have humbled yourself, repent, pray and turn to God. You might shed a lot of tears, worked really hard to do the right thing but none of that matters in the sight of God other than the righteousness of Christ.
You believe? You are in Christ. Rest in Christ. You are his forever.
And know that God promises that you will look like his Son.
Romans 8:28–29 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Christ was before all things and all of his people. He is the standard bearer of perfection, holiness, joy, love, and righteousness. God will do whatever it takes to make you look like him--once and for all time.
Take joy and rest in what he is doing.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 11.6 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Saves All of His People
The Text
Romans 3:25–26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
The Chapter
The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.
The Confession
Galatians 3:9 (CSB) Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.
Romans 4:22–24 (CSB) Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
When expounding a Confession, the Doctrines of Grace will inevitably appear. Reformed Theology tends to do that. And within the first 11 chapters of the 1689, no Doctrine of Grace is mentioned more so than Limited Atonement. That is, simply put, Christ came to live and die just for elect and none more.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
John 10:11 (CSB) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Now, opponents of this doctrine will not suggest Universal Atonement--that is, Christ died for all to be saved. But they would suggest that Christ came to make salvation possible for all, based on a handful of verses that speak of Christ dying for the world.
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
1 Timothy 2:4 (CSB) who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 3:9 (CSB) The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
1 Timothy 4:10 (CSB) For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Those are five super solid evidences for such a doctrine. But what is doctrine? Doctrine is nothing more than what the Bible teaches. What we must always contend for, just as the Reformed men and women before us, is that to teach a Doctrine, the Doctrine must be in support of the whole of Scripture. In other words, we use all of Scripture to interpret all of Scripture--before our own wisdom, intellect, education, and church history. All of Scripture interprets all of Scripture. That is what we call sola Scripture--according to Scripture alone.
In light of all of Scripture, how does those five examples stand up? Do they mean what we think they mean?
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
What is the context of 1 John chapter 2? Look at verse 1:
1 John 2:1 (CSB) My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ the righteous one.
Let me propose this question: do believers and unbelievers have an advocate with the Father in Jesus Christ? If you say yes, then what does this verse mean?
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
How can the wrath of God remain on an unbeliever whose sins are atoned for by the Christ death on the cross? If Christ died for all, then all are saved. If all are saved, then the wrath of God does not remain on anyone. But the Bible says that the wrath of God remains on the unbeliever. Therefore, Christ did not die for all.
(Your homework: do a context study of the aforementioned verses.)
Which then leads to this question: Did Christ make salvation possible?
I am reminded of a young adult service I attended where the guest pastor said something off to the side of what he was preaching about: "I just couldn't do it. Jesus Christ when to cross, not knowing who would accept him or not. I couldn't do it. If I was going to die for someone, I had to know if they would be saved or not."
It was in that moment, in the middle of a very non-Reformed, Evangelical, non-Denomination, megachurch setting that I was 100% convinced of Limited Atonement. Because Christ did not die to make salvation possible but Christ's death on the cross would actually save his people from their sins. It is not the possibility but the definite.
Let us take a look at the most famous Bible verse of all time:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
What does the verse say? That everyone who believes or does not believe will not perish but have eternal life? Or does it say everyone who believes will have eternal.
Let me throw in a ringer: read Romans 1:16-17. What does it read? Does it say that the gospel is the power of God in salvation for those who believe and do not believe?
Romans 1:16–17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
The gospel has no power to save the unbeliever in their sins--it is only power of God in salvation for those who believe.
Again, those who believe and not the possibility of those who believe.
I say all of that to make this point. Where the opposition to the Doctrine of Limited Atonement falls apart is when you have to ask this question:
Did Christ die to make salvation possible for those who were already dead? That is, what about those who died before the death of Christ? How does a dead man make decisions to believe and trust in Christ?
Romans 3:25–26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
In other words: all of the sins of the saints before Christ (that is, the Old Testament saints) were passed over by God. God did this because he was going to send his Son to save those who would believe and trust in the gospel of God, starting with Genesis 3:15, all the way to "It is finished" on the cross.
The saints of the Old Testament were marked by one truth. They did not know the name Jesus or the title Christ or perhaps the cross or anything of that. But they heard the preaching and proclamation of God's promises.
What does the text say?
Genesis 15:6 (CSB) Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
God knew what he was doing. God knew you and me. God did not see how good we were or smart enough or wise enough or good enough to choose him. Our hearts are desperately sick. We are running hard away from God. And God knew that. God knew all of that. That is why he sent his Son.
Chapter 12 Of Adoption
The Text
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The Chapter
All those that are justified, God vouchsafed, in and for the sake of his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, have his name put upon them, receive the spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry Abba, Father, are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by him as by a Father, yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption, and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.
The Confession
All those that are justified, God conferred, in and for the sake of his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption,
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Galatians 4:4–5 (CSB) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
We live in Evangelical times with Evangelical preaching. In that, we think we must call the warning out to those who have, in the possibility, deceived themselves and they are under their own lies. Most preachers and evangelists and teachers have taken it upon themselves and preach to the goats and to the unbeliever and the unsaved that they are not saved and that they need to wake up and turn to Christ.
Yet, what, as preachers are suppose to do? ' >1 Corinthians 1:22-23 (CSB) For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
We are not put on grand displays of power for the people to be ooh and awed and still not believe the risen Christ.
We are not to stand on soapboxes and give our freshly hot baked opinions on everything under the sun with a dozen different ways to live your best right now.
Preacher, when was the last time you literally preached Christ and him crucified? Have you consider the gospel of the risen Christ?
What would it look like to take a blessed text, the Scriptures whom Christ called, "the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4) and you put on display what God has done for the his people alone. What would that look like?
That Christ lived the perfect lift, died the death we suppose to die, rose again from death to conquer sin, Satan, and hell, and to ascend to the right hand of the Father where he makes intercession not for the wicked, depraved, and lost but for his people.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Christ has saved his people.
That is a one and done deal. There is nothing to add to that. No qualifications. No checking your affections. Not your best nor worst day do you qualify that Christ, the Son of God, who is God has saved his people from death and hell because he alone is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords and he alone rules and reigns over heaven, earth, and hell.
Preach this! Preach this! Not one word coming out of your feeble lips will come back empty because his word goes out with power not to return void.
You preach it. You will be terrible at it. You will not be perfect at it. You will struggle with it. You will trip over your words.
But watch as the Triune Almighty God takes his word and takes dead men and make them alive.
This is the gospel. This is the good news. This is the what the people of God need to hear. Stop entertaining goats. Stop speaking to unbelievers when the people so desperately need the manna of life.
Yes, we know we have sinned. And the wages of sin is death. We need that food that gives life. We are dry, parched souls that need that wellspring of water of life. We are dying. Gives us Christ!
by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God,
John 1:12 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
Romans 8:17 (CSB) and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
We are the sons of God! We need God like Christ needed his Father. We are the children of God that in God because God for God because God loved us, therefore, we get God!
Give us God! We get God! He is ours and we are his people forever!
And our privileges, our right, our inheritance is God.
Do not deny us God because we have him. And we long for him to talk to us and hear his voice.
Oh, my heart goes to my Charismatic brothers and sister who are so desperate to hear God's voice, and for those who have that inner voice inside their head have been taught that might be God. The children of God are so desperate to hear God because God is our blessed Father and yet, more often than not, we don't hear his voice. Not because we lack a inner voice (which is just ourselves) but rather, we don't hear about what God has done.
All we hear is political opinions. Sports analogies. Ten ways we suck. Being told we might be saved because we messed up this hour, this day, this week, this month or in our lives.
Yet, we believe the good news. We need more of the good news. We need to know that Christ is a friend of sinners who whom him came to save. We need to know that, in the midst of the backbreaking weight of our sin and the soul pulverization of man's law and culture and the heart crushing punishment, we need to know that God will take all of our struggle and doubt and hurt and pain and he will give us the most wonderful, beautiful, breathtaking, forever, eternal gift that we could never lose and this gift alone will not only give us life but is the fullness of joy, pleasures evermore, and perfect satisfaction.
have his name put on them,
2 Corinthians 6:18 (CSB) And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
Revelation 3:12 (CSB) “The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God—and my new name.
And that gift is Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, Blessed Redeemer, the only Savior, the Son of God and Son of Man, and the only God who have rescued us!
We get to have him forever and forever. We can't lose him because he will never let us go. He will never stop loving us for a micro second because he never started loving us.
We are in his bosom, in his heart, on his mind, in his almighty grip and he has made his home in us. Forever.
receive the spirit of adoption,
Romans 8:15–17 (CSB) For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
And because Christ has done everything perfectly, he is our Eldest Brother because God is our great Father, we get God and we get Christ and we get the Spirit. Everything that Christ gets, we get. He is the Elder Brother. He gets the double portion and we get a portion.
Hebrews 1:1–2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
My beloved, we get the universe because Christ alone gets full dominion over the galaxies.
We cannot fathom this type of inheritance because we have long settled for last place trash and yesterday's refuse because of sin. As C.S. Lewis says in The Weight of Glory, we are so content with making mud pies in the slums when we have a forever holiday at the beach.
Even in our desires, we want little. God knows that. That is why he sent his Son to give to us what we don't have the intelligence, the heart, the will, the experience, the wherewithal to ask for such things.
We want so little. But God gives us everything because he gave his only begotten Son!
In Christ, you have given me so much that heaven and earth can give me no more.
The Valley of Vision.
have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry Abba, Father,
Galatians 4:6 (CSB) And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
Ephesians 2:18 (CSB) For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Are you kidding me? That God was not content on just giving us everything including himself, his Son and his Spirit. Why stop there? Why the God of mercy is the God who does not stop at just himself and everything! Absolutely not!
Luke 11:5-13 (CSB) He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
Do you see that! Read that until the Spirit helps us understand!
If we turn back to God, go to God, and ask God for God we get God.
We have the audacity, the boldness to run to God whenever we want. On a whim. In our struggles. When we mess up. We we have jacked up our lives over and over again. When we sin the same sins over and over again. We are prey to our own addictions. When we are crushed.
The throne room's doors have been uninstalled from the hinges. They are never closed because they have been removed. The path between you and God is cleared because of Christ because he is the path of life. Oh, you lack the strength to bridge the seeming infinity gap between you and God? Oh, that is more than okay. That is why he sent his Son for you and me because we are so desperately weak but he is almighty strong.
God has sent his Son and his Spirit to come get you and bring you all the way to him. That is the gospel. That is the blessed good news.
are pitied,
Psalm 103:13 (CSB) As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
Who is this King of glory? Who, not like the malevolent prince of the air who only seeks to steal, kill, and destroy his children, but instead sees our estate, see that we are find wanting, hears our cries of salvation, and the Almighty Triune God of the Universe takes pity on our souls.
He looked upon us and knows that we needed grace.
John 1:16–18 (CSB) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
So what the only good Father do? He decided to give us grace upon grace so we will never can run out.
protected,
Proverbs 14:26 (CSB) In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge.
1 Peter 5:7 (CSB) casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.
Who is this God Almighty, Creator of heaven and hell? When the conquered foe, Satan, demons, and death, spare no expense to send their hordes of temptations and unleash their endless follies of arrows so that we not be spared in wickedness will torturously die, who will protect us?
Psalms 61:2-4 (CSB) I call to you from the ends of the earth
when my heart is without strength.
Lead me to a rock that is high above me,
for you have been a refuge for me,
a strong tower in the face of the enemy.
I will dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah
Who would be our armor and shield to absorb every single bit of condemnation heading our way?
Ephesians 6:10–17 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.
Wretched and wicked man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death and disease and sin and hell?
Christ Jesus is his blessed name!
provided for,
Matthew 6:32-34 (CSB) For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
But how can I seek these things when I can't even see these things?
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
My joy, you and I have been born again! We have the kingdom of God. We have the righteousness of God because we have the Christ!
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
God has made God who never knows sin to be the sin for us so that in God we have the righteousness of God.
and chastened by him as by a Father,
Hebrews 12:6 (CSB) for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives.
Isaiah 54:8–9 (CSB) In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but I will have compassion on you with everlasting love,” says the LORD your Redeemer. “For this is like the days of Noah to me: when I swore that the water of Noah would never flood the earth again, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.
"How can the adopted child of God still sin? Have I lost the Christ?"
Psalm 103:13–14 (CSB) As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
God knew that we are made of dust. How do we, the people of dust and the feeble children of Adam, have the power to lose something that we so desperately need?
We need Christ. How can we lose the Christ when he has came to save us once and for all.
Make that make sense to me, friend. You can't because we cannot lose God because he is not ours to lose.
Revelation 21:3-7 (CSB) Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.
We have the Christ!
yet never cast off,
Lamentations 3:31 (CSB) For the Lord will not reject us forever.
God did all the work. God was going to work and not receive due for what he has done perfectly? No, the Lamb will receive all for his suffering and he will not lose one.
We are the ones who work and not get paid. We are the ones under toil of the curse of our sin and not receive due. We invest and lose. But not our God--whom there is no risk, no gamble, no possibility, nor uncertainty, no chance that he will lose any one of us. He is God!
but sealed to the day of redemption,
John 10:25-30 (CSB) “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
And to lest you think in your feeble mind and will that you somehow could squirm or squeeze or sin your way out of the double-almight and all-power snatch grip of the Father and the Son, I have good news for you:
Ephesians 4:30 (CSB) And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.
The Spirit, who was there at the beginning, is sent by the Father to perform supernatural open heart surgery of his kids so that they would be his forever and bring them back to him so he can possess them forever, is Almighty and all-power and the Spirit seals the double snatch grip of the Father and the Son.
Done sealed. Done deal. Done saved.
and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.
Hebrews 1:14 (CSB) Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?
Hebrews 6:12 (CSB) so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Salvation is not a get out of hell for free card. Salvation is a resurrection from death to life. It is the valley of dry bones be given life. It is dead and drowned in the sea of our sins and trespasses only by the Life-giving God reaches down with his infinite long reaching arms and pulls you to the surface--there he gives you not only his breath but it is now, you are finally alive.
We are made alive with him who has given us eternal life. Christ was risen so that all men will be pulled to him.
John 3:14–17 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (CSB) For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
It is today, you and I get to look upon the crucified Lord and we are alive. We call upon his blessed name and we are saved forever. We have cried for the Holy One of God--for where else can we go? He alone has the words to eternal life.
Blessed be his glorious name. Amen.
Chapter 13 Of Sanctification
13.1 What God Does: The Father Conforms Us
They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
13.2 What God Does: The Christ Lived and Died for Us
This sanctification is throughout the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
13.3 What God Does: The Spirit Makes Us Fully Alive
In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed them.
13.1 What God Does: The Father Conforms Us
The Text
John 3:14–15 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
The Chapter
They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts of it are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
The Confession
They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally,
Acts 20:32 (CSB) “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
Romans 6:5–6 (CSB) For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
The Romans 8:30 passage cannot be overly emphasized enough:
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Many have stated, "No wait... why didn't Paul include the process of sanctification within this statement?" That is because he just mentioned in the last verse:
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
It is God who will not only elect his people, call his people, and justify his people but he will sanctify his people. How does he do this?
through the same virtue, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them;
John 17:17 (CSB) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Ephesians 3:16–19 (CSB) I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:21–23 (CSB) but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By the almighty power of the Holy Spirit, he will conform us to the image of his only begotten Son. The same Son, who shed his blood, have perfectly ransomed his people from their sins, once and for all time through his cross.
the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,
Romans 6:14 (CSB) For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
God makes the covenant of grace with his Son to save his people. (Think of it like this: Almighty Promise Perfect Keeper made a Promise with the Almighty Promise Perfect Keeper to save his people.) God sent his Son to do what only God can do: Perfection. And real Holy Perfection--not the watered down perfection that mankind overuses. No. And everything that Christ did is Perfect: obeyed His holy law, did not even know sin, loved God perfectly with his perfect being and loved his neighbor as he loved himself perfectly. He died perfect. He rose again because he was perfect. And he was ascended to the right hand of God perfectly because he perfectly carried out and completely fulfilled the first covenant and every covenent thereafter.
So, within the children of God, is the dominion of sin within us completely destroyed? The proof is not in us but in the perfect works of Christ.
and the several lusts of it are more and more weakened and mortified
Galatians 5:24 (CSB) Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
"But, but, but," you might object, "Christians are not perfect. Christians sin all the time" And you would be right.
Let me not address unbelievers who would object and question this. Let me address to the believers who love the Lord but see the sin in their lives and cry out, "How can I be saved when I keep sinning!"
My beloved, it is because you see your sin and you wage war against it is only because of the Triune God dwelling in you and made his home you. Do you get that?
You are only crying out just like every single child of God upon being saved by God.
1 Chronicles 29:14-15 (CSB) But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand. For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
Psalms 22:6 (CSB) But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.
Psalms 51:3-5 (CSB) For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you — you alone — I have sinned
and done this evil in your sight.
So you are right when you pass sentence;
you are blameless when you judge.
Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Jeremiah 17:9 (CSB) The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable — who can understand it?
Matthew 8:8 (CSB) But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Matthew 15:27 (CSB) “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table!”
Luke 18:13 (CSB) “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner! ’
1 Corinthians 15:9 (CSB) For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
And that same Apostle who wrote the majority of the books of the New Testament, Paul, is the same Apostle who cried out:
Romans 7:24 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces
Colossians 1:11 (CSB) being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully
Dearest believer, you doubt of your salvation because you struggle mightily with sin and you feel that sin crouches, ready to destroy you? That only means you belong with the rest of the children of God. You belong prominently in Hebrews 11--alongside with whom we call, "The Hall of Fame of Faith."
How can we dare to be confident and sure?
to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord
2 Corinthians 7:1 (CSB) So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Hebrews 12:14 (CSB) Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.
Because we have the Christ! We possess him because he holds fast to us!
John 10:27–30 (CSB) My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Oh close and blessed union! Justified by God, accepted in Christ, condemnation there cannot be. I stand in the Divine presence as Joshua stood before the Lord, or as the woman stood before the Savior, charged, accused, guilty; but I am in the presence of him who, though now he sits upon the throne as my Judge, once hung upon the cross as my Savior. And, investing me with his own spotless robe, he proceeds to pronounce the sentence- "NO CONDEMNATION!"
"These things write I unto you that your joy may be full."
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation in Christ Jesus. 191.
Our God is most glorious. Only God would come up with a redemption so simple and so perfect. We want to tack on more laws and more stipulations and more back breaking works just to prove we are salvation.
"You have done too many bad things" - You are right. I have outsinned everyone in this room. And yet, "the grace of the Lord overflowed for me in the faith and love that can only be found in my Lord Jesus Christ. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am worst of them all."
"You have done no good things" - you are absolutely correct. But as the doctor does not come for the healthy but the sick, so too the Son of Man came not for the righteous but the unrighteous.
"You are not strong enough. You are too weak." You are right. Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. I am weak but he is strong.
You doubt God has saved you? God doesn't keep the kids who are have lots of faith.
The gulf between the unbeliever and the ones with the smallest faith is abysmally infinite. However, there is no gap between the ones with the smallest faith and the arms and the heart of the loving Savior.
Charles Spurgeon
Because that faith doesn't come from within us but it was God who gave us that to faith to believe and trust his only begotten Son.
Praise be to his name!
13.2 What God Does: The Christ Lived and Died for Us
The Text
Romans 7:14–21 (CSB)
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave under sin.15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.
16 Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me.
18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.
20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me.
21 So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me.
The Chapter
This sanctification is throughout the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abides still some remnants of corruption in every part, wherefrom arises a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
The Confession
This sanctification is throughout the whole man
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (CSB) Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Having recently put away Evangelical associations and stepping into the Reformed tradition, I am sure not a day goes by when I am reminded of some of the error in teaching that I have taught and sat under.
From a general non-Reformed, Evangelical teaching, even those with Calvinistic leanings, will declare, "We know that election is of God, calling is of God, justification is of God but sanctification is of God in joint with our obedience. There is no sanctification without our obedience."
That is a fine notion. It is just not found anywhere in the Scriptures. For:
Philippians 1:6 (CSB) I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (CSB) Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
When I read of sanctification, what I see is the work of God in us.
Tell me something, Christian: in your action, did you perfectly obey the will of God and perfectly abstain from sin? Well, of course not. That question is ludicrous. No Christian in their right mind would be so bold to make a claim that they have been without sin since being saved.
So, dear brother and sister, did your sanctification start and stop since you were disobedient to God? What a frightening thought? That somehow we control the sanctification process and turn it on and off like a light switch.
Your salvation wasn't a on/off switch you could flip. Your glorification is not a faucet that you can turn off and on. Why would sanctification be any different? The answer is that it is not.
Salvation belongs to God alone. From election to glorification and all points in between, it is God who does everything in order that we will be conformed ot the image of his only begotten Son.
yet imperfect in this life; there abides still some remnants of corruption in every part
Romans 7:18 (CSB) For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
Romans 7:23 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
We are dead to sin and alive to Christ. That old man we once was is now dead.
Romans 6:6 (CSB) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
But as we all know and experience this daily: "the dead man floats" as Martin Luther once said. And we still sin because we were born in the flesha and apart from God. And God takes our entire lifetime to do his work.
The process is slow. This is the long game. Where people are at now is not where they will be. It goes for unbelievers and for God to save them. It goes especially true for believers who struggle with sin every day. But know this, beloved, God is at work within us. God is eternal, he will not stop. And he is perfect--he will do the work until he is done.
wherefrom arises a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
1 Peter 2:11 (CSB) Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.
James 4:1 (CSB) What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you?
But take real heart, dear Christian. Your salvation is not future secure sometime in the future when God is good and ready to do so. His salvation of your soul, to rescue you from the licks of flames from the pits of hell, from the bottom of the soul crushing ocean of your sins, through your backsliding, struggles, addictions, despair, and doubt, you have have been rescued by the Lamb that was slain. And I know because over 2,000 years ago, Christ came to live and to die. Once and for all. Now you are free. Now you are saved. And God will complete that work. He promised. And he is faithful even when we are faithless.
13.3 What God Does: The Spirit Makes Us Fully Alive
The Text
Romans 7:22–25 (CSB)
22 For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
The Chapter
In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part does overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in his Word has prescribed to them.
The Confession
In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail
Romans 7:23 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
The Evangelical church is careful to preach both against sin and for living in right holiness unto the Lord. This is right and correct. But where doubt of one's salvation (either for self or upon others) is when one continues to struggles with ongoing sin. It is because the Evangelical church will slip into preaching to looking inside of yourself to see whether or not you are saved.
But my dear brother and sister, have you actually taking a good look in you. Have you noticed that you and I will skip over indwelling ongoing sins within our minds and hearts and excuse them away because we are not doing sins against other. But the Christ explicitly preached that our evil thoughts are sin against God.
You and I may have not murdered anyone. Have we hated someone? That is murder.
You and I may not have committed adultery. But have we ever looked lustfully on someone else? That is adultery.
Did we dwell upon that thought or didn't we? Is just lust is pertaining to adultery or anything else like covetousness.
Have we dug deep enough? No, our born sin prevents us from seeing just how evil we really are.
So then how can we be right judge of our own hearts? How is this possible when our sight, even opened by God himself, can see all of us?
Mark 8:23-24 (CSB) He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything? ” He looked up and said, “I see people — they look like trees walking.”
yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part does overcome
Romans 6:14 (CSB) For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
Ephesians 6:10 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
1 John 5:4 (CSB) because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
You and I in Christ will not be able to overcome sin in us apart from God. We cannot justify ourselves. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot call ourselves. We cannot glorify ourselves.
Why on earth could we think we can sanctify ourselves?
"But, should we not be obeying God?" Right! But remember what the law demands! Does the law demand 90% obedience or absolute perfect obedience from the moment you were born?
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
You and I have already broken the law of God. For that, the wrath of God is justly and rightly upon us.
and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in his Word has prescribed to them
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Ephesians 4:15–16 (CSB) But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (CSB) We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (CSB) So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
You and I need to stop looking upon ourselves to see if we are in God. Because the moment we try to peer into our souls, into the eternity that is set in our hearts, and into our wills, we are turned towards outselves, checking to see if we are right with God. That is idolatry--to look upon ourselves for the righteousness that is only found in Christ.
My beloved, look upon the Christ! He is the Rock of our Salvation. He alone is exalted far above all of our idols--including the grandest of all idols, me.
Christ is the righteousness you seek. Our righteousness is trash--dirty rags before the site of God. Our righteousness sends us straight to the eternal wrath of God that is hell! Look upon the Christ who is God alone who alone can save you from his own wrath and destruction.
God is the one who loved you first. God is the one who will bring you home. Christ is the author and finisher of your faith. Christ is the one who sanctifies you. Christ is the not just beginning and the end of your faith but he alone is the means of your faith because your faith was his gift to you so that you would believe and trust in him for eternal life.
Sanctification seems slow. Sin keeps creeping up. You are drowning in addiction and compulsion and passion. Look upon the Christ and be saved!
John 3:14-17 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Chapter 14 Of Saving Faith
14.1 What God Gives: The Grace of Faith
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened.
14.2 What God Gives: The Promise in His Word
By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority of God himself, and also apprehendeth an excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world, as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth thus believed; and also acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come; but the principal acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
14.3 What God Gives: God
This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.
14.1 What God Gives: The Grace of Faith
The Text
Genesis 6:7-9 (CSB) Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky — for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the LORD. These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
The Chapter
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened.
The Confession
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,
2 Corinthians 4:13 (CSB) And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak.
Ephesians 2:8 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
This is perhaps the most perplexing truth of God for the salvation of his people. For Western, American, Modern thinking has trained and condition us to think that that everything in this life can be obtained if you work hard enough and study hard enough.
That might be true but only to a certain extent. Anybody who has lived a moment in the real world knows it does not work that way whatsover. You have to have people looking out for you. You must be able to catch a break your way. And you need people to have grace and mercy for you.
So why is it, that even with the most Reformed amongst us, we are still conditioned to think that somehow, some way, we must have attracted God's attention by being at least a decent person who deserved to be saved by God.
Life does not state that. God has never stated that. And the Bible overly confirms that it is God who saw as sinners and then he came to rescue us from our sins.
and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word;
Romans 10:14–17 (CSB) How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:21 (CSB) For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.
We saw this transpire in the garden of Eden. Our original parents, Adam and Eve, sinned against the holy God. What did Adam and Eve do? Clean themselves up? Made themselves righteous and then went all the way to God to step into his presence? No!
They did what? Covered their shame. They hid. They were afraid.
What was the response of God? God came to them.
Genesis 3:8 (CSB) Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Okay, that is a one-off, you might say. What about someone else in the Bible? Surely there was someone born that deserve the goodness of God. What about Noah?
What about Noah?
Genesis 6:1 (CSB) When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them,
Genesis 6:2 (CSB) the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves.
Genesis 6:3 (CSB) And the LORD said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.”
Who is corrupt? Mankind was corrupt. Keep that in mind.
Genesis 6:4 (CSB) The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
Genesis 6:5 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,
What was widespread on the earth? Human wickedness. What was the inclination of the human mind? Nothing but evil all the time.
Genesis 6:6 (CSB) the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.
What did the Lord regret making and was deeply grieved? Stay with me. I promise you there is a point.
Genesis 6:7 (CSB) Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”
Genesis 6:8 (CSB) Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.
Here is the question worth 100% of your grade: was Noah a human?
If you answer that question correctly, then you must answer the following questions equally correctly:
- Was Noah wicked?
- Was Noah's thoughts evil all the time?
- Did the Lord regret making Noah?
- Was God going to wipe Noah and his family along with the rest of mankind because Noah and his family were as wicked as the rest of mankind?
Then what did Noah do to deserve the favor of God?
Read your Bible. Does anybody deserve the favor and grace of God? Does anybody does right to gain attraction of God?
Romans 3:10-12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
Then what did Noah due to gain the favor of God?
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God knew the heart of Noah and saw he was desperately wicked--determined like the rest of the children of Adam in rejecting God and perish in their sins.
But God, who alone will have mercy on whom he will have mercy and compassion on whom he will have compassion, came to Noah and saved him from the wrath to come.
Now look at the order of salvation:
Genesis 6:7–9 (CSB) Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the LORD. These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
Noah was wicked and depraved.
God came to Noah.
God saved Noah.
God declares Noah to be righteous and blameless among his contemporaries.
Noah walked with God.
Sounds familiar?
Ezekiel 36:25–27 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened.
Luke 17:5 (CSB) The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
1 Peter 2:2 (CSB) Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation,
Acts 20:32 (CSB) “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
Make no mistake: God saves those whom he will save to himself. But that is not even close to the end of his love and grace for his children. God has saved each us not only to himself but to each other.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
But what did God do for you and me together?
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
This is salvation of God. Saving faith--the faith to believe and trust in the only begotten Son of God for the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life--is the gift of God.
Not your church, not your family, not the bible verses you memorized, not the lack of rated R movies you have not seen nor the number of favorite songs without cuss words, not the way you vote, nothing in you has garnered the attention and the love and mercy of God for you other than the fact that you were wicked. And I was wicked. And the grace of God overflowed for us with the faith and love that can only be found in Jesus Christ our Lord.
This saying is true and deserving of full acceptance. Amen.
14.2 What God Gives: The Promise in His Word
The Text
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
The Chapter
By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority of God himself, and also apprehendeth an excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world, as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth thus believed; and also acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come; but the principal acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
The Confession
By this faith a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority of God himself
Acts 24:14 (CSB) But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.
I know that some well-meaning people want to doubly make sure that you are not just nodding your head blindly to everything that is being preached and taught from the Bible without thinking much of it.
Listen, the fact that we can actually understand and know that it is true is completely dependent on the Triune God residing and dwelling within us. Not our command of the written language of the translation of the Bible. Not in our education. Not in our reading comprehension. Not the ability to get an A+ on this supposed upcoming pop quiz. None of that but the Spirit of God dwelling in us, giving us the fullness of life in Christ and by then any only then, can we believe and trust the word of God.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
We were dead in our trespasses and sins. Because of Christ, we are now fully alive. Since we are have been made fully alive, we can now believe and trust the Holy One of God who alone has the words of eternal life.
John 6:68-69 (CSB) Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
and also apprehends an excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world
Psalm 27:7–10 (CSB) LORD, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me. My heart says this about you: “Seek his face.” LORD, I will seek your face. Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or abandon me, God of my salvation. Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD cares for me.
Psalm 119:72 (CSB) Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Psalm 19:7–10 (CSB) The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
Psalm 69:36 (CSB) The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will live in it.
How important is it to believe the word of God and take it at face value and not to interject our only wisdom and understanding and philosophy into it in order to rationalize it and make it more palatable to our own sensibilities?
In the Portland Monthly interview with Christopher Hitchens, the interviewer, Marilyn Swell, a Unitarian Minister, was asked about his book, God is Not Great and the following exchange took place:
Marilyn Sewell The religion you cite in your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds. I’m a liberal Christian, and I don’t take the stories from the scripture literally. I don’t believe in the doctrine of atonement (that Jesus died for our sins, for example). Do you make and distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?
Christopher Hitchens I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.
The Unitarian minister had nothing more to respond to that other than, "Let me go someplace else."1
So this Mr. Hitchens knows the gospel. Big deal. What is a big deal is that Mr. Hitchens could clearly articulate the gospel of Christ more so than most Christian. But calling himself a militant-atheist, he does not believe the gospel.
Just because someone can articulate the gospel, write lectures, preach sermons, and write books about the gospel does not mean that they believe the gospel.
James 2:19 (CSB) You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.
as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth consequently believed
2 Timothy 1:12 (CSB) and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.
This is the difference between the non-believer and the believer. Both are depraved and wicked in the eyes of God. Both are dead in their trespasses and sins. Both are enemies of God. Both are under the wrath of God. Both are in need of a Savior. Both are in need of the gospel.
Only one believes. One one has seen the wretchedness of their soul and have thrown themselves at the mercy of God.
But what you might not realize is that actual insight of are own heart and the grace to run to Christ is because God dwells in us.
It is not a one time thing. For we are the children of God. How many times do children run back to their parents? The amount is countless. We are no less than so. We will go to him the first time. We will go to him a million times more.
But unlike our earthly parents, God never tires of you coming back to him. He isn't waiting for you to figure it out and stop messing up. He knows you are going to sin again and again. He knows you are--you are not good enough. That is why he sent his Son to live and die so you will die and live unto him.
1 John 3:1 (CSB) See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
and also acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands
John 15:14 (CSB) You are my friends if you do what I command you.
We are to obey God. There is no doubt. For you to actually obey God, God must make you fully alive and then dwell in you. For:
Ezekiel 36:26–27 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
But as sons of Adam who made from dust, we are broken in loving God with all of heart and soul as we are commanded to. And we fallen short in loving him and loving others well. When we do, we are half hearted at best.
We are called to obedience to God but we cannot obey him perfectly.
trembling at the threatenings
Isaiah 66:2 (CSB) My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. This is the LORD’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at my word.
We know God and we fear God because he alone is so worthy and we are so little. He is so majestic and we are worms, not people. Who is he that he should even look upon us? Who are we that we should even be in his presence?
Ephesians 2:1-3 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come
Hebrews 11:13 (CSB) These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
Romans 3:21-26 (CSB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as an atoning sacrifice in his blood, received through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.
And here is the good news:
Ephesians 2:4-10 (CSB) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
And here is the good news:
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
And here is the good news:
Romans 5:6 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.
but the principle acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
John 1:12 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
Acts 16:31 (CSB) They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Acts 15:11 (CSB) On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
And here is the good news:
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And here is the good news:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
And here is the good news:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
And here is the good news:
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Everything that we are--completely, none of us, by us, from us--rests in the person and work of Christ alone. We had nothing to do with our salvation except the sin that crucified our Savior on the cross some two thousand years ago.
Christ did it all. And the word of God testifies that Christ did it all of us.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Salvation is of the Lord for he alone is mighty to save. Amen
14.3 What God Gives: God
The Text
Mark 9:24 (CSB) Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
The Chapter
This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.
The Confession
This faith, although it be in different stages, and may be weak or strong
Hebrews 5:13–14 (CSB) For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Matthew 6:30 (CSB) If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?
Romans 4:19–20 (CSB) He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
Too many churches teach and too many Christians falsely believe that faith comes within themselves and generated from within themselves and it is all based on what they can do to strengthen their faith.
Brother and sister, how is that working out? You have been told that if your faith is stronger, then God would do what you want him to do. How did that work out for you? That is because faith in the One True God is not Paganism. When it comes to the Father, Son, & Spirit, it is never that we do something, did not do something and God responds accordingly. No! Everything that God does is based on his own will and his own good pleasure. It is based on God who is maxed out good and maxed out wise.
And yes, he hears our prayers. Why? Even with your tiniest faith, you are in communion with the Triune God because of the mercy the Father has for you, sealed by the Spirit through the perfect life of the Son. You are in union with God. That is why he hears your prayers. Not because of your faith, but because of his mercy that he is so willing to lavish on us. And we know this to be absolutely true because gave his only begotten Son--not just once but forever and ever.
yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers
2 Peter 1:1 (CSB) Simeon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Go back and carefully read Christ analogy of faith to a mustard seed:
Matthew 17:17–20 (CSB)
17 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.”18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and from that moment the boy was healed.
19 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
20 “Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Christians will read this and burden themselves with, "If I had more faith like Christ told me to, then I would be able to move mountains or get this new job or heal my sick loved one or whatever we think we need."
But think harder. Christ said himself, "If you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, you would be able to move mountains." What do you actually need? Move a mountain? No! What you actually need is God! You need God! God gives you the faith--either a drop or a gallon or more--and you will get what you actually need. Not a mountain moved. And the mountain is not representing your problems or your struggles or your afflictions. The mountain moved is representing God coming to you because you cannot go to God.
God came to us when we first sinned:
Genesis 3:7-8 (CSB) Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
God came to us to save us from our sins:
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Notice at the end of Luke's account of the Lord's prayer:
Luke 11:9-13 (CSB) “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
My friend, I have zero guarantees in life but just this one: if you turn to God, ask for God, you will get God.
You will get the Almighty God, Creator of heavens and the earth and hell. You will get the Lord who holds the entire universe actively with his mind. You will get God who alone is holy, holy, holy. You will get God who alone is love. You will get his only begotten Son who lived for us and by his bloodied gruesome death on the cross, conquered sin, Satan, demons, hell and death--put all of the forces of hell to open shame. You will get the true pure righteousness of Christ--when the Fathers looks upon you, he will truly declare what he once declare, "This is my son, in whom I am well-pleased." You will get the Spirit who will seal you and keep you and guide you and comfort you and teach you and remind you of all that Christ has done for you.
You will get the Triune God who will dwell in you and with you for all the days of your life.
and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory
Ephesians 6:16 (CSB) In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
1 John 5:4–5 (CSB) because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Romans 8:31–37 (CSB) What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Who can be against you? What need is greater than our desperate need for a merciful Savior who looks upon our wickedness with compassion because he knows we are dumb and feeble and made from dust!
That faith--that small small faith that you have that was given to you by God gets you God.
The gulf between the unbeliever and the ones with the smallest faith is abysmally infinite. However, there is no gap between the ones with the smallest faith and the arms and the heart of the loving Savior.
Charles Spurgeon.
growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ
Hebrews 6:11–12 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Colossians 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,
Why would God command you to grow the faith that he gave you? You might be thinking, "Surely, he told us to strengthen our own faith?" The same Christ who told us to come to him all who are weary and burden and he alone will give us rest?
1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 (CSB) And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, so that no one will be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
It should come to no surprise that we are to indeed strengthen our faith in communion with other saints. In other words, how can you strengthen your own faith by yourself? More quiet time? More prayer? More Bible reading? More fasting? More doing?
Or how about gathering with the saints on the Lord's Day, giving thanks and sitting under the ordinary means of grace. Which way do you think the Lord intended for us to strengthen our faith?
who is both the author and finisher of our faith
Hebrews 12:2 (CSB) keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Galatians 6:14 (CSB) But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.
Our self-reliance, self-sufficiency should come to no surprise. It is the American way. That is the culture around us. And it is not unlike Peter's response when Christ told him that he would deny him three times:
Luke 22:31-34 (CSB) “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Look at the arrogant and self-assured response of Peter:
“Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
And Christ told him:
“I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”
Christ spoke no lies. That absolutely came true. Peter, so sure that there would be no way in hell that he would deny the Christ. But when all of the circumstances of life came crashing down on him, squarely kicking him in the chest as he saw his Christ being beaten and mocked and awaiting his execution, Peter denied Christ three times.
Peter had the little faith. How did Christ respond to him?
Christ came to him, supped with him, and drew near to him. And because God alone is wise and good, he kept Peter and restored Peter to the head of his church.
Think about that. Our modern day sensibilies would have disqualified Peter for publicly deny his knowledge of Christ. Surely, you want to quote Christ:
Matthew 10:33 (CSB) But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.
Oh, just like God spoke to Adam and told him, "if you eat of the tree, you will sure die?"
But how does the Living God respond? Fast wrath or instant mercies?
How did God respond to Adam and Eve? Instant mercies.
How did Christ respond to Peter? Instant mercies.
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Turn to the Christ. Infinitely faster than you can snap your fingers, the Lord God Almighty will forgive you and make you righteous.
Make no mistake: our sin is what nailed Christ to cross. But the children of God are going to sin--a lot. A lot. A lot. But the depth of my sin cannot overwhelm and cancel out the flood of the grace of Christ. We will sin but his grace upon grace abounds even more.
Peter's self-assured, prideful, self-reliant self failed him over and over. But his tiny faith, given to him by Christ, was enough for Christ to come back to him over and over again.
God knows that we are weak. God knows we are little. God knows that we will get swayed by every wind of doctrine. He knew this. That is why he sent his Almighty Son to live and die for us so that we would be with him for all of eternity. Amen.
Chapter 15 Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
15.1 God Gives More: Repentance
Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life.
15.2 God Gives More: Renewal
Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations; God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.
15.3 God Gives More: Spirit
This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
15.4 God Gives More: Ongoing
As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.
15.5 God Gives More: Preservation
Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation; that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.
15.1 God Gives More: Repentance
The Text
Job 25:4-6 (CSB) How can a human be justified before God?
How can one born of woman be pure?
If even the moon does not shine
and the stars are not pure in his sight,
how much less a human, who is a maggot,
a son of man, who is a worm!
The Chapter
Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life.
The Confession
Titus 3:3–7 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Such of the elect
At the risk of over-generalizing, there are really two sets of Christians. There are some, born into loving families, where one or both of their parents are believers in Christ, love the Lord their God and "repeated this law to them." (Deuteronomy 6:7) These children are especially blessed because they never have not known the love of God. By no means is it guaranteed that they would come to love and know God--that is solely dependent on his never ending mercy. But these kids cannot claim they did not know of the God of the Bible.
And then, in God's perfect timing, of his own sovereign will and good pleasure, in his steadfast never-ceasing love, and grace upon grace, chooses to regenerate some of his children at a later age--as the 1689 calls us in our "riper years".
I talk about being raised by my grandmother. But that really didn't start until I was 12 years. Before then, my brother and I were with her for a season while my dad and mom were going through a divorce.
My grandma loved the Lord her God. And I would have given anything to be raised by her. Perhaps even to be raised by my mom but she abandoned me and my brother when the divorce was final. But neither one of those options were available to me. Instead I raised by a cruel, depraved, utter wicked and perverted man. For most of my childhood, I was being raised by a horrendously wicked man and his new wife.
Instead being disciplined, we were beat about any part of our body black and blue and bloodied for misbehaving. Instead of being taken care of, we would go starving and confined to our rooms for days on end--usually having to use the facilities by sitting on the window sill as though we were in 1500s England. Instead of being loved, we were hated. And instead of being protected, we were sexually abused.
And instead of having a home filled with the word of God, we had pornography on our coffee tables and XXX film library for our VCR.
And because I was going through a traumatic ordeal and I was exposed to pornography at the age of 8, I was always addicted to porn since I was a kid.
And throughout my life, I never turned away from porn and anger and resentment and fear and insecurity.
And I was a slave to my own addiction. And when the Internet came about, it was a tool that fed my addiction on a rate that no one could have ever imagined. (So much so, I actually distributed porn on the Internet for a while. If you had ever looked at porn in the early 2000s, chances are it was from the work I produced.)
are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures
This was absolutely me. Early in my 20s, I was already given over to my own sin. (Romans 1:21-25). And I always claimed to know God but why and how? Just because I raised my hand back in Children's Church when asked if you didn't want to go to hell.
As you can only imagine, never being saved and never getting help for my trauma, I was a horrible depraved wicked soul. My closest relationships ended in disasters. I have attempted suicide twice before. I just wanted out of this life any way that I could.
There was absolutely positively nothing in me that was worth good or worth redeemed. I was a decent, "nice" guy on the outside. On the inside, I was messed up beyond all comprehension.
God did not see in ever in my life ever and saw that I did anything good. We think we are doing good until our eyes have been opened to goodness and loveliness of God and know that everything good I have ever tried to do has been infected by the sin in me.
I have sinned and I have fallen infinitely short of the only good that I have seen and known.
I read the Bible and it was clear as day. I was not an Abraham, Enoch, Noah, or David. I was the worst. I was the one who went to war against God. I was Goliath who would openly mock the God of Israel. I am like King Saul--brazenly stupid, unwise, and self-righteous. I am the Judas who would betray my friend for nothing in return. I am Saul who hated the church and considered myself above them.
I have been saved for about 17 years. Every day of my saved life I have had to call on the mercies of God because I keep sinning all the more. I do this in action and in thought. I feel the infection of sin. I feel it's backbreaking weight. I feel my sin grinding my bones into dust. I feel my own iniquity continuously tear my heart into two.
Romans 7:24 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Who in their right mind can save me? Who has the power to save me from my own depravity and wickedness. Who can do this? I cannot do this. I am filled with sin and depravity. I am filled to brim with wickedness and ungodliness. I am the worthless man that God mentions over and over. Who who who can rescue me?!
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Genesis 6:18 (CSB) But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.
Genesis 15:6 (CSB) Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 22:8a (CSB) Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”
Genesis 49:10 (CSB) The scepter will not depart from Judah or the staff from between his feet until he whose right it is comes and the obedience of the peoples belongs to him.
Numbers 21:7-9 (CSB) The people then came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so that he will take the snakes away from us.” And Moses interceded for the people.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover.” So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.
1 Kings 21:27–29 (AV 1873) And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.
1 Chronicles 29:14–15 (CSB) But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand. For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
2 Samuel 12:7-13 (CSB) Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. Why then have you despised the LORD’s command by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hethite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife — you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword. Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hethite to be your own wife.’
“This is what the LORD says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them in broad daylight. You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.’ ”
David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Then Nathan replied to David, “And the LORD has taken away your sin; you will not die.
Job 42:1–6 (CSB) Then Job replied to the LORD: I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?” Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wondrous for me to know. You said, “Listen now, and I will speak. When I question you, you will inform me.” I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them; I am dust and ashes.
Daniel 9:4–5 (CSB) I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: Ah, Lord—the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands—we have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from your commands and ordinances.
Psalm 73 (CSB)
A psalm of Asaph.1 God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray.
3 For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well fed.
5 They are not in trouble like others; they are not afflicted like most people.
6 Therefore, pride is their necklace, and violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn to them and drink in their overflowing words.
11 The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High know everything?”
12 Look at them—the wicked! They are always at ease, and they increase their wealth.
13 Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15 If I had decided to say these things aloud, I would have betrayed your people.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.
18 Indeed, you put them in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin.
19 How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors.
20 Like one waking from a dream, Lord, when arising, you will despise their image.
21 When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded,
22 I was stupid and didn’t understand; I was an unthinking animal toward you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me up in glory.
25 Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.
27 Those far from you will certainly perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, so I can tell about all you do.
Jonah 3:4-10 (CSB) Jonah set out on the first day of his walk in the city and proclaimed, “In forty days Nineveh will be demolished! ” Then the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth — from the greatest of them to the least.
When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Then he issued a decree in Nineveh:
By order of the king and his nobles: No person or animal, herd or flock, is to taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink water. Furthermore, both people and animals must be covered with sackcloth, and everyone must call out earnestly to God. Each must turn from his evil ways and from his wrongdoing. Who knows? God may turn and relent; he may turn from his burning anger so that we will not perish.
God saw their actions — that they had turned from their evil ways — so God relented from the disaster he had threatened them with. And he did not do it.
Matthew 4:17 (CSB) From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Luke 18:13 (CSB) “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner! ’
Luke 19:4-10 (CSB) So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”
So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.”
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.”
“Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
John 3:14–17 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life.
If God gives us everything we need for salvation, including his Son, his Spirit, his heart, righteousness, holiness, love, grace, mercy, faith, adoption, growth, and himself, then why would we think that somehow repentance is something within our own power.
We are born of Adam--born into sin and of sin. Sin has infected and affected us down to our core. To turn away from sin and unto God cannot be done in our power--not even the littlest bit. God has called us to repent but he "remembers that we are made from dust" and has the deepest compassionate.
You and I are called to repent. But unless something outside of us happens, we are powerless to repent of our sin?
Again, who can save us from this body of death? We are called to repent but we cannot repent. God must do something for us and to us in order that we can turn away from our sin and turn to God!
Acts 11:18 (CSB) When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”
2 Timothy 2:25 (CSB) instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
Hebrews 12:17 (CSB) For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance, though he sought it with tears.
God gives everything to us in order to save us. God gives us himself, his Son, his Spirit, his heart, righteousness, holiness, love, grace, mercy, faith, adoption, growth, and repentance.
To even us, those saved in our "riper years", those of us who have sinned enough and filled with enough debauchery to last multiple lifetimes, to fill our hearts with lusts and wicked desires, to be given over to our depravity, to us who have fallen a billion times to our seemingly endless sin, God has and always give us grace to stand once more.
Proverbs 24:16 (CSB) Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
To us, the older ones, know with absolutely certainty that I am no different than the most wicked person who has ever lived. The only difference between me and the wicked is God. God is the only difference. He saw me in my heinously and vile treason against his kingdom. What did he decide to do?
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And again:
Titus 3:3–7 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
And again:
1 Timothy 1:12–17 (CSB) I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Answer the unrhetorical question:
Romans 7:24 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Who will do it? Christ Jesus is name! And tho I struggle mighted under the weight of my depravity and sin, God has grant me grace and mercy to look up to his blessed Son and be saved by him.
Romans 8:1 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,
This is the blessed assurance that Jesus Christ is mine and mine for always! I will always have the Christ because God has given him to me and I am his and he is mine forever.
Romans 11:29 (CSB) since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.
I am in Christ. No condemnation and no seperation.
Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am the tax collector. I cried out to God, "Have mercy on me, A SINNER!"
How does the Almighty King of kings, Lord of Lords, ruler of heaven, earth, and hell, who holds the universe with his thought, the Champion who has put the forces of sin, Satan, demons, hell, and death to open shame, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Worthy Lamb who was Slained, who alone is Holy, Holy, Holy, Good, Faithful and True, the Way, Truth, and Life, and Love, this Son of God who is God. What does he say to my desperate plea?
Luke 18:14 (CSB) I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
God has given me repentance. God has granted me humility. God has given me his only begotten Son.
God, be glorify in my life today.
Amen.
15.2 God Gives More: Renewal
The Text
Proverbs 24:16 (CSB) Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
The Chapter
Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations; God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.
The Confession
Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (CSB) There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
We must always reset base facts. I do this through my writing and preaching because I grew up in the prevalent Evangelical understand, that, although God along saves us, there has to be something in us that caused us to change our mind and turn to Christ.
You want to know what that small thing was? Nothing from yourself but rather, the Almighty Triune God making his home in you. The moment God moved in by exchanging your heart, giving you his Spirit, and cleansing you from your sin, is the moment that you turned to God and believe and trust his Son.
You and I are born sinners. All humans, born of Adam, were born in sin and sin continuously.
Put it this way, unless God made his home in you, then all the church attendance, Christian school, Bible College, seminary, books, conferences, from all time to all time will never convince any of us to trust in God and be saved.
"But", you might say, "doesn't the Bible say, 'Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved'?" (Romans 10:13) You might even suggest, "Doesn't Jesus Christ command us to repent from sin?"
My beloved, would you agree that calling on the name of the Lord and repenting from sin are absolute good things in this sight of God? (Not a trick question. The answer is undoubtedly yes.) But we just read in Romans 3:10-12 (quoting Psalms 14) that "No one is good--no not even one."
Make that make sense. How can a wicked depraved sinner who cannot possibly do good does good from within the wicked self?
The logical and reasonable conclusion is that the wicked depraved worthless sinner must be made good in order to do good. That is the only way.
Modernity has it half right. Surely, we can study a subject long enought to be an expert. But most Western thinkers have taken it far too far. They think if they can surround themselves with enough Christian things like culture, politics, music, conferences, books, and the like, that we would be good enough to be saved.
But that is not how this works.
with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations
Within the discipline of theology proper, there are many other studies:
- Christology - the study of Christ)
- Pneumatology - the study of the Holy Spirit
- Anthropology - the study of humanity
- Soteriology - the study of salvation
- Ecclesiology - the study of the church
- Eschatology - the study of the end times
Of all the studies within theology, one particular study you will see often overlooked and almost neglected would be the study of sin or hamartiology. I longed to see more theologians tackle this subject. But the older I got, the more I realized, in my own futile perception is that it is because of mankind's indwelling sin prevents us from seeing the full catastrophic effects of sin. Why is that? Sin keeps us from seeing the glory of God, and the glory of Christ, and the power of his Spirit and the absolute truth of God. That much is certainly true. Even believers, on this side of heaven, as Calvin once said, our finite minds cannot comprehend an infinite God. So too, our sin-born selves cannot look upon the Most Holy God.
To that end, because of the chaos and death effects of sin, sin has a way of blinding us from seeing sin for what it is. In other words, to try to approach and exhaust the study of sin is a fool's errand because it is our own sin that prevents us from seeing the full effects of sin and therefore, being able to full study it and explain it.
We can write chapters on sin and I am convinced, we will still have huge blindspots. Let me put it like this: if I wrote about sin, I would pretend to be an expect on every sin but I would "conveniently" say little about the sins I particularly struggle with.
Why? Sin.
And because our personal infection of sin, what is the only thing we can do?
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Even when we try to do good and righteous, we can only do one thing: sin. Our supposed good works are not for God because God is not served by human hands. (Acts 17:25) Even if we truly and graciously help our fellow man (who really need our good works), those works are always tinctured with sin somehow or some way.
So, that is the very least of our sins.
And because of sins, some of humanity, like myself, have fallen into the most vile and heinous of sins.
Romans 1:28-32 (CSB) And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. Although they know God’s just sentence — that those who practice such things deserve to die — they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Do you feel that despair yet? Wretched people that we are? Who can save us?
God hath, in the covenant of grace
Ephesians 1:3–14 (CSB)
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.
5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ
10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.
13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.
14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
For what shall we say to these things! God did not look at us trying hard or doing good or with a soften heart or going to church or raising our hands to come forth for prayer.
From eternity past, before Genesis 1:1, God saw and knew our most wicked hearts. He looked up us and had the most pity for our souls. He saw our heinous crimes against him and he had the most compassion. He knew we were dead in our trespasses and sins, and he had nothing but mercy and grace for us.
How do I know this to be sure? Because he sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God, to do one thing: to save me from my sins and save me to himself forever.
He took pity on me.
He knows I am made from dust and had compassion for me.
He knows all of my sins and he had mercy on me.
He knows the most wicked depths of my heart but what did he do? As Corrie Ten Boom so perfectly said, "Chirst is deeper still."
Who is like my God and who dares to compare to him? He alone is pure, holy, love, grace and worthy to be praised and adored.
Luke 22:31–32 (CSB) “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.
Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Titus 3:4–7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Romans 9:15-16 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
You hear Christ adamantly proclaim this absolutely truth, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!" (Matthew 4:17)
You hear the Apostle Peter proclaim this truth, "Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
You know God commands you to repent. But how can he command you to do something you have no power to do it on your own?
Lift your head, turn your eyes upon the Christ. He is the author and perfecter of your faith. (Hebrews 12:2) He is the one who gives you the faith to repent. (Acts 11:18) He is the one who gives you the faith to believe. (Ephesians 2:8-9) He is the one who gives you the faith to trust. (Romans 10:17)
You are deep in your sins? Take your eyes off yourself because you cannot save yourself! You are a vile and wicked sinner. You need someone good and holy outside of yourself to save you. Every time you want to look to yourself to save yourself, you will only find more sin and more wickedness.
But just like Moses lifted the brazen serpent into the air for the Israelites to be saved from the venomous results of their own sin, so too the Son of Man will be lifted up so that his people can be raised from life, indwelt with God himself, and cleansed from all unrighteousness. It is only then can we turn our eyes upon Jesus and be saved!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and graceHelen H. Lemmel
15.3 God Gives More: Spirit
The Text
John 3:14–15 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
The Chapter
This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
The Confession
This saving repentance is an evangelical grace
Zechariah 12:10 (CSB) “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for him as one weeps for a firstborn.
The four words of this statement--saving, repentance, evangelical, grace--are each originated by God alone and given to us by God alone to the glory of God alone.
It is the day and age of the modern era we live in--where humanistic mindset tends to seep into our onward thinking. We must be quick when we read a book, confession, creed or Scripture to stop putting ourselves as the subject and the protagonist of what we are reading. A thousand living Christians will read this statement today and you will get a thousand different ways on how they are somehow involved in the statement other than the dead sinner who simply receives the whole gift of God.
"saving" - I was something worth saving. Yet:
Isaiah 64:7 (CSB) No one calls on your name, striving to take hold of you. For you have hidden your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Romans 3:10-12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
"repentance" - I had the sense to repent of my sins. Yet:
2 Timothy 2:25 (CSB) instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
Acts 11:18 (CSB) When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”
"evangelical" - as though I had so much grief and sadness over my sins, I was able to carry myself to God! Yet:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
John 3:14–17 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 12:32 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”
John 6:44 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:65 (CSB) He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
John 6:37 (CSB) Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
"grace" - as though God's grace was added to something I did to save me. First, that is Mormonism. Second:
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Titus 3:5 (CSB) He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
The best and most classic passage in the Bible dealing the grace of God can be found in the story of Noah.
Genesis 6:5–7 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”
Look at the judgment of God. Did Noah and his family was part of mankind? Did Noah wickedness and every inclination of his mind was nothing but evil all the time? Did the Lord regret making Noah and was deeply grieved? Did Noah deserve to be wiped out with the rest of humanity?
These are not trick questions but rhetorical. The answer is yes.
But what happened? Noah decided to live righteous before God so God would save him? That is not what the passage says.
Genesis 6:8 (CSB) But Noah found favor with the LORD.
Noah was a son of Adam just like you and me. And just like all born sons of Adam, we are not righteous. No, not one of us. We don't understand God. We don't seek after God. We are all worthless. We have turned away from God. How do I know this? Because none of us have done good because we are incapable of doing anythig good that would be pleasing unto God and cause God to save us.
No. We are not the first cause but God is the first cause of everything. We have done nothing that would cause God in anyway to look upon us and save us. When God saw us and he knew us (Romans 8:28-29), he knew were were wicked and helpless.
And like Noah, he took pity on us. It is Noah "that found favor in the eyes of God."
And just like Noah, since he has found favor with God despite being wicked, worthless, and dwelling on evil all the time, God saved him.
What did God's salvation do?
Genesis 6:9-10 >Genesis 6:9 (CSB) These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
It is because God saved you, me and Noah, he made us righteous, blameless, and we now walked with God.
This saving repentance is an evangelical grace.
whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency
Ezekiel 36:31 (CSB) “ ‘You will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and detestable practices.
2 Corinthians 7:11 (CSB) For consider how much diligence this very thing—this grieving as God wills—has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure in this matter.
Let me sum this up. If you read the Bible a hundred times over, graduated from the top seminary in the land with a Th.D, perfect attendance in church all of your life, gave your money and time to the church, and yet, the Holy Spirit has not made his home in you, you are not saved.
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:5 (CSB) Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
You think what I am saying might be insanely. "Surely, someone who has dedicated their life to God and the church is saved!" No. That is not how we are saved. We are only saved by Christ alone. There is no other name in which we are saved.
We are so desperate to look for proof of the Christian that we tend to be judgmental and legalistic. But then that seeps into our hearts and guess what? When we take even a half-hearted look at ourselves and by God's grace, see a little of our wickedness, we shudder to think how could we be saved?
But look at what God does:
Ezekiel 36:24–28 (CSB) “ ‘For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
God takes you out of the world and puts you in his kingdom. (John 3:5) God cleanses you from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) God gives you a new heart and a new spirit. God places his Spirit within you and causes you to follow his statutes and carefully observe his ordinances.
My beloved, God does it all to save you to himself. And he does this by the Almighty power of His Spirit in you, with his Son in your heart, and Father himself making his home in you.
praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
Psalm 119:6 (CSB) Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all your commands.
Psalm 119:128 (CSB) I carefully follow all your precepts and hate every false way.
It is only then--the indwelling of the Triune God in you--that you can pray for pardon and strength of grace, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
Notice what the Scripture, nor the Confession, nor what I am saying: you are not saved because you were really good of repenting of your sins. You are going to sin and your repentance might be perfectly sincere--because you are infected with sin. If you looked upon yourself for your salvation, you will become prideful, which is an abomination to God, or you will empty out in complete despair.
You and I sin continuously. What hope is there for us?
Yet, God has raised his only begotten up from death by the same Spirit. That same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is the same Spirit that is in you. You and I get to look upon the risen Christ and you and I will be saved forever and ever.
Amen.
15.4 God Gives More: Ongoing
The Text
1 Timothy 1:13–15 (CSB) even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.
The Chapter
As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.
The Confession
Luke 19:8 (CSB) But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.”
Let us not be so quick to forget! We cannot repent of our sin within our own natural power for "no one does good, no, not even one" (Romans 3:12; Psalms 14) We cannot turn to God as sons of Adam. We are wicked and depraved. Repenting of sins is a good thing but we lack the ability to do actual good in the sight of God the only good.
But ah, look at Christ! He has come to be your God-owed obedience and he is your God perfection! And he has saved you and covers you in his righteousness. Yes, our works before God are as filthy rags. But because God has cleansed you, given you his own heart, his own Spirit, causes you to obey him because he gave you his only begotten Son, you and I, now sons of the Almighty God get to repent of our sins.
The Confession properly reads, "so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly." Do not distraught, beloved. You and I cannot repent of our sins perfectly because we were once foolish and led astray. God knows that! That is why he sent his Son not for you to try harder but to give you rest for your weary soul and your broken heart.
We cannot come to God on our own. God has to come to us. He is so far and we are so sinful. We dare not approach the throne of grace because the gap between us and him is infinite.
It will take an infinite being to cross an infinite gap to save a wretch like me. Fortunately, God is infinite, Father is God, Son is God, and the Spirit and therefore, the Triune God is infinite. He spans the gap so that you and I will eb with him forever and ever. Amen.
15.5 God Gives More: Preservation
The Text
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Chapter
Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation; that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.
The Confession
Isaiah 1:16–18 (CSB) “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. “Come, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.
When the Christ has opened our eyes, opened our ears, changes our mind, unmutes our tongue, gives us a new heart, give us the same Spirit that raised him from the dead, you and I will see the face of the blessed Savior and the darkness of our wickedness and sin.
Isaiah 55:7 (CSB) Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive.
We see how deep and dark our sins go because my sins are the one that hung my Christ on that cursed tree. My sins are numerous. And I continue to sin. And my heart aches.
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But Christ descended into his creation with me, as a sinner, on his heart and mind since before he created time and space. He has sovereignly dictated and ordain everything so that Christ would be born of a woman and of God, perfect in every way, and did it so to do one thing: to save us from our sins.
My beloved, I would be a liar unto God if I told you stop sinning on this side of heaven. Then where is the hope for relief from our sins? We look upon the risen Christ to save us, to sustain us, to sanctify us, to glorify us and bring us all the way to the Father.
I know my sins are deep. They have infected me in every way.
"There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still.”
Corrie Ten Boom
Christ is deeper still.
Praise be to God!
Chapter 16 Of Good Works
16.1 God Gives Abundantly: Goodness
Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his Holy Word, and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intentions.
16.2 God Gives Abundantly: Christ
These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.
16.3 God Gives Abundantly: Spirit
Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet they are not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.
16.4 God Gives Abundantly: Truly
They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.
16.5 God Gives Abundantly: Salvation
We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good they proceed from his Spirit, and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's punishment.
16.6 God Gives Abundantly: Righteousness
Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in God's sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
16.7 God Gives Abundantly: Grace
Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others; yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the word, nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive grace from God, and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.
16.1 God Gives Abundantly: Goodness
The Text
Psalm 16:2 (CSB) I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.”
Psalm 14:1–3 (CSB)
1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.
3 All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.
The Chapter
Good works are only such as God has commanded in his Holy Word, and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intentions.
The Confession
Only God is Good: Good works are only such as God has commanded in his Holy Word
Micah 6:8 (CSB) Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Hebrews 13:21 (CSB) equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
All of us as sons of Adam fall easily to the notion that we have decided what is good and not good and take action accordingly. But what is actually good can only be determined by one who is actually good--that is, of course, being God almighty.
The law and the gospel of Christ states this: you are not good by what you do. You and I cannot do some good things and then call ourselves good. Even when we do something that is stated by God good, our own fallen and wicked selves have tinctured those good works with sin.
Again, we have argued for this: choosing God is an actual good thing. But can you choose God when you are wicked? No. You cannot.
You need a perfect goodness outside of yourself to choose God. You need someone to give you this righteousness, a new heart and his Spirit in order to choose God.
In other words, you must be born again.
No other way.
So, what makes us think we get to choose what is good and then do our chosen good? Nevermind the fact that in our fallen and wicked estate, we have conveniently forgotten to do the other good things that God has commanded use to do.
Only God is Good: and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intentions
Matthew 15:9 (CSB) They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands.”
Isaiah 29:13 (CSB) The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.
We can, with every good intention within us, be the most passionate, the most zealous, seeming the most pure intentions, and even presumably, do the most good and that would not get us closer to God nor make us good in the sight of God.
All of our sincerity and our zeal and our passion for God is not the litmus test to determine our salvation. Because think about it: are you always affection towards God? Do you always feel good about God?
Let me press the real question: when was the last time you were sinless?
If you and I are completely honest with ourselves: there hasn't been a moment in our lives that we have been sinless against God. We can think we have good days or do good things, but again, our hearts are corrupted and our good works are filthy rags before God.
You and I cannot do good things with a perfect heart. Our affections cannot be high enough nor consistent enough. We cannot feel good all the time. Because we were never good nor perfect. Because our hearts are broken. Because we are weighed down by sin/
We must have the Almighty Holy One of God to look upon our wickedness, save us from our sin and give us rest.
Blessed be his holy name that our salvation is never determined on us in any way. If it were, we are all doomed. But since our salvation is completely, wholly, totally dependent on the risen Son of God, then and only then we are saved to God forever and ever.
16.2 God Gives Abundantly: Christ
The Text
John 10:10 (CSB) A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
The Chapter
These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.
The Confession
Only Christ is Good: These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith;
James 2:18 (CSB) But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.
By no means that doing good works makes one saved unto God. Keep this in mind: those who are willfully disobedient to God are not of God. And yes, I am aware that because of our fallen natures, we are judgmental towards others not ourselves and think, "Yes, those people who sin continuously and call themselves Christian when they are not."
But when the morally good does good things, we often fall in the trap of "I am good because I am doing good things." But here are big facts: you obeying God and doing the works which he alone can deemed good is actual fruit of the indwelling of God in you. Can you do good deeds to serve your neighbor? Can you love your enemy? If you answer yes, then that is the work of God in you.
Matthew 7:17–18 (CSB) In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.
Only Christ is Good: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,
Psalm 116:12–13 (CSB) How can I repay the LORD for all the good he has done for me? I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
This, in turn, gives an heart of worship to God and give thanks for what he has done in you. Ezekiel 36 says it best: God has given you a new heart--his heart. Now you have new desires--desires for him and to worship him.
Romans 1:18 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,
And.
Romans 1:21–23 (CSB) For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
And.
Jeremiah 17:9 (CSB) The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable — who can understand it?
Because we were born children of God, we have all exchanged the glory of God for the glory of ourselves. We have exchanged the right worship of the One True God to worship, adore, focus, fixed, navel-gazed, and internalize unto ourselves. But then God, only good, merciful, and lovely, looks upon your wicked heart, pulls it out and replaces it with his own.
Only Christ is Good: strengthen their assurance
1 John 2:3 (CSB) This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.
1 John 2:5 (CSB) But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him:
2 Peter 1:5–11 (CSB) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
And you are going to see this in your life, maybe not day to day, but more "one degree of glory to another." If you stay fixed on yourself to try to determined if Christ is in you, then you will always miss it. But look back on your lifetime and see that God was always doing the work, always giving the growth, always willfully bringing you to maturity, discipling you and conforming you to the image of his Son.
Only Christ is Good: edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel
Matthew 5:16 (CSB) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
And this is true prophesy: that we preach the gospel of Christ to every creature to the ends of the earth because Christ is with you till the end of the age. (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:20)
Only Christ is Good: stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God
1 Timothy 6:1 (CSB) All who are under the yoke as slaves should regard their own masters as worthy of all respect, so that God’s name and his teaching will not be blasphemed.
1 Peter 2:15 (CSB) For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.
Philippians 1:11 (CSB) filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
And the right prophesy of what Christ has done will always silence the mouths of the adversaries--that those who would unload unspeakable burdens upon you that you cannot bear, Christ was sent to save us from our sins.
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
All the legalism and carnal wickedness will seek to destroy us. Christ has come to give us his righteousness so that can be saved unto God forever. And this is completely based on what Christ has done--not what we have done.
Only Christ is Good: whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto
Ephesians 2:8–10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Look at what God has given you: salvation, grace, and faith. Now we have nothing to boast about but we get to worship God alone! We get to shower him with praise and thanksgiving.
And we need not to give God anything for he needs nothing and is not served by human hands. (Acts 17:25) All of the good works that you are to do have been ordained by God for you to do. But what is the purpose of these good works?
Matthew 22:37-40 (CSB) He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Go, love your neighbor as yourself.
Only Christ is Good: that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life
Romans 6:22 (CSB) But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life!
We will never be perfect on this side of heaven. Our glory by God is given to us by God when we see God face to face. But while we are on this earth, we are forever secured unto God because everything that Christ did to save us from our sins is completed and perfectly--once and for all.
We have the Christ. Praise his holy name!
16.3 God Gives Abundantly: Spirit
The Text
John 3:34 (CSB) For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure.
The Chapter
Their ability to do good works is not all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them and to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet they are not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.
The Confession
Only the Holy Spirit is Good: Their ability to do good works is not all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ
John 15:4–5 (CSB) Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.
That makes the Isaiah proclamation cuts both ways:
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
We easily enough see that before we are saved by God, our "good" works are as filthy rags. But that is not what the Bible says. Isaiah is rightly declaring that all self-righteous works are filthy rags in the sight of the Holy God. Dear Christian, that might fill you with despair. But take heart--your good works that you do, do not come from you and you are not the source but God is the source. God is the source of good because he alone is good. Whatever we do in love for others comes not from us but from our Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10)
Only the Holy Spirit is Good: and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them and to will and to do of his good pleasure
2 Corinthians 3:5 (CSB) It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.
Philippians 2:13 (CSB) For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
If God is the source of all good because he alone is good, then the outflow of his provision and grace is to will and to work according to his purpose alone. Remember in 1689.5.2? That God is the first cause of all things. And we are so desperate to figure out if God is the author of sin (short answer: absolutely not) but what might grind your gears is that God is the author of all good and therefore, all the good that is done by you and me, God alone gets the glory for all the good in this world. The world will balk at this and say that is not fair and it is double sided. But the God of the Bible is is dualistic--that is to say, he does not hold the balance of good and evil. The Triune Almighty God is good and good alone. He is righteous and perfection. He is holy and within his presence there is no sin, no wickedness, and no evil.
He gets none of the blame for any evil in this world. For all the evil in this world, there are three to blame: Satan, Adam, and us. Satan we get. Adam we get. But why us? Because we were born into it. We were born sons of Adam "once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another." (Titus 3:3)
Only the Holy Spirit is Good: yet they are not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them
Philippians 2:12 (CSB) Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Hebrews 6:11–12 (CSB) Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Isaiah 64:7 (CSB) No one calls on your name, striving to take hold of you. For you have hidden your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity.
God knew that. From eternity past, God saw us and he knew that we were evil and led astray. He knew that and he took pity on us. He knows we are made from dust. He did not save Satan and the demons. In his righteousness and sovereignty, he damned them to hell. But upon his people, you and me, he had sweetest mercy. He has grace upon all grace. And for us, his steadfast love never ceases because his steadfast love never began for us.
And we know this for absolute truth because how? He sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to live and die for us. And because Jesus was and is perfect, he sent his Holy Spirit to raise us up from the dead and to make us finally alive in Christ to God forever and ever.
The Spirit is in you. God the Father has given you his heart and now dwells in you. Christ is in you. We are not obligated to obey but we get to obey God because the Trinue God dwells in us. We have the Almighty God and he has the infinite double grip snatch on us forever.
Song of Songs 2:16 (CSB) My love is mine and I am his;
Forever. Amen.
16.4 God Gives Abundantly: Truly
The Text
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
The Chapter
They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.
The Confession
Job 9:2–3 (CSB) Yes, I know what you’ve said is true, but how can a person be justified before God? If one wanted to take him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times.
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
Luke 17:10 (CSB) In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’ ”
Let me sum this up: without God, whatever good you have done and will ever do will fall short of what God requires.
Without God, you cannot earn your way into the kingdom of God. You will not stand faultless before his throne. You will not get to peer into the loving face of your Savior who saved your from your sins and his glory.
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Even unto salvation, you still cannot earn your way more into the kingdom of God. That is why there are no degrees of salvation. No varsity nor junior varsity. No degrees like in black belt. No levels like in video games. No ranks in Christianity. I don't care if you are filled with Spirit and you can speak in tongues. I don't care. You are not ranked any higher than the thief on the cross next to Christ--whom could do nothing but believe upon the Lord Jesus, hang there and die. Ranking within Christianity is foolishness and the Paul's letter to the Galatians deals with that full stop.
Galatians 3:1–3 (CSB) You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?
What must you do?
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
You must do nothing but be more again. How do you know if you are born again?
John 6:28–29 (CSB) “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked. Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”
You must believe and trust in the Jesus Christ!
But do I trust him enough? No, no. You and I don't trust him like we should. But God already knew that. That is why he sent his Son whom explicitly, completely, wholeheartedly, full on, perfected trusted the Father. Read through the law of God from the Father's prespective as he instructs his children: "Trust in me." But we all have failed. That is why Christ came to save sinners.
You and I don't have anything to earn. Because we are in Christ, we get to rest in his amazing grace.
Good works? God doesn't need them because he is not served by human hands. But somebody in this world who is not you needs them. Love them as you would love God. Give to them like you would give to God. Serve them like you would serve God. Because in doing so, you are serving God.
It is not a have to do. In the kingdom of God, it is a get to do.
16.5 God Gives Abundantly: Salvation
The Text
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
The Chapter
We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because they are good they proceed from his Spirit, and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s punishment.
The Confession
We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins
Romans 3:20 (CSB) For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 4:6 (CSB) Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
It is because of our great sin--the sin we were born into and the sin that we have commit--keeps us forever apart from God. But make no mistake--if we were like Adam and Eve before the Fall, if we had never sinned, we would not be infinite and eternal. God alone is eternal--before the beginning and after the end. He is infinite--trying to add, subtract, multiple or divide God and you still get the Infinite God.
But it is our sin of pride and hubris to be fooled and tricked into thinking that any amount of good that we think we have done puts us once inch closer to him. No. We are finite creatures that are so far removed from God that we have no hope to be saved by God by our own abilities, strength, talents, or birth.
God alone, who is infinite in being alone, must bridge the infinite gap in order for us to come to him and be with him forever. And he did so--he sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is the Infinite God, to clear the way and bridge the infinite gap between us and God.
John 14:6 (CSB) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 10:9 (CSB) I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.
Matthew 7:13-14 (CSB) “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
Few find it? Is God hard to find? No, not for his people. Not for his children. Not for the brothers and sisters of Christ. Not for his elect.
Luke 11:10-13 (CSB) or everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
John 6:37 (CSB) Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
If you turn to God, ask God, for God, you are going to get God. I know he is infinite. He is far above all of our made up idols and our sin. But Christ has bridged the infinite gap. The distance is so great that you cannot begin to traverse it.
But turn to God, ask God, for God, and you will get the Infinite God span the infinite distance quicker than you can finish that prayer.
Behold your God!
but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because they are good they proceed from his Spirit
Galatians 5:22–23 (CSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
Look at the gospel! We are unprofitable servants. What good can we produce? This good news of Jesus Christ absolute reality flies in the face and opposes the false gospel preaching and the false religions of our day. Most of the false religions that mankind has ever produce--which by the way, are all demonic led (Deuteronomy 32:16–17; 1 Corinthians 10:20; 1 Timothy 4:1)--are usually not marked by the allowing of more sin but that more legalistic rules to supersede and take place of what God has commanded. Many false relgions dogpile more rules where God hasn't not given any laws pertain thereof.
Case in point: I know you have the Book of Mormon handy. Turn with me to 2 Nephi 25:23. I'll wait.
2 Nephi 25:23 (BoM) For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
That sounds Christian enough. Doesn't it? But to some of you who have been diligently trained in spotting false gospel by sitting under real gospel preaching already cringe at this statement.
"It is grace that saves us after all we can do."
After all we do? This might sound familiar but a quick recall shows this text to be anti-Christ. For:
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
After all we do? We have done nothing good.
Romans 3:10-12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
So if I try to pair together demonic inspired text like the Book of Mormon with the holy word of God, one contradicts the other. You will have to make a choice. You cannot serve two masters. One demonic master that gives you back breaking, soul crushing weight of responsibility of saving yourself--which by the way, you cannot.
Or you can turn to the actual Almighty God, Creator of heaven and hell, who alone is good and righteous and holy, who has flung open the doors of heaven and with a loud voice for all to hear:
Matthew 11:28–30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
And that swung open door, and that loud proclamation, and those words are only found in Jesus Christ, our only, only Lord and Savior.
Choose on this day of whom you will serve.
and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s punishment
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Psalm 43:2 (CSB) For you are the God of my refuge. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
We try to do good. In our best efforts, we try. And without the indwelling of God in you, you might be fooled into thinking, "I must be rewarded somehow--look at all the good I have done."
But to the unbeliever that stands in the midst of the Holy God, they will quickly realize that they have done nothing good. That is why the workers of lawlessness will try to plead their case before God:
Matthew 7:21–23 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
But for the people of God, his elect, his adopted, his very own Beloved, there is no defense that will proceed from our mouths when we stand before God. It is God that bears witness with our Spirit that we are indeed children of God.(Romans 8:16)
My Beloved, you are never going to hear from the Christ, "Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!" Never.
It will be the Spirit that will declare for you, "Father, this is your blessed child."
The Son, smiles ear to ear, turns toward his Heavenly Father, and asks, almost playfully--because we already know the answer--"Father, what do you say?"
"THIS IS MY CHILD IN WHOM I AM WELL-PLEASED!
And as the Father makes this absolute declaration, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Worthy Lamb Who Was Slain, flies from his glorious and proceeds to cover you with his righteousness.
And this Great God, the Great I Am, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, gives the final declaration:
NO CONDEMNATION! Come and enter in the joy of your master.
Oh close and blessed union! Justified by God, accepted in Christ, condemnation there cannot be. I stand in the Divine presence as Joshua stood before the Lord, or as the woman stood before the Savior, charged, accused, guilty; but I am in the presence of him who, though now he sits upon the throne as my Judge, once hung upon the cross as my Savior. And, investing me with his own spotless robe, he proceeds to pronounce the sentence- "NO CONDEMNATION!"
"These things write I unto you that your joy may be full."
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation in Christ Jesus. 191.
16.6 God Gives Abundantly: Righteousness
The Text
Luke 15:21–24 (CSB) The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
The Chapter
Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God’s sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
The Confession
The Covering of Christ: Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him;
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
1 Peter 1:5 (CSB) You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
My dearest siblings, it not any good thing that you have done since Christ dwells in you that proves you are saved. The fact that you believe upon the risen Christ, looked upon him, and be saved. The fact that you can do those things? That proves that you are born again.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
Can you read the Bible and understand that the his word is all about the only begotten Son of God? Can you read the Bible and accept the good news that "Mary has bore a son and we call his name Jesus for he has saved us from our sins"? But you might say, "But I don't understand all of the Bible. There are some things that are too difficult to understand?"
That is true. Look at what Peter says about Paul's writings:
2 Peter 3:15–16 (CSB) Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
There are some matters that are hard to understand--that is true. But what is clear--Jesus has saved us from our sins. You understand that. You believe that. You have been born again.
NOW, because you have born again, guess what? You are a son of God. You are his adopted child. You are co-heir with the Son who has inherited everything.
Our Blessed Father is Creator of the Universe. To say he owns the cattle on a thousands hills is an understatement of a lifetime. But it is true. And our Eldest Brother is the King of king and Lord of lords. And the exact same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead has raised you from death unto life and now dwells in you.
Now what? What are going to do about it?
Ephesians 2:10 (CSB) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
1 Corinthians 3:9 (CSB) For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
Don't serve God. He needs nothing from us. He is not served by human hands. What did Christ say? Loving your neighbor is the same as loving God.
Matthew 22:36-40 (CSB) “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest? ” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.
The second is like it : Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Now you get to go do good things and those things are pleasing to God because you are in Christ and Christ is in you and the Father has said it multiple times over, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
That's you because you are in Christ. Go and love others.
The Covering of Christ: not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God’s sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
Matthew 25:21 (CSB) “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
Matthew 25:23 (CSB) “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
Hebrews 6:10 (CSB) For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.
Listen to me. What I have to say doesn't pertain to unbelievers--they do not believe the good news because they are dead in their trespasses and sins. That cannot believe because they do not possess the Triune God.
I speak to those Christians who would flat out deny the perfect atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. So many in church want to take away the sting of the death of the Son of God. They would say, "God can simply forgive sins. Jesus did it while he was walking the earth. Christ did not have to die. Christ was the mere victim of circumstance. He died for an unjust cause."
To those Christian, let me ask, why are you giving me bad news? From the bottom of my heart, I say this in love, you are giving me the worst news I have ever heard.
It is so convincing that God can forgive sins by merely speaking the words. As though our God is some sort of a magician and says, "hocus pocus." I would believe that bad news if it was not for the word of God:
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
The harsh reality is that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In the Old Testament, God gave the command of sacrificing animals to cover the sins of the people. Even followed to the letter, the blood of animals was not the thing that took away sins. It was a foreshadowing of the perfect sacrifice of the Son of God.
Hebrews 10:4 (CSB) For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Everything that God did prior to the revealing of the Messiah was a foreshadow of what would it take to wash away the sins of his people.
Romans 3:21-26 (CSB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as an atoning sacrifice in his blood, received through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.
John 12:32-33 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
And
John 3:14-15 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
It is not the mere words of God that forgives sins. The Almighty Creator of heaven and hell put on full display his glory in giving his only begotten Son within the confines of the history of mankind. Not even the most ignorant fool could deny the historical life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it was in the promises of God and satisfaction of God by the Son of God that washed away the sins of his people.
Because the sinless Savior died, My sinful soul is counted free; For God, the Just, is satisfied To look on Him and pardon me.
16.7 God Gives Abundantly: Grace
The Text
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
The Chapter
Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and to others; yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the Word, nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive the grace from God, and yet their neglect for them is more sinful and displeasing to God.
The Confession
The Grace Upon Grace of God: Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and to others;
2 Kings 10:30 (CSB) Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in my heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”
1 Kings 21:27 (CSB) When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued.
1 Kings 21:29 (CSB) “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime, because he has humbled himself before me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.”
We are so prone to read passages like this or of the Philistines in 1 Samuel 5 where person or people did exact what the Lord commanded them to do. Yet, no one in their right mind would contend that King Ahab was saved. He was dully wicked and condemned before the Lord.
1 Kings 22:37-38 (CSB) So the king died and was brought to Samaria. They buried the king in Samaria. Then someone washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes bathed in it, according to the word of the LORD that he had spoken.
2 Kings 8:18 (CSB) He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for Ahab’s daughter was his wife. He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight.
No one in their right mind would suggest that the Philistines were saved just because they seemingly obeyed God just so they could get rid of the ark of the covenant.
Case in point: show of hands who have ever met a Philistine. You have not. Why? God has wiped them from the face of the earth.
They were not saved.
Yet, a few years ago, proponents of Open Theism (think Bethel, Hillsong and the like) contended because of King Hezekiah appealed to God in a certain way, God extended his life by 15 years--it is as though God changed his mind.
2 Kings 20:1–6 (CSB)
1 In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’ ”2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
3 “Please, LORD, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what pleases you.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Isaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of the LORD came to him:
5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the LORD’s temple.
6 I will add fifteen years to your life.
Eureka! They think. If I can do the right things and say the right prayer, then I can get God to do what I want him to do. But keep reading the 2 Kings passage:
?I will rescue you and this city from the grasp of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’ ”
God didn't do jack squat for King Hezekiah--certainly not based on what he said or did. God extended the life of Hezekiah for his own sake and for the sake of his servant David. In other words, for his own glory and the promise that he had made to King David that his Son, Jesus Christ, would rule and reign forever.
Daniel 2:21 (CSB) He changes the times and seasons;
he removes kings and establishes kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those
who have understanding.
We should never be shocked that God would use wicked people to do his bidding so that God alone would save his people and be glorified.
Just because anybody does something that God has commanded them to do does not ever put God in debt to anyone. The Creator is never in debt to his creation.
Job 35:6–8 (CSB) If you sin, how does it affect God? If you multiply your transgressions, what does it do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give him, or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness, a son of man.
Acts 17:24–25 (CSB) The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.
Romans 4:3-5 (CSB) For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
Creation will do the will of the Father. But what have we preached time and time again: we are not saved by what we have done but everything that God has done. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
The Grace Upon Grace of God: yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith,
Genesis 4:5 (CSB) but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
Hebrews 11:4 (CSB) By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Now why is that? Why can't we be saved by our works? Why can't we prove to myself and others that I am saved by my actions?
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
You and I, born of Adam, born in our trespasses and sins, from our born stone hearts produce nothing good from us because we are not the source of good.
Luke 18:19 (CSB) “Why do you call me good? ” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.
We might do good things. We might know of good people. But in ourselves are not good. Whatever good we think we are doing comes from the source of good: that is God alone.
James 1:17 (CSB) Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
The Grace Upon Grace of God: nor are done in a right manner according to the Word
1 Corinthians 13:1 (CSB) If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And because we are not the source of good, we cannot do good because every human being born of man is born in sin and has broken the law of God.
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
We break one of God's laws, we break them all. Human justice would be injustice to punish a person for committing one crime. But this is how holiness, righteousness, love, mercy, grace, and divine justice works: God rightfully demands goodness, love, righteousness, holiness, and justice perfectly. He demands it and he will not abide by anything less than perfection.
The Grace Upon Grace of God: nor to a right end, the glory of God
Matthew 6:2 (CSB) So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
Matthew 6:5 (CSB) “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
And into that end, God must be glorified in all. God alone will receive the glory for who he is. He cannot and will not share his glory with another.
The Grace Upon Grace of God: they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive the grace from God
Amos 5:21–22 (CSB) I hate, I despise, your feasts! I can’t stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. Even if you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.
Romans 9:16 (CSB) So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
Titus 3:5 (CSB) he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
The Grace Upon Grace of God: and yet their neglect for them is more sinful and displeasing to God
Job 21:14–15 (CSB) Yet they say to God, “Leave us alone! We don’t want to know your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him, and what will we gain by pleading with him?”
Matthew 25:41–43 (CSB) “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.
That is the depth and depravity of our wickedness and sin. It is not a zero sum game. "If I do something good, that offsets the evil I once did." Does that sound like perfection? Or "If I might be bad--who isn't--but at least I am not as bad as this other guy." Does that sound like that defense would satisfy the perfection of God?
God demands perfection from his creation. Creation was good. And the apple of his eye--his imagebearers, mankind-- he declared, "Very good." Creation didn't do anything wrong but his imagebearers did. We brought in sin, we were born in sin, we live in sin, and from within ourselves is nothing good but we sin continually.
WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM, WHO WILL SAVE ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH!
God the Father knew were we were sinful. He knew our wicked little stony hearts. He knew that if it was up to us, we would descend to hell at warp speed. We were dead in our trespasses and sins. That is why he sent his Son. Jesus Christ came to us and he put on flesh. As C.S. Lewis said, "It is the Son of God that became man so that you and me would become sons of the Living God."
The Father demanded perfection. And he got perfection because of what his Son did. And the Father is completely satisfied with us--because God, His Son, and His Spirit dwell in us.
Chapter 17 Of the Perseverance of the Saints
17.1 Our God Saves: By His Power
Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
17.2 Our God Saves: By His Will
This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
17.3 Our God Saves: All in His Son
And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
17.1 Our God Saves: In His Power Alone
The Text
Romans 1:16–17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
The Chapter
Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
The Confession
Our God Saves In His Power Alone: Those whom God has accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, from which source he still begets and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality
John 10:28–29 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
Philippians 1:6 (CSB) I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:19 (CSB) Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
1 John 2:19 (CSB) They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.
Let us get to down to the brass tacks. If you are of the Arminianist, or as I like to call it, of the Non-Calvinist persuasion, if you get to choose God, you can simply unchoose God.1
Many people, especially Americans, given our Modernist and Post-Modernist tendencies, with a high view on mankind and our destiny and our abilities and our right to choose sometimes have a rough time reading the Bible and letting the text speak--especially in doctrines that have been oddly labeled as Calvinist. I say, oddly, because those doctrines, such as predestination, election, and perseverance of the saints, are not Calvinist doctrines. They are right, proper, historical, orthodox doctrines.
Yet, if you believe that we get to choose God first rather than God choosing us:
Ephesians 1:3–6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
If you contend that Christ made salvation possible to believe rather than Christ actually saving his people from their sins:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
That we are able to thwart God's will vs God's will being done:
John 6:37 (CSB) Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
If your soteriology (theology of salvation) stands in opposition to handful of Biblical doctrines, then what is your end? What is your natural out working of your theology if you stand opposing to what the Bible says. If you abide and you are so adamant that we choose God first, then you will arrive that you can lose your salvation.
Why do people want to arrive at the conclusion that we can unchoose God and lose our salvation? Experience. I am not saying for themselves. But ask any Christian who balks at the thought of God preserving his people till the end are the same ones who know a dear and close loved one--a dad, a mom, sibling, best friend, pastor--who did not just profess Christ. They were all in. These people they knew--they were on fire. They were zealous for God. They were all in. They led worship. They sung loudly to God. They came forward to the alter call. They had cried tear of repentance--these loved ones did. They were baptized. They will filled with the Holy Spirit.
But then life happened. Life got hard. Life kicked them in the teeth. And I cannot tell you what was going on at the heart level of your loved ones that now disown Christ. But Christ already told you that this was going to happen.
Matthew 13:20–21 (CSB) And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Christ said this would happen. Why? Have you consider the power of an Almighty God. Do you not think that when God shows up, and puts his full power on display, and people come to know him, do you think that some of that power can be felt from even unbelievers?
Hebrews 6:4-6 (CSB) For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.
I grieve with you. I, too, have known too many loved ones who have fallen from the faith. And the only thing that makes sense is not that God is not loving enough but rather, mankind has the ultimate ability to walk away from God. I can see how that would help with the grief and the pain of losing a loved one in the faith--doubly so if that person is still alive here on earth: breathing God's air, taking in God's provision, and giving him no thanks.
I am not here to cut your grief and coldly and heartlessly respond with, "I guess they were never saved to begin with."
Our God Saves In His Power Alone: and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them
Psalm 89:31–32 (CSB) if they dishonor my statutes and do not keep my commands, then I will call their rebellion to account with the rod, their iniquity with blows.
1 Corinthians 11:32 (CSB) but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world.
My only response with is the same all emcompassing message of the Bible:
Our God saves! Our God saves! Our God saves!
Our God Saves In His Power Alone: yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraved upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
Malachi 3:6 (CSB) “Because I, the LORD, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
Let me tell you in hopes of comforting their soul: where they are at now is not where they will end up. They might be shrouded in darkness. In continuous sin. Blaspheming the name of Christ and of the Father. Rejecting everything about the church (see ex-evangelical movement).
We see people, sons of Adam, fall in and out of sin. Lives are chaotic. We are not stable. But we are not the Holy Spirit. We are not the ones who was at work before we were born and is at work while we still breath God's air.
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
I cannot give you any assurance that your dad or your brother or your pastor will come back to Christ.
My only assurance is that if they belong to Christ they will end up with Christ. And not our circumstances, choices, sins, wickedness, and doubt and moments of disbelief with changing the overflowing heart of love and the Almighty power of the Triune God.
I say non-Calvinism ecause no one identifies their theology as Arminianism but they will be quick to point that they disagree with Calvinism. I bring this up briefly just to illustrate a point--so bear with me. I promise you we are not here to bring up debating points between Calvinism and Non-Calvinism.
17.2 Our God Saves: By His Will
The Text
Revelation 5:11–14 (CSB)
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.12 They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!
13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
The Chapter
This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
The Confession
God Saves By His Will Alone: This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 9:11–16 (CSB) For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau. What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
I need somebody, anybody to make it make sense. If you did not have the will to save yourself, how do you think your will is strong enough to take you all the way home to God. Spoiler alert: you are not strong enough. We are tiny. Weak and fragile. We don't just need a little power--we need someone who is able to save, has the power to save, and is willing to save. And that alone is the magnificent Triune God.
And this argument "if you didn't start it, you can't finish it" should be familiar to some of you. It is the entire book of Galatians. While Paul lays the bedrock of the gospel of Christ in letter to the Romans, he takes the Cliff's Notes version and doubles down in the Galatians.
Galatians 3:1–3 (CSB) You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?
Anytime you hear someone speaking of "We are saved by God but we must cooperate with God in our obedience for our sanctification." Tread carefully. They are about to embark on the Galatian heresy.
What God starts, God completes. For:
Philippians 1:6 (CSB) I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:28–30 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
God Saves By His Will Alone: flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him
Romans 5:9–10 (CSB) How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
John 14:19 (CSB) In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too.
If you take nothing from anything I have ever said or will ever say, take this to your heart: God has got you. God has got you and he is never letting go. Once more, Christ has got you and he is never letting go. You have the Almighty Father and the ALmighty Son with the double snatch grip upon your life. Do you think you can wiggle out of that? Do you think your sin, doubt, despair, anguish, falling to temptation, disqualification from public ministry, every stupid thing that has came out of our mouths, is going to loosen the infinite double grip clasp upon your life? Father has got you. The Son has got you. The Spirit seals the Father, Son and you together forever. Oh, right, I forgot--Spirit is Almighty.
And here is a quick theological lesson: THE LORD THY GOD DOES NOT CHANGE.
Malachi 3:6 (CSB) “Because I, the LORD, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
James 1:17 (CSB) Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Hebrews 13:8 (CSB) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
He is not like us--finicky, capricious, and whimsical. We change our minds all the time--"because my coffee is too hot"1 or life got too hard. All of the image bearers of God have made war with God.
What did God do? How did this Holy God respond when his creation collectively rebelled against him?
He sent his only begotten Son to die for us so that we would live with him.
God Saves By His Will Alone: the oath of God
Hebrews 6:17–18 (CSB) Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.
Hebrews 7:21 (CSB) but Jesus became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him, The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.”
From the start, God made a solemn vow publicly:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Which the plan was revealed all the way in revealing his Son, Jesus Christ. Turns to find out, God knew this was going to happen and was Almighty in his will to destined us to be saved.
Ephesians 1:3–6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
God Saves By His Will Alone: the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them
1 John 3:9 (CSB) Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because his seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God.
1 John 5:18 (CSB) We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the one who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
John 3:5 (CSB) Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
1 John 4:13 (CSB) This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
Romans 8:11 (CSB) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
The promise is this: Christ will save us from our sins forever.
God Saves By His Will Alone: and the nature of the covenant of grace
Jeremiah 32:40 (CSB) “I will make a permanent covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put fear of me in their hearts so they will never again turn away from me.
And God cannot sin. God cannot lie. God cannot break his promise. Once done is done. Once saved is saved. Once saved is always saved.
God Saves By His Will Alone: from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof
John 10:28–29 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
Remember who God is!
1689 Chapter 1 Part 1 - The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
In other words...
Psalm 90:2 (CSB) Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Isaiah 40:28 (CSB) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.
Isaiah 46:9–10 (CSB) Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Psalm 115:3 (CSB) Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
Psalm 135:6 (CSB) Whatever the LORD pleases he does in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.
Isaiah 14:24 (CSB) The LORD of Armies has sworn: As I have purposed, so it will be; as I have planned it, so it will happen.
God has set to save his people. God has executed the plan to save his people. God has saved his people. God is perfect and not one of us will be lost once found. We know this because all the promises, oaths, and vows of God have been perfectly answered in his Son, our only, only Lord Jesus Christ, the Worthy Lamb That Was Slain. For Holy, Holy, Holy is He!
That's me. I am a friggin' weenie.
17.3 Our God Saves: All in His Son
The Text
John 21:15–17 (CSB)
15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him.16 A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him.
17 He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.
The Chapter
And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
The Confession
Christ Saves: And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein
Matthew 26:70–74 (CSB) But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!” And again he denied it with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You really are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.” Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed,
Do I even need to read the Bible to you? Hebrews 11 gives us the "Hall of Fame of Faith" because they were so perfect in their walk with God.
Can you my tone? Did you catch the sarcasm? I hope so--I was laying it on pretty thick.1
Every single person listed in the Bible were wicked sinners before a mighty God. And sometimes, they will do something good and is our our depravity that makes point to that and say, "Good enough." No! All of us have fallen short of the glory of God.
Did you commit the first sin like Adam?
Did you counted among the wicked like Noah that was so continuously evil that God decided to wipe the earth clean?
Did you lie to God like Abraham? Did you pimp your wife out to save your own skin? Not once but twice?
Did you dress up your wife like a prostitute like Isaac?
Did you dress up like your older brother just to steal his inheritance like Jacob?
Did you pridefully brag about your dreams like Joseph?
Shall I continue?
Murder someone like Moses?
Any of us a prostitute like Rahab?
Hebrews 11:32-34 (CSB) And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
Christ Saves: whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit
Isaiah 64:5–9 (CSB) You welcome the one who joyfully does what is right; they remember you in your ways. But we have sinned, and you were angry. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins? All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. No one calls on your name, striving to take hold of you. For you have hidden your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity. Yet LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we all are the work of your hands. LORD, do not be terribly angry or remember our iniquity forever. Please look—all of us are your people!
Ephesians 4:30 (CSB) And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.
Every person born of Adam have sinned not just a little bit but grievously. The scale of the holiness of God is infinite. To sin damns us to hell. We have grieved the Holy Spirit because God is working at us and in us to his will and good pleasure. We have grieved the Holy Spirit because we have not been obedient to the will of God.
Christ Saves: come to have their graces and comforts impaired
Psalm 51:10–12 (CSB) God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
We are broken! We are fractured. We are not whole. We are born alive. There is no spirit within us at the time of our birth that sustains us and takes us all the way home to be with the Father.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Christ Saves: have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded
Psalm 32:3–4 (CSB) When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah
Psalm 73:21–22 (CSB) When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded, I was stupid and didn’t understand; I was an unthinking animal toward you.
Christ Saves: hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves
2 Samuel 12:14 (CSB) However, because you treated the LORD with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”
Christ Saves: yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end
Luke 22:32–62 (CSB)
32 But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”33 “Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
34 “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”
35 He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Not a thing,” they said.
36 Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one.
37 For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: And he was counted among the lawless. Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”
38 “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.” “That is enough!” he told them.
39 He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.
40 When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.”
41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray,
42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.
44 Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief.
46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”
47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him,
48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”
50 Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?
53 Every day while I was with you in the temple, you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour—and the dominion of darkness.”
54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance.
55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them.
56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.”
57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”
58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.” “Man, I am not!” Peter said.
59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
How is the Christ going to respond to Peter after he denied the Son of God three times? Betrayed by his closest friend. Left to die on the cross. How would the Living God, Son of God, the One True God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega respond to the sin of Peter and his wicked betrayal?
If this where the story stopped and we just had this much of the Bible--Old Testament plus Matthew, Mark, Luke to chapter 22, how would I know this was going to work out just based on the Old Testament?
Psalm 103:8–20 (CSB)
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.9 He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, all his angels of great strength, who do his word, obedient to his command.
God is compassionate for us. God is merciful to us. God has lavished his grace upon grace for us. God loves us. God has made a covenant with us. He knows we are sinful. He knows we are made from dust. He knows we are wicked! He knows this!
How does God respond to us?
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We were ungodly and wicked sinner. Christ came to die for us so that we would be saved to him forever.
God does this. Not you. Not your big faith. Not your little mud kingdom. Not what you do. But God. God alone is good and righteous. God alone is infinite, good, and just. He is love and the source of love. He is not just holy but holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
God alone has the right amount of power to save us and take us home. How much power does it take to save us? Almighty power.
Romans 1:16 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
The almighty, infinite power of God to save us from our sins is the gospel and it is the good news that Jesus Christ has finished the work of saving us from our sins.
"Get yourself a new map."
Chapter 18 Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
18.1 Here is Love: Certainly Assured by Christ
Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.
18.2 On the Mount of Crucifixion: We Are Washed Clean by the Blood of Christ
This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God; and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy.
18.3 Let Me All Thy Love Accepting: The Spirit is Given Freely to Us in Christ
This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it; yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto: and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; -so far is it from inclining men to looseness.
18.4 In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: We Can Never Be Separate From The Love of God in Christ
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light, yet are they never destitute of the seed of God and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived, and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.
18.1 Here is Love: Certainly Assured by Christ
The Text
1 John 4:10 (ESV) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The Chapter
Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.
The Confession
Here is Love: Although temporary believers and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God and in a state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish
Job 8:13–14 (CSB) Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish. His source of confidence is fragile; what he trusts in is a spider’s web.
Matthew 7:22–23 (CSB) On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
We have spoken of the power of God and the overflow from believers to unbelievers. To be honest, I cannot really explain this phenomenon. I just know it happens. Like in a high emotional, revival type atmosphere, passer-bys and onlookers might be curious, and get caught up in the excitement and don't want to miss out.
And before you think that I am going to bust on Charles Finley, or Billy Graham type revivals, I just think it is going to happen. If the gospel is the power of God in salvation to those who believe, then it is reasonable to think that something like salvation is so magnanimous and wonderful, it can't help but be fully attractive to anybody.
But we do not have to speculate or figure out how or why because the Lord Jesus Christ already said it was going to happen.
Matthew 13:18–23 (CSB)
18 “So listen to the parable of the sower:19 When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.
20 And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.
21 But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.
22 Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
23 But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”
Some people hear the gospel and it won't even faze them. They are not even stirred--not even a little bit. Some would say, "What? Are they dead?" Well, Ephesians 2:1 gives us any indication, we are all dead in our trespasses and sins.
But then Christ explains further: for some people, the gospel is a joy to hear--it is, after all, the good news. They love it for a moment but when real life comes their way, they let go of the good news and be moved by the world.
For some, it is the distress, worries, doubt, disbelief or the temptations of this world that makes them forget the good news.
But God's people, to the ones whom he has given a new heart and his Spirit--that good soil--the gospel takes root and grows and produces fruit.
What did the Christ preached? You must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God.
Salvation is a complete, perfect, whole supernatural work of God. No exceptions.
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
Here is Love: yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God
1 John 2:3 (CSB) This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.
1 John 3:14–24 (CSB) We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows all things. Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight. Now this is his command: that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he has given us.
1 John 5:13 (CSB) I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Our good works do not prove our salvation. If that be the case, then the bar for salvation is set abysmally low. What do I mean by that? If we are saved by our good works, then each person born of Adam can fake it just long enough to fool his neighbor, their kids, or even their spouse for a moment. It is mankinds' proclivity to do the bare minimum just to get by--that looks different depending on the person--just to look righteous. Yet, God calls those works of righteousness filthy rags. They are useless to him.
Why is that? Because sees and knows the heart. God knew our wicked, depraved hearts.
Jeremiah 17:9–10 (CSB) The heart is deceitful above all things and incurable—who can understand it? I, the LORD, examine the mind, I test the heart to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.
God saw and knew our hearts. He knew that we were unable to save ourselves and because of the depths of our wickedness, we don't want to save us. In your born state, you did not want to do save yourself--you just want to do what you want to do. Me too. I am right there with you. All I wanted was to look at porn all time, numb out my feelings, sacrifice all of my relationships, die and go straight to hell.
But God.
Here is Love: which hope shall never make them ashamed
God knew and did something about it.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God knew our hearts and actually did something about it. Who has free will but God alone.
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
God knew our wickedness and made unbreakable covenant with his Son:
Ephesians 1:3–14 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
God knew the depths of our depravity and he fixed it all by sending his only begotten Son!
Ephesians 2:4–10 (CSB) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
God knew us and he perfectly saved us.
Romans 5:2–5 (CSB) We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
We get to boast because the Christ has us! Christ has us, the Father has made his home in us, and the Spirit dwells in us. We have the Triune God! We have the fullness of God! We have the presence of God with us! We are his Beloved and he is ours!
Psalms 23:6 (CSB) Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live.
The Song of Praise
Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as the flood;
When the Prince of Life my ransom,
Shed for me His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He shall never be forgotten,
Through heav’n’s everlasting days.1
William Rees, “Here is Love,” 1876.
18.2 On the Mount of Crucifixion: We Are Washed Clean by the Blood of Christ
The Text
Revelation 12:10-12 (CSB)
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say,
The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Christ
have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them
before our God day and night,
has been thrown down.
They conquered him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
for they did not love their lives
to the point of death.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them!
Woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has come down to you
with great fury,
because he knows his time is short.
The Chapter
This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God; and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy.
The Confession
On the Mount of Crucifixion: This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith
Hebrews 6:11–19 (CSB) Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
Romans 8:23-25 (CSB) Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
This faith is grounded not upon well-wishing nor senseless hope nor the conjuring up of a positive attitude, but upon the historic life and death and resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To do deny the historicity of Christ is a fool's errand. Not even the staunchest, most militant atheist would deny the existance of Jesus of Nazareth. It would be the equivalent of saying the earth is flat. No one wants to be foolish.
So this faith and hope is grounded upon, based upon, rooted in, centered upon and the object is Jesus Christ. Let me take one further step: we are not saved upon the faith in Christ but in Christ. Do you get the distinction? So many people want to believe--to believe in believe. But just to believe is not enough. We believe in Christ Jesus because God gave us the faith to believe in his Son so would not perish but have everlasting life.
On the Mount of Crucifixion: founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel
Hebrews 6:17–18 (CSB) Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 10:22-23 (CSB) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.
Sounds familiar?
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Look at what God has done in his Son, Jesus Christ, for you. He has shed his blood and you are covered with his righteousness alone.
Do you see? You cannot simply believe in believe but you must trust the Risen Lord. How do you trust Him? How can we do this since we are infinitely far from God and we cannot work not one good deed to move one step closer to his glory. How can we do this?
On the Mount of Crucifixion: and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made
2 Peter 1:4–11 (CSB) By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
You must be born again.
Romans 10:13 (CSB) For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
All have been command to repent of sins and call upon the name of Jesus. But all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
For you to repent and trust in Christ, you must be born again. You must be made new. You must be sprinkled clean by God. You must be given a new heart by God. You must be given the Holy Spirit by God. Then and only then can you come to the Father!
That is why what Christ said was such a locked in guarantee:
Luke 11:9-13 (CSB) “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
If you turn from your sins, turn to God, run to God, and ask for God, you are going to get God. I am not the guarantee of such of a promise but the Son of God who is God is the guarantee of such a promise--the object of our faith!
He says you are going to get God every time! Why? You are a son of God!
On the Mount of Crucifixion: and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God
Romans 8:15–16 (CSB) For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,
You belong to God our Father--the Father of lights who will not change his mind about you. Never!
James 1:17-18 (CSB) Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
On the Mount of Crucifixion: and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy
1 John 3:1–3 (CSB) See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him. Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.
You want to know how you know you are saved? You believe and trust in Christ. You understand his precious word. You repent of your sins.
And you might push back and reply, "Yea, but I am not perfect in these things. I don't perfectly repent of my sins because I keep committing the same sins. I read the Bible but not often and I don't understand it fully. I believe in the Christ; help me with my unbelief!"
I know you are not perfect in these things that we have been commanded to do! We were born sons of Adam. God knows all things and God already knew this about you and me. He knows we are made of dust and he took pity on us. If it was up to us to get to him, we would perish along the way.
That is why he sent his only begotten Son to live and die, and sent his Spirit raise us from the dead and give us life, and the Father gives us mercy and adopts us into his family.
I am a great, great sinner and Christ is the perfect Savior of my soul and the lover of my heart forevermore.
The Song of Praise
On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Thro’ the flood gates of God’s mercy
Flow’d the vast and gracious tide;
Grace and love like mighty rivers
Pour’d incessant from above,
And heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.1
William Rees, “Here is Love,” 1876.
18.3 Let Me All Thy Love Accepting: The Spirit is Given Freely to Us in Christ
The Text
John 3:31-36 (CSB) The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony. The one who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true. For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
The Chapter
This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it; yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto: and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; -so far is it from inclining men to looseness.
The Confession
Let Me All Thy Love Accepting: This infallible assurance does not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and struggle with many difficulties before he be partaker of it
Isaiah 50:10 (CSB) Who among you fears the LORD and listens to his servant? Who among you walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.
Psalm 88 (CSB)
A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.1 LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out before you day and night.
2 May my prayer reach your presence; listen to my cry.
3 For I have had enough troubles, and my life is near Sheol.
4 I am counted among those going down to the Pit. I am like a man without strength,
5 abandoned among the dead. I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom you no longer remember, and who are cut off from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit, in the darkest places, in the depths.
7 Your wrath weighs heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah
8 You have distanced my friends from me; you have made me repulsive to them. I am shut in and cannot go out.
9 My eyes are worn out from crying. LORD, I cry out to you all day long; I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise you? Selah
11 Will your faithful love be declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Will your wonders be known in the darkness or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
13 But I call to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer meets you.
14 LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me?
15 From my youth, I have been suffering and near death. I suffer your horrors; I am desperate.
16 Your wrath sweeps over me; your terrors destroy me.
17 They surround me like water all day long; they close in on me from every side.
18 You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me; darkness is my only friend.
Psalm 77:1–12 (CSB)
1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.2 I sought the Lord in my day of trouble. My hands were continually lifted up all night long; I refused to be comforted.
3 I think of God; I groan; I meditate; my spirit becomes weak. Selah
4 You have kept me from closing my eyes; I am troubled and cannot speak.
5 I consider days of old, years long past.
6 At night I remember my music; I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders.
7 “Will the Lord reject forever and never again show favor?
8 Has his faithful love ceased forever? Is his promise at an end for all generations?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Selah
10 So I say, “I am grieved that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”
11 I will remember the LORD’s works; yes, I will remember your ancient wonders.
12 I will reflect on all you have done and meditate on your actions.
Let Me All Thy Love Accepting: yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto
1 John 4:13 (CSB) This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
Hebrews 6:11–12 (CSB) Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Let Me All Thy Love Accepting: and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance
Romans 5:1–5 (CSB) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 14:17 (CSB) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 119:32 (CSB) I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding.
Let Me All Thy Love Accepting: so far is it from inclining men to looseness
Romans 6:1-2 (CSB) What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Titus 2:11–14 (CSB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
The Song of Praise
Let me all Thy love accepting,
Love Thee ever all my days;
Let me seek Thy Kingdom only
And my life be to Thy praise;
Thou alone shalt be my glory;
Nothing in the world I see:
Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me;
Thou Thyself hast set me free.1
William Rees, “Here is Love,” 1876.
18.4 In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: We Can Never Be Separate From The Love of God in Christ
The Text
Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Chapter
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light, yet are they never destitute of the seed of God and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived, and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.
The Confession
In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it
Song of Solomon 5:2–6 (CSB) I was sleeping, but my heart was awake. A sound! My love was knocking! Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. For my head is drenched with dew, my hair with droplets of the night. I have taken off my clothing. How can I put it back on? I have washed my feet. How can I get them dirty? My love thrust his hand through the opening, and my feelings were stirred for him. I rose to open for my love. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt. I opened to my love, but my love had turned and gone away. My heart sank because he had left. I sought him, but did not find him. I called him, but he did not answer.
In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: by falling into some special sin which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit
Psalm 51:8–14 (CSB) Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: by some sudden or vehement temptation
Psalm 116:11 (CSB) In my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”
Psalm 77:7–8 (CSB) “Will the Lord reject forever and never again show favor? Has his faithful love ceased forever? Is his promise at an end for all generations?
Psalm 31:22 (CSB) In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to you for help.
In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light
Psalm 30:7 (CSB) LORD, when you showed your favor, you made me stand like a strong mountain; when you hid your face, I was terrified.
In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: yet are they never destitute of the seed of God
1 John 3:9 (CSB) Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because his seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God.
In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: and life of faith
Luke 22:32 (CSB) But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived
Psalm 42:5–11 (CSB) Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God. I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your billows have swept over me. The LORD will send his faithful love by day; his song will be with me in the night— a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?” My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they say to me, “Where is your God?” Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.
In Thy Truth Thou Dost Direct Me: and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.
Lamentations 3:26–31 (CSB) It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young. Let him sit alone and be silent, for God has disciplined him. Let him put his mouth in the dust— perhaps there is still hope. Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with disgrace. For the Lord will not reject us forever.
TODO: Romans 8 🍖
The Song of Praise
In Thy truth Thou dost direct me
By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;
And Thy grace my need is meeting,
As I trust in Thee, my Lord.
All Thy fullness Thou art pouring
In Thy love and power in me
Without measure, full and boundless,
As I yield myself to Thee.1
William Rees, “Here is Love,” 1876.
Chapter 19 Of the Law of God
God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.
The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables, the four first containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man.
Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties, all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation, are, by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only law-giver, who was furnished with power from the Father for that end abrogated and taken away.
To them also he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that institution; their general equity only being of moral use.
The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof, and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither doth Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.
Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned, yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts, and lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against, sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to shew what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse and unallayed rigour thereof. The promises of it likewise shew them God's approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works; so as man's doing good and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law and not under grace.
Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done.
Chapter 20 Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance; in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and is therein effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.
This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God; neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way; much less that men destitute of the revelation of Him by the promise or gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.
The revelation of the gospel unto sinners, made in divers times and by sundry parts, with the addition of promises and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the nations and persons to whom it is granted, is merely of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God; not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it, which none ever did make, or can do so; and therefore in all ages, the preaching of the gospel has been granted unto persons and nations, as to the extent or straitening of it, in great variety, according to the counsel of the will of God.
Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life; without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.
Chapter 21 Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigour and curse of the law, and in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin, from the evil of afflictions, the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave, and ever- lasting damnation: as also in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and willing mind. All which were common also to believers under the law for the substance of them; but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke of a ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church was subjected, and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his word, or not contained in it. So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring of an implicit faith, an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason also.
They who upon pretence of Christian liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinful lust, as they do thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the gospel to their own destruction, so they wholly destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righeousness before Him, all the days of our lives.
Chapter 22 Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
The light of nature shews that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and doth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.
Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him alone; not to angels, saints, or any other creatures; and since the fall, not without a mediator, nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.
Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men. But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, according to his will; with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known tongue.
Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.
The reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord's supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.
Neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the gospel, tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth; as in private families daily, and in secret each one by himself; so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God by his word or providence calleth thereunto.
As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the
world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's day: and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.
The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.
Chapter 23 Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth, and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof.
The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred; yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken.
Whosoever taketh an oath warranted by the Word of God, ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be truth; for that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns.
An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation.
A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness; but popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.
Chapter 24 Of the Civil Magistrate
God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for his own glory and the public good; and to this end hath armed them with the power of the sword, for defence and encouragement of them that do good, and for the punishment of evil doers.
It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate when called there unto; in the management whereof, as they ought especially to maintain justice and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each kingdom and commonwealth, so for that end they may lawfully now, under the New Testament wage war upon just and necessary occasions.
Civil magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid; subjection, in all lawful things commanded by them, ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake; and we ought to make supplications and prayers for kings and all that are in authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.
Chapter 25 Of Marriage
Marriage is to be between one man and one woman; neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.
Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and the preventing of uncleanness.
It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent; yet it is the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord; and therefore such as profess the true religion, should not marry with infidels, or idolaters; neither should such as are godly, be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresy.
Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity, forbidden in the Word; nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful, by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.
Chapter 26 Of the Church
The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it, not destroying their own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or unholiness of conversation, are and may be called visible saints; and of such ought all particular congregations to be constituted. ( 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 11:26; Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:20-22
The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan; nevertheless Christ always hath had, and ever shall have a kingdom in this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe in him, and make profession of his name.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.
The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.
To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he hath given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.
A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers
and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons.
The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein; and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.
The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in his churches, in the ministry of the word and prayer, with watching for their souls, as they that must give an account to Him; it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to communicate to them of all their good things according to their ability, so as they may have a comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in secular affairs; and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards others; and this is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches, to be instant in preaching the word, by way of office, yet the work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform it.
As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ.
No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.
As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.
In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration, wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace, union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do, by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advice in or about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not intrusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers.
Chapter 27 Of the Communion of Saints
All saints that are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith, although they are not made thereby one person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory; and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.
Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things according to their several abilities, and necessities; which communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein they stand, whether in families, or churches, yet, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended to all the household of faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus; nevertheless their communion one with another as saints, doth not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
Chapter 28 Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution, appointed by the Lord Jesus, the only lawgiver, to be continued in his church to the end of the world.
These holy appointments are to be administered by those only who are qualified and thereunto called, according to the commission of Christ.
Chapter 29 Of Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.
The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.
Chapter 30 Of the Lord's Supper
The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night wherein he was betrayed, to be observed in his churches, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death, confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and growth in him, their further engagement in, and to all duties which they owe to him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other.
In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the quick or dead, but only a memorial of that one offering up of himself by himself upon the cross, once for all; and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God for the same. So that the popish sacrifice of the mass, as they call it, is most abominable, injurious to Christ's own sacrifice the alone propitiation for all the sins of the elect.
The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his ministers to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to a holy use, and to take and break the bread; to take the cup, and, they communicating also themselves, to give both to the communicants.
The denial of the cup to the people, worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and reserving them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of this ordinance, and to the institution of Christ.
The outward elements in this ordinance, duly set apart to the use ordained by Christ, have such relation to him crucified, as that truly, although in terms used figuratively, they are sometimes called by the names of the things they represent, to wit, the body and blood of Christ, albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.
That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ's body and blood, commonly called transubstantiation, by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason, overthroweth the nature of the ordinance, and hath been, and is, the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries.
Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this ordinance, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death; the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally, but spiritually present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses.
All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ, so are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot, without great sin against him, while they remain such, partake of these holy
mysteries, or be admitted thereunto; yea, whosoever shall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment to themselves.
Chapter 31 Of the State of Man after Death and Of the Resurrection of the Dead
The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are received into paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day; besides these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
At the last day, such of the saints as are found alive, shall not sleep, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none other; although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.
The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.
Chapter 32 Of the Last Judgment
God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ; to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.
The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments, and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity, so will he have the day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may ever be prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.
1680 An Orthodox Catechism: Being the Sum of Christian Religion, Contained in the Law and Gospel
by Hercules Collins
- Copyright & Reprint Information
- Dedication
- Foreword
- Preface
- Human Misery (Lessons 2 – 4)
- Deliverance (Lessons 5-8)
- Lesson 5 (Q. 12 -15)
- Question 12 According to God's righteous judgment we deserve punishment both in this world and forever after: how then can we escape this punishment and return to God's favor?
- Question 13 Can we pay this debt ourselves?
- Question 1 4: Can another creature--any at all--pay this debt for us?
- Question 15 What kind of mediator and deliverer should we look for then?
- Lesson 6 (Q. 16 -19)
- Lesson 7 (Q. 20 -23)
- Lesson 8 (Q. 24 -25)
- Lesson 5 (Q. 12 -15)
- God the Father (Lessons 9-10)
- God the Son (Lessons 11 -19 )
- Lesson 11 (Q. 29 -30)
- Lesson 12 (Q. 31 -32)
- Lesson 13 (Q. 33 -34)
- Lesson 14 (Q. 35 -36)
- Lesson 15 (Q. 37 -39)
- Lesson 16 (Q. 40 -44)
- Question 40 Why did Christ have to go all the way to death?
- Question 41 Why was he "buried"?
- Question 42 Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die?
- Question 43 What further advantage do we receive from Christ's sacrifice and death on the cross?
- Question 44 Why does the creed add, "He descended to hell"?
- Lesson 17 (Q. 45)
- Lesson 18 (Q. 46 -49)
- Question 46 What do you mean by saying, "He ascended to heaven"?
- Question 47 But isn't Christ with us until the end of the world as he promised us?
- Question 48 If his humanity is not present wherever his divinity is, then aren't the two natures of Christ separated from each other?
- Question 49 How does Christ's ascension to heaven benefit us?
- Lesson 19 (Q. 50 -52)
- Lesson 19 (Q. 50 -52)
- God the Holy Spirit (Lessons 20 -24 )
- Lesson 20 (Q. 53)
- Lesson 21 (Q. 54 -56)
- Lesson 22 (Q. 57 -58)
- Lesson 23 (Q. 59 -61)
- Lesson 24 (Q. 62 -64)
- Question 62 Why can't the good we do make us right with God, or at least help make us right with him?
- Question 63 How can you say that the good we do doesn't earn anything when God promises to reward it in this life and the next?
- Question 64 But doesn't this teaching make people indifferent and wicked?
- Lesson 25 (Q. 65 -68)
- Question 65 It is by faith alone that we share in Christ and all his blessings: where then does that faith come from?
- Question 66 What are sacraments?
- Question 67 Are both the word and the sacraments then intended to focus our faith on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?
- Question 68 How many sacraments did Christ institute in the New Testament?
- Baptism (Lessons 26-28)
- Lesson 26 (Q. 69 -74)
- Question 69 What is Baptism?
- Question 70 Who are the proper Subjects of this Ordinance?
- Question 71 Should infants, too, be baptized?
- Question 72 Does the Scriptures forbid the Baptism of Infants?
- Question 73 May not the infant children of believers under the Gospel be baptized since the infant descendants of Abraham were circumcised under the Law?
- Question 74 If the infant children of believers are in the Covenant of Grace with their parents, as some say, why may they not be baptized under the Gospel, as well as Abraham's infant descendants were circumcised under the Law?
- Lesson 27 (Q. 75 -77)
- Question 75 How does baptism remind you and assure you that Christ's one sacrifice on the cross is for you personally?
- Question 76 What does it mean to be washed with Christ's blood and Spirit?
- Question 77 Where does Christ promise that we are washed with his blood and Spirit as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism?
- Lesson 28 (Q. 78 -79)
- Lesson 26 (Q. 69 -74)
- Of the Lord’s Supper (Lessons 29 -32)
- Lesson 29 (Q. 80 -82)
- Question 80 How does the Lord's Supper remind you and assure you that you share in Christ's one sacrifice on the cross and in all his gifts?
- Question 81 What does it mean to eat the crucified body of Christ and to drink his poured-out blood?
- Question 82 Where does Christ promise to nourish and refresh believers with his body and blood as surely as they eat this broken bread and drink this cup?
- Lesson 30 (Q. 83 -84)
- Lesson 31 (Q. 85 -88)
- Question 85 How does the Lord's Supper differ from the Roman Catholic Mass?
- Question 86 Who are to come to the Lord's table?
- Question 87 Are those to be admitted to the Lord's Supper who show by what they say and do that they are unbelieving and ungodly?
- Question 88 How should this Ordinance of the Lord's Supper be closed?
- Lesson 32 (Q. 89 -91)
- Lesson 29 (Q. 80 -82)
- Gratitude (Lessons 33 -45 )
- Lesson 33 (Q. 92 -93)
- Lesson 34 (Q. 94 -97)
- Lesson 35 (Q. 98 -105)
- Question 98 What is the Law of God?
- Question 99 How are these commandments divided?
- Question 100 What is the Preface to the ten Commandments?
- Question 101 What do we learn from the Preface?
- Question 102 Do these things belong to us?
- Question 103 What is the first Commandment?
- Question 104 What does the Lord require in the first commandment?
- Question 105 What is idolatry?
- Lesson 36 (Q. 106 -109)
- Lesson 37 (Q. 110 -112)
- Lesson 38 (Q. 113 -114)
- Lesson 39 (Q. 115 -116)
- Lesson 40 (Q. 117 -118)
- Lesson 41 (Q. 119 -122)
- Lesson 42 (Q. 123 -125)
- Lesson 43 (Q. 126 -128)
- Lesson 44 (Q. 129-130)
- Lesson 4 5 (Q. 131 -134)
- Question 131 What is the tenth Commandment
- Question 132 What is God's will for you in the tenth commandment?
- Question 133 But can those converted to God obey these commandments perfectly?
- Question 134 No one in this life can obey the Ten Commandments perfectly: why then does God want them preached so pointedly?
- Of Prayer (Lessons 46-53)
Copyright & Reprint Information
Copyright © 2014
Reformed Baptist Faith & Family Ministry
Typesetting and cover design.
Printed in the United States of America.
Reformed Baptist Faith & Family Ministry
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Dedication
The reprinting of this Catechism is dedicated to all the Christian parents who earnestly desire to fulfill one of the noblest duties given to their life – raising their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. May the Lord bless your labors, according to the riches of His mercy and grace.
Foreword
I wish to express my gratitude toward a dear Christian brother and friend; pastor Steve Weaver. It was he who first introduced me to this wonderful catechism by Hercules Collins, a seventeenth century Particular Baptist pastor who also was a signer of the 1677/1689 Baptist Confession of faith.1
This catechism, much like the 1689 Baptist Confession and the 1693 Baptist Catechism demonstrates the congeniality that these Baptist Puritans shared with their reformed, protestant contemporaries in the Christian faith. By utilizing the Heidelberg Catechism, Collins remains within the stream of the reformed tradition while expressing his own conviction of believer’s baptism.
It is our desire that this catechism along with the 1689 Baptist Confession of faith and the 1693 Baptist Catechism authored by Williams Collins (no relation to Hercules Collins) would once again be utilized in the evangelizing, teaching and training of the children in our churches and homes. That they would, as in the past, aid our churches in preserving those precious truths that are “most surely believed amongst us”.
Parents and grandparents, gather the children in your life around, and together explore through the questions and answers offered in the Catechism. Read the proof texts and then add your own as the Spirit leads your time together. Allow me to offer a small bit of advice, be certain to record the date you read and discuss a question, also jot down any additional thoughts or scriptures each child may contribute. This will allow you to observe through the years how they have grown in their understanding of the material. When done daily, a solid and biblical foundation will begin to be established in the hearts and minds of your children. In time and according to God’s plans, they will be equipped to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Your affectionate servant in Christ,
D.W. Barger
Preface
Unto the Church of Christ, who upon Confession of Faith have been Baptized, Meeting in Old-Gravel Lane London, Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied unto you, and the good will of him which dwelt in the Bush be with your Spirits, Amen.
Dearly Beloved,
Forasmuch as there is but a small time allotted unto any of us in this World, and not knowing but my staff standeth next the door ready to depart, I am desirous in this respect so to bestow my precious and present time in my Lord's business, as I may not return to him with my talent wrapped up in a napkin, but may leave behind me some poor token and testimony of my love and duty towards Him, and his blessed spouse the Church.
And forasmuch as the day we live in is very gloomy and dark, full of Error and Heresy, which spreads more and more (through the indefatigable endeavors of the maintainers of it) like an overflowing leprosy, and eateth as doth a canker.
Also considering it is a day of great declension in love to God and one to another also, from those gospel truths, the least of which is more worth then our lives: all which may give God just cause to say to England's Professors, as once to Israel, “What iniquity have your fathers found in Me that they are gone away far from me? As if God should say, “Am I not the same as ever in Power, Goodness, Faithfulness? is not My Word and Ordinances the same, yea my Promises and Heaven the same now as ever?”
Now that you may not be shaken, shattered and carried away with every wind and blast, every puff and breath of Error, and Heresy; also that you may be the better established, strengthened, and settled on that sure Rock and Foundation of Salvation, Christ's Merits, in opposition to the poor imperfect works of an impotent creature; also settled on the foundation of church-constitution, on which you are already built, through the grace of God which stirred you up to search the divine oracle, and Rule of Divine service, as Ezra and Nehemiah searched into the particular parts of God's worship, by which means they came to the practice of that almost lost ordinance of God, the Feast of Tabernacles, which for many years was not practiced after the due order, though a general notion was retained about it; I say, under these considerations, I have in charitable regard to your souls, presented you with this small (but I am bold to say) sound piece of divinity, which may not unsuitably be styled an abridgment, or epitome2 of law and gospel, suited to every ones capacity in God's house. Here is milk for babes, and meat for strong men. It may not unsuitably be compared to the waters of the sanctuary, where some may go up to the ankles, others to the
knees, others to the loins, and they are deep enough for others to swim in. Here you are not only taught to be good Christians, but good moralists, the wane of which among them that have the leaves and lamps of profession (as it is to be feared such have little more) is of a heart-breaking consideration to many that desire to walk with God.
Now albeit here may be many things which some of you may know already, yet unto such those things I hope will be acceptable as St. Peter's epistles were to the scattered Saints, though they knew much of the matter before, yet I dare say here is some things which may be for information as well as establishment to the most knowing among you.
I have not undertaken to present you with new notions or principles, hoping an Athenian Spirit is in none of you, but do believe that an old gospel (to you that have tasted the sweetness of it) will be more acceptable than a new, though published by an angel from Heaven.
In what I have written you will see I concenter with the most orthodox divines in the fundamental principles and articles of the Christian faith, and also have industriously expressed them in the same words, which have on the like occasion been spoken, only differing in some things about church-constitution, wherein I have taken a little pains to show you the true form of God's house, with the coming in thereof, and the going out thereof.
But I hope my zeal in this will not be misinterpreted by any that truly fear God. That God whom we serve is very jealous of his worship; and forasmuch as by His providence the Law of His house hath been preserved and continued to us, we look upon it as our duty in our generation to be searching out the mind of God in His holy oracle, as Ezra and Nehemiah did the feast of Tabernacles, and to reform what is amiss, As Hezekiah, who took a great deal of pains to cleanse the House of God, and set all things in order, that were out of order, particularly caused the people to keep the Passover according to the institution. For it had not, saith the text, been of a long time kept in such sort as it was written. And albeit the pure institutions of Christ were not for some hundreds of years practiced according to the due order, or very little through the innovations of antichrist; and as circumcision for about forty years was unpracticed in the wilderness, yet as Joshua puts this duty in practice as soon as God signified his mind in that particular, so we having our judgments informed about the true way of Worship, do not dare to stifle the Light God hath given us.
Now albeit there are some differences between many godly divines and us in church constitution, yet inasmuch as those things are not the essence of Christianity, but that we do agree in the fundamental doctrine thereof, there is sufficient ground to lay aside all bitterness and prejudice, and labor to maintain a spirit of love each to other, knowing we shall never see all alike here. We find in the primitive times that the baptism of Christ was not universally know. Witness the ignorance of Apollos that eminent disciple and minister, which know only the baptism of John. And if God shall enlighten any into any truth, which they shall stifle for base and unwarrantable ends, know that it is God must judge, and not man. And wherein we cannot concur, let us leave that to the coming of Christ Jesus, as they did their difficult cases in the Church of old until there did arise a priest with Urim and Thummin, that might certainly inform them of the mind of God thereabout.
I have proposed three creeds to your consideration, which ought thoroughly to be believed and embraced by all those that would be accounted Christians, viz. the Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, and the Creed commonly called the Apostles.
The last of which contains the sum of the Gospel, which is industriously opened and explained. And I beseech you do not slight it because of its form, nor antiquity, nor because supposed to be composed by men; neither because some that hold it maintain some errors, or whose conversation may not be correspondent to such fundamental principles of salvation; but take this for a perpetual rule, that whatever is good in any, owned by any, whatever error or vice it may be mixed withal, the good must not be rejected for the error or vice sake, but owned, commended, and accepted. Here is also in the close of the Book a brief, but full exposition of that prayer Christ taught His disciples. Also, the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments unfolded.
Now forasmuch as I have taken a great deal of pains in gathering these broken fragments together for your utility and profit, I hope you will take a little pains to read it, and more to live it; and I pray do it seriously and observingly. Reade it humbly and frequently, read it with prayer and meditation, then am I sure thou who art a true Christian wilt love it more & more.
And as you love your own souls, love your children’s, and declare it in praying for them, as Job did for his, and instructing them as Abraham did his, also winning them to good by a good example. And that this book may be of advantage to youth as well as others, it is catechistically handled for their easier learning the principles of Christian religion, that so they being seasoned with the true articles of Christian Faith, may not so easily be tainted with the sentiments of men of corrupt minds in time of temptation. And it is heartily desired that parents, especially professing ones, were more concerned for the everlasting welfare of their children, as David was for Solomon, when he charged him near his death to keep the commandments and judgments of God above all. And if Parents would but conscientiously read those Divine oracles which hold forth their duty to their children, it would doubtless be to them of great advantage.
As for this that I have presented to public view, I beg the reader’s kind indulgence as to the faults escaped therein. And for those whom the Lord hath committed to my charge, that the eternal God may be your refuge, and underneath you everlasting arms; that Grace may be opened to your hearts, and your hearts to grace; that the blessing of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob may be upon you, and the eternal Spirit may be with you, shall be the prayer of your unworthy brother, but more unworthy pastor,
H.C.
Lesson 1
Question 1 What is your only comfort in life and in death?
Answer:
That I am not my own, 1 but belong–body and soul, in life and in death 2 to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. 3 He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,4 and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.5 He also watches over me in such a way 6 that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven7 in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.8 Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life9 and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.10
1 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 2 Romans 14:7-9 3 1 Corinthians 3:23 Titus 2: 4 1 Peter 1:18-19 1 John 1:7-9 1 John 2: 5 John 8:34-36 Hebrews 2:14-15 1 John 3:1-11 6 John 6:39-40 John 10:27-30 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Peter 1: 7 Matthew 10:29 Luke 21:16-18 8 Romans 8: 9 Romans 8:15-16 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 2 Corinthians 5:5 Ephesians 1:13-14 10 Romans 8:1-17
Question 2 What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?
Answer:
Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are;1 second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery;2 third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.3
1 Romans 3:9-10 1 John 1: 2 John 17:3 Acts 4: 3 Matthew 5:16 Romans 6:13 Ephesians 5:8-10; 2 Timothy 2:15 1 Peter 2:9-10
Human Misery (Lessons 2 – 4)
Lesson 2 (Q.3-5)
Question 3 How do you come to know your misery?
Answer:
The law of God tells me. 1
1 Romans 3:20 Romans 7:7-25
Question 4 What does God's law require of us?
Answer:
Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22:37-40 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.1 This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 2 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
1 Deuteronomy 6: 2 Leviticus 19:
Question 5 Can you live up to all this perfectly?
Answer:
No. I have a natural tendency to hate God 1 and my neighbor.2
1 Romans 3:9-20, 23 1 John 1:8, 10 2 Genesis 6:5 Jeremiah 17:9 Romans 7:23-24 Romans 8:7 Ephesians 2:1-3 Titus 3:
Lesson 3 (Q.6-8)
Question 6 Did God create people so wicked and perverse?
Answer:
No. God created them good 1 and in his own image, 2 that is, in true righteousness and holiness, 3 so that they might truly know God their creator, 4 love him with all their heart, and live with him in eternal happiness for his praise and glory. 5
1 Genesis 1: 2 Genesis 1:26-27 3 Ephesians 4: 4 Colossians 3: 5 Psalms 8:1-9
Question 7 Then where does this corrupt human nature come from?
Answer:
From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise.1 This fall has so poisoned our nature 2 that we are born sinners–corrupt from conception on. 3
1 Genesis 3:1-24 2 Romans 5:12 Romans 5:18-19 3 Psalms 51:
Question 8 But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil?
Answer:
Yes,1 unless we are born again, by the Spirit of God. 2
1 Genesis 6:5 Genesis 8:21 Job 14:4 Isaiah 53: 2 John 3:3-5
Lesson 4 (Q.9-11 )
Question 9 But doesn't God do us an injustice by requiring in his law what we are unable to do?
Answer:
No, God created humans with the ability to keep the law.1 They, however, tempted by the devil,2 in reckless disobedience,3 robbed themselves and all their descendants of these gifts.4
1 Gen. 1:31; Eph. 4: 2 Gen. 3:13; John 8: 3 Gen. 3: 4 Rom. 5:12, 18, 19
Question 10 Will God permit such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?
Answer:
Certainly not. He is terribly angry about the sin we are born with as well as the sins we personally commit. As a just judge he punishes them now and in eternity.1 He has declared: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.2
1 Ex. 34:7; Ps. 5:4-6; Nah. 1:2; Rom. 1:18; Eph. 5:6; Heb. 9: 2 Gal. 3:10; Deut. 27:
Question 11 But isn't God also merciful?
Answer:
God is certainly merciful, 1 but he is also just.2 His justice demands that sin, committed against his supreme majesty, be punished with the supreme penalty--eternal punishment of body and soul.3
1 Ex. 34:6-7; Ps. 103:8-9 2 Ex. 34:7; Deut. 7:9-11; Ps. 5:4-6; Heb. 10:30-31 3 Matt. 25:35-46
Deliverance (Lessons 5-8)
Lesson 5 (Q. 12 -15)
Question 12 According to God's righteous judgment we deserve punishment both in this world and forever after: how then can we escape this punishment and return to God's favor?
Answer:
God requires that his justice be satisfied.1 Therefore the claims of his justice must be paid in full, either by ourselves or another. 2
1 Ex. 23:7; Rom. 2:1-11 2 Isa. 53:11; Rom. 8:3-4
Question 13 Can we pay this debt ourselves?
Answer:
Certainly not. Actually, we increase our guilt every day.1
1 Matt. 6:12; Rom. 2:4-5
Question 1 4: Can another creature--any at all--pay this debt for us?
Answer:
No. To begin with, God will not punish another creature for what a human is guilty of.1 Besides, no mere creature can bear the weight of God's eternal anger against sin and release others from it.2
1 Ezek. 18:4, 20; Heb. 2:14-18 2 Ps. 49:7-9; 130:3
Question 15 What kind of mediator and deliverer should we look for then?
Answer:
One who is truly human1 and truly righteous,2 yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, one who is also true God.3
1 Rom. 1:3; 1 Cor. 15:21; Heb. 2:17 2 Isa. 53:9; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 7:26 3 Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Jer. 23:6; John 1:1
Lesson 6 (Q. 16 -19)
Question 16 Why must he be truly human and truly righteous?
Answer:
God's justice demands that human nature, which has sinned, must pay for its sin;1 but a sinner could never pay for others.2
1 Rom. 5:12, 15; 1 Cor. 15:21; Heb. 2:14-16 2 Heb. 7:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:18
Question 17 Why must he also be true God?
Answer:
So that, by the power of his divinity, he might bear the weight of God's anger in his humanity and earn for us and restore to us righteousness and life.1
1 Isa. 53; John 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:21
Question 18 And who is this mediator--true God and at the same time truly human and truly righteous?
Answer:
Our Lord Jesus Christ,1 who was given us to set us completely free and to make us right with God.2
1 Matt. 1:21-23; Luke 2:11; 1 Tim. 2:5 2 1 Cor. 1:30
Question 19 How do you come to know this?
Answer:
The holy gospel tells me. God himself began to reveal the gospel already in Paradise;1 later, he proclaimed it by the holy patriarchs2 and prophets,3 and portrayed it by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law;4 finally, he fulfilled it through his own dear Son.5
1 Gen. 3:15 2 Gen. 22:18; 49:10 3 Isa. 53; Jer. 23:5-6; Mic. 7:18-20; Acts 10:43; Heb. 1:1-2 4 Lev. 1-7; John 5:46; Heb. 10:1-10 5 Rom. 10:4; Gal. 4:4-5; Col. 2:17
Lesson 7 (Q. 20 -23)
Question 20 Are all saved through Christ just as all were lost through Adam?
Answer:
No. Only those are saved who by true faith are grafted into Christ and accept all his blessings. 1
1 Matt. 7:14; John 3:16, 18, 36; Rom. 11:16-21
Question 21 What is true faith?
Answer:
True faith is not only a knowledge and conviction that everything God reveals in his Word is true;1 it is also a deep- rooted assurance,2 created in me by the Holy Spirit3 through the gospel,4 that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ, not only others, but I too,6 have had my sins forgiven, have been made forever right with God, and have been granted salvation.7
1 John 17:3, 17; Heb. 11:1-3; James 2:19 2 Rom. 4:18-21; 5:1; 10:10; Heb. 4:14-16 3 Matt. 16:15-17; John 3:5; Acts 16:14 4 Rom. 1:16; 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:21 5 Rom. 3:21-26; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-10 6 Gal. 2:20 7 Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:10
Question 22 What then must a Christian believe?
Answer:
Everything God promises us in the gospel.1 That gospel is summarized for us in the articles of our Christian faith--a creed beyond doubt, and confessed throughout the world.
1 Matt. 28:18-20; John 20:30-31
Question 23 What are these articles?
Answer:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Lesson 8 (Q. 24 -25)
Question 24 How are these articles divided?
Answer:
Into three parts: God the Father and our creation; God the Son and our deliverance; God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification.
Question 25 Since there is but one God, 1 why do you speak of three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Answer:
Because that is how God has revealed himself in his Word: these three distinct persons are one, true, eternal God.2
1 Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6 2 Matt. 3:16-17; 28:18-19; Luke 4:18 (Isa. 61:1); John 14:26; 15:26; 2 Cor. 13:14; Gal. 4:6; Tit. 3:5-6
God the Father (Lessons 9-10)
Lesson 9 (Q. 26 -28)
Question 26 What do you believe when you say, "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth"?
Answer:
That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them,1 who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence,2 is my God and Father because of Christ his Son.3 I trust him so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul,4 and he will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends me in this sad world.5 He is able to do this because he is almighty God;6 he desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.7
1 Gen. 1 & 2; Ex. 20:11; Ps. 33:6; Isa. 44:24; Acts 4:24; 14:15 2 Ps. 104; Matt. 6:30; 10:29; Eph. 1:11 3 John 1:12-13; Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:5 4 Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25-26; Luke 12: 22 -31 5 Rom. 8:28 6 Gen. 18:14; Rom. 8:31-39 7 Matt. 7:9-11
Lesson 10 (Q. 27 -28)
Question 27 What do you understand by the providence of God?
Answer:
Providence is the almighty and ever present power of God 1 by which he upholds, as with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures,2 and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty—3 all things, in fact, come to us not by chance4 but from his fatherly hand.5
1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 17:24-28 2 Heb. 1:3 3 Jer. 5:24; Acts 14:15-17; John 9:3; Prov. 22:2 4 Prov. 16:33 5 Matt. 10:29
Question 28 How does the knowledge of God's creation and providence help us?
Answer:
We can be patient when things go against us,1 thankful when things go well,2 and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will separate us from his love.3 All creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved.4
1 Job 1:21-22; James 1:3 2 Deut. 8:10; 1 Thess. 5:18 3 Ps. 55:22; Rom. 5:3-5; 8:38-39 4 Job 1:12; 2:6; Prov. 21:1; Acts 17:24-28
God the Son (Lessons 11 -19 )
Lesson 11 (Q. 29 -30)
Question 29 Why is the Son of God called "Jesus," meaning "savior"?
Answer:
Because he saves us from our sins.1 Salvation cannot be found in anyone else; it is futile to look for any salvation elsewhere.2
1 Matt. 1:21; Heb. 7:25 2 Isa. 43:11; John 15:5; Acts 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 2:5
Question 30 Do those who look for their salvation and security in saints, in themselves, or elsewhere really believe in the only savior Jesus?
Answer:
No. Although they boast of being his, by their deeds they deny the only savior and deliverer, Jesus.1 Either Jesus is not a perfect savior, or those who in true faith accept this savior have in him all they need for their salvation.2
1 1 Cor. 1:12-13; Gal. 5:4 2 Col. 1:19-20; 2:10; 1 John 1:7
Lesson 12 (Q. 31 -32)
Question 31 Why is he called "Christ," meaning "anointed"?
Answer:
Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit 1 to be our chief prophet and teacher2 who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance;3 our only high priest4 who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body,5 and who continually pleads our cause with the Father;6 and our eternal king7 who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.8
1 Luke 3:21-22; 4:14-19; Isa. 61:1; Heb. 1:9; Ps. 45:7 2 Acts 3:22; Deut. 18:15 3 John 1:18; 15:15 4 Heb. 7:17; Ps. 110:4 5 Heb. 9:12; 10:11-14 6 Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24 7 Matt. 21:5; Zech. 9:9 8 Matt. 28:18-20; John 10:28; Rev. 12:10-11
Question 32 But why are you called a Christian?
Answer:
Because by faith I am a member of Christ1 and so I share in his anointing.2 I am anointed to confess his name,3 to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks,4 to strive with a good conscience against sin and the devil in this life,5 and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation for all eternity.6
1 1 Cor. 12:12-27 Acts 3:22 (Deut. 18:15) 2 Acts 2:17 (Joel 2:28); 1 John 2:27 3 Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10; Heb. 13:15 4 Rom. 12:1; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9 5 Gal. 5:16-17; Eph. 6:11; 1 Tim. 1:18-19 6 Matt. 25:34; 2 Tim. 2:12
Lesson 13 (Q. 33 -34)
Question 33 Why is he called God's "only Son" when we also are God's children?
Answer:
Because Christ alone is the eternal, natural Son of God.1 We, however, are adopted children of God--adopted by grace through Christ.2
1 John 1:1-3, 14, 18; Heb. 1 2 John 1:12; Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 1:5-6
Question 34 Why do you call him "our Lord"?
Answer:
Because--not with gold or silver, but with his precious blood— 1 he has set us free from sin and from the tyranny of the devil,2 and has bought us, body and soul, to be his very own.3
1 1 Pet. 1:18-19 2 Col. 1:13-14; Heb. 2:14-15 3 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Tim. 2:5-6
Lesson 14 (Q. 35 -36)
Question 35 What does it mean that he "was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary"?
Answer:
That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God,1 took to himself, through the working of the Holy Spirit,2 from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary,3 a truly human nature so that he might become David's true descendant,4 like his brothers in every way5 except for sin.5
1 John 1:1; 10:30-36; Acts 13:33 (Ps. 2:7); Col. 1:15-17; 1 John 5:20 2 Luke 1:35 3 Matt. 1:18-23; John 1:14; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 2:14 4 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Ps. 132:11; Matt. 1:1; Rom. 1:3
5 Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:17 6 Heb. 4:15; 7:26-27
Question 36 How does the holy conception and birth of Christ benefit you?
Answer:
He is our mediator,1 and with his innocence and perfect holiness he removes from God's sight my sin--mine since I was conceived.2
1 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 9:13-15 2 Rom. 8:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 4:4-5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19
Lesson 15 (Q. 37 -39)
Question 37 What do you understand by the word "suffered"?
Answer:
That during his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race.1 This he did in order that, by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice,2 he might set us free, body and soul, from eternal condemnation,3 and gain for us God's grace, righteousness, and eternal life.4
1 Isa. 53; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18 2 Rom. 3:25; Heb. 10:14; 1 John 2:2; 4:10 3 Rom. 8:1-4; Gal. 3:13 4 John 3:16; Rom. 3:24-26
Question 38 Why did he suffer "under Pontius Pilate" as judge?
Answer:
So that he, though innocent, might be condemned by a civil judge, 1 and so free us from the severe judgment of God that was to fall on us. 2
1 Luke 23:13-24; John 19:4, 12-16 2 Isa. 53:4-5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13
Question 39 Is it significant that he was "crucified" instead of dying some other way?
Answer:
Yes. This death convinces me that he shouldered the curse which lay on me, since death by crucifixion was accursed by God. 1
1 Gal. 3:10-13; Deut. 21:23
Lesson 16 (Q. 40 -44)
Question 40 Why did Christ have to go all the way to death?
Answer:
Because God's justice and truth demand it: 1 only the death of God's Son could pay for our sin. 2
1 Gen. 2:17 2 Rom. 8:3-4; Phil. 2:8; Heb. 2:9
Question 41 Why was he "buried"?
Answer:
His burial testifies that he really died. 1
1 Isa. 53:9; John 19:38-42; Acts 13:29; 1 Cor. 15: 3 -4
Question 42 Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die?
Answer:
Our death does not pay the debt of our sins.1 Rather, it puts an end to our sinning and is our entrance into eternal life. 2
1 Ps. 49:7 2 John 5:24; Phil. 1:21-23; 1 Thess. 5:9-10
Question 43 What further advantage do we receive from Christ's sacrifice and death on the cross?
Answer:
Through Christ's death our old selves are crucified, put to death, and buried with him,1 so that the evil desires of the flesh may no longer rule us,2 but that instead we may dedicate ourselves as an offering of gratitude to him.3
1 Rom. 6:5-11; Col. 2:11-12 2 Rom. 6:12-14 3 Rom. 12:1; Eph. 5:1-2
Question 44 Why does the creed add, "He descended to hell"?
Answer:
To assure me in times of personal crisis and temptation that Christ my Lord, by suffering unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul, especially on the cross but also earlier, has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell. 1
1 Isa. 53; Matt. 26:36-46; 27:45-46; Luke 22:44; Heb. 5:7-10
Lesson 17 (Q. 45)
Question 45 How does Christ's resurrection benefit us?
Answer:
First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, so that he might make us share in the righteousness he won for us by his death. 1 Second, by his power we too are already now resurrected to a new life.2 Third, Christ's resurrection is a guarantee of our glorious resurrection.3
1 Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:16-20; 1 Pet. 1:3-5 2 Rom. 6:5-11; Eph. 2:4-6; Col. 3:1-4 3 Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 15:12-23; Phil. 3:20-21
Lesson 18 (Q. 46 -49)
Question 46 What do you mean by saying, "He ascended to heaven"?
Answer:
That Christ, while his disciples watched, was lifted up from the earth to heaven 1 and will be there for our good2 until he comes again to judge the living and the dead.3
1 Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-11 2 Rom. 8:34; Eph. 4:8-10; Heb. 7:23-25; 9:24 3 Acts 1:11
Question 47 But isn't Christ with us until the end of the world as he promised us?1
Answer:
Christ is truly human and truly God. In his human nature Christ is not now on earth;2 but in his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit he is not absent from us for a moment.3
1 Matt. 28:20 2 Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21 3 Matt. 28:18-20; John 14:16-19
Question 48 If his humanity is not present wherever his divinity is, then aren't the two natures of Christ separated from each other?
Answer:
Certainly not. Since divinity is not limited and is present everywhere,1 it is evident that Christ's divinity is surely beyond the bounds of the humanity he has taken on, but at the same time his divinity is in and remains personally united to his humanity.2
1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49 (Isa. 66:1) 2 John 1:14; 3:13; Col. 2:9
Question 49 How does Christ's ascension to heaven benefit us?
Answer:
First, he pleads our cause in heaven in the presence of his Father.1 Second, we have our own flesh in heaven--a guarantee that Christ our head will take us, his members, to himself in heaven.2 Third, he sends his Spirit to us on earth as a further guarantee.3 By the Spirit's power we make the goal of our lives, not earthly things, but the things above where Christ is, sitting at God's right hand.4
1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49; Isa. 66:1 2 John 14:2; 17:24; Eph. 2:4-6 3 John 14:16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5 4 Col. 3:1-4
Lesson 19 (Q. 50 -52)
Question 50 Why the next words: "and is seated at the right hand of God"?
Answer:
Christ ascended to heaven, there to show that he is head of his church,1 and that the Father rules all things through him.2
1 Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18 2 Matt. 28:18; John 5:22-23
Question 51 How does this glory of Christ our head benefit us?
Answer:
First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out his gifts from heaven upon us his members. 1 Second, by his power he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies. 2
1 Acts 2:33; Eph. 4:7-12 2 Ps. 110:1-2; John 10:27-30; Rev. 19:11-16
Question 52 How does Christ's return "to judge the living and the dead"
comfort you?
Answer:
In all my distress and persecution I turn my eyes to the heavens and confidently await as judge the very One who has already stood trial in my place before God and so has removed the whole curse from me. 1 All his enemies and mine he will condemn to everlasting punishment: but me and all his chosen ones he will take along with him into the joy and the glory of heaven. 2
1 Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:22-25; Phil. 3:20-21; Tit. 2:13-14 2 Matt. 25:31-46; 2 Thess. 1:6-10
Lesson 19 (Q. 50 -52)
Question 50 Why the next words: "and is seated at the right hand of God"?
Answer:
Christ ascended to heaven, there to show that he is head of his church,1 and that the Father rules all things through him.2
1 Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18 2 Matt. 28:18; John 5:22-23
God the Holy Spirit (Lessons 20 -24 )
Lesson 20 (Q. 53)
Question 53 What do you believe concerning "the Holy Spirit"?
Answer:
First, he, as well as the Father and the Son, is eternal God.1 Second, he has been given to me personally,2 so that, by true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his blessings,3 comforts me,4 and remains with me forever.5
1 Gen. 1:1-2; Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4 2 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; Gal. 4:6 3 Gal. 3:14 4 John 15:26; Acts 9:31 5 John 14:16-17; 1 Pet. 4:14
Lesson 21 (Q. 54 -56)
Question 54 What do you believe concerning "the holy catholic church"?
Answer:
I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word,1 out of the entire human race,2 from the beginning of the world to its end,3 gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a
community chosen for eternal life4 and united in true faith.5 And of this community I am6 and always will be7 a living member. 1 John 10:14-16; Acts 20:28; Rom. 10:14-17; Col. 1:18 2 Gen. 26:3b-4; Rev. 5:9 3 Isa. 59:21; 1 Cor. 11:26 4 Matt. 16:18; John 10:28-30; Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:3-14 5 Acts 2:42-47; Eph. 4:1-6 6 1 John 3:14, 19-21 7 John 10:27-28; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; 1 Pet. 1:3-5
Question 55 What do you understand by "the communion of saints"?
Answer:
First, that believers one and all, as members of this community, share in Christ and in all his treasures and gifts.1 Second, that each member should consider it a duty to use these gifts readily and cheerfully for the service and enrichment of the other members.2
1 Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 6:17; 12:4-7, 12-13; 1 John 1:3 2 Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:20-27; 13:1-7; Phil. 2:4-8
Question 56 What do you believe concerning "the forgiveness of sins"?
Answer:
I believe that God, because of Christ's atonement, will never hold against me any of my sins1 nor my sinful nature which I need to struggle against all my life.2 Rather, in his grace God grants me the righteousness of Christ to free me forever from judgment.3
1 Ps. 103:3-4, 10, 12; Mic. 7:18-19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 1 John 1:7; 2:2 2 Rom. 7:21-25 3 John 3:17-18; Rom. 8:1-2
Lesson 22 (Q. 57 -58)
Question 57 How does "the resurrection of the body" comfort you?
Answer:
Not only my soul will be taken immediately after this life to Christ its head,1 but even my very flesh, raised by the power of Christ, will be reunited with my soul and made like Christ's glorious body.2
1 Luke 23:43; Phil. 1:21-23; John 10:14-16; Acts 20:28; Rom 10:14-17; Col. 1:18 2 1 Cor. 15:20, 42-46, 54; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2
Question 58 How does the article concerning "life everlasting" comfort you?
Answer:
Even as I already now experience in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, 1 so after this life I will have perfect blessedness such as no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human heart has ever imagined: a blessedness in which to praise God eternally.2
1 Rom. 14:17 2 John 17:3; 1 Cor. 2:9
Answer:
Christ executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by this Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
Jn. 1:18; 14:26; 15:15
Lesson 23 (Q. 59 -61)
Question 59 What good does it do you, however, to believe all this?
Answer:
In Christ I am right with God and heir to life everlasting. 1
1 John 3:36; Rom. 1:17 (Hab. 2:4); Rom. 5:1-2
Question 60 How are you right with God?
Answer:
Only by true faith in Jesus Christ.1 Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God's commandments and of never having kept any of them,2 and even though I am still inclined toward all evil,3 nevertheless, without my deserving it at all,4 out of sheer grace,5 God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ,6 as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me.7 All I need to do is to accept this gift of God with a believing heart.8
1 Rom. 3:21-28; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil 3:8-11 2 Rom. 3:9-10 3 Rom. 7:23 4 Tit. 3:4-5 5 Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:8 6 Rom. 4:3-5 (Gen. 15:6); 2 Cor. 5:17-19; 1 John 2:1-2 7 Rom. 4:24-25; 2 Cor. 5:21 8 John 3:18; Acts 16:30-31
Question 61 Why do you say that by faith alone you are right with God?
Answer:
It is not because of any value my faith has that God is pleased with me. Only Christ's satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness
make me right with God.1 And I can receive this righteousness and make it mine in no other way than by faith alone.2
1 1 Cor. 1:30-31 2 Rom. 10:10; 1 John 5:10-12
Lesson 24 (Q. 62 -64)
Question 62 Why can't the good we do make us right with God, or at least help make us right with him?
Answer:
Because the righteousness which can pass God's scrutiny must be entirely perfect and must in every way measure up to the divine law. 1 Even the very best we do in this life is imperfect and stained with sin. 2
1 Rom. 3:20; Gal. 3:10; Deut. 27:26 2 Isa. 64: 6
Question 63 How can you say that the good we do doesn't earn anything when God promises to reward it in this life and the next? 1
Answer:
This reward is not earned; it is a gift of grace. 2
1 Matt. 5:12; Heb. 11:6 2 Luke 17:10; 2 Tim. 4:7-8
Question 64 But doesn't this teaching make people indifferent and wicked?
Answer:
No. It is impossible for those grafted into Christ by true faith not to produce fruits of gratitude. 1
1 Luke 6:43-45; John 15:5
The Sacraments Lesson 25
Lesson 25 (Q. 65 -68)
Question 65 It is by faith alone that we share in Christ and all his blessings: where then does that faith come from?
Answer:
The Holy Spirit produces it in our hearts 1 by the preaching of the holy gospel, 2 and confirms it through our use of the holy sacraments.3
1 John 3:5; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; Eph. 2:8 2 Rom. 10:17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25 3 Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 10:16
Question 66 What are sacraments?
Answer:
Sacraments are holy signs and seals for us to see. They were instituted by God so that by our use of them he might make us understand more clearly the promise of the gospel, and might put his seal on that promise. 1 And this is God's gospel promise: to forgive our sins and give us eternal life by grace alone because of Christ's one sacrifice finished on the cross. 2
1 Gen. 17:11; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 4:11 2 Matt. 26:27-28; Acts 2:38; Heb. 10:10
Question 67 Are both the word and the sacraments then intended to focus our faith on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?
Answer:
Right! In the gospel the Holy Spirit teaches us and through the holy sacraments he assures us that our entire salvation rests on Christ's one sacrifice for us on the cross. 1
1 Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 11:26; Gal. 3:27
Question 68 How many sacraments did Christ institute in the New Testament?
Answer:
Two: baptism and the Lord's Supper.1
1 Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26
Baptism (Lessons 26-28)
Lesson 26 (Q. 69 -74)
Question 69 What is Baptism?
Answer:
Immersion or dipping of the Person in Water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, by such who are duly qualified by Christ. 1
1 Mat. 3.16. John 3.23. Acts 8.38, 39. Rom. 6.4
Question 70 Who are the proper Subjects of this Ordinance?
Answer:
Those who do actually profess Repentance towards God, Faith in, and Obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ. 1
1 Acts 2.38. Acts 8.36, 37
Question 71 Should infants, too, be baptized?
Answer:
No, for we have neither Precept nor Example for that Practice in all the Book of God.
Question 72 Does the Scriptures forbid the Baptism of Infants?
Answer:
It is sufficient that the Divine Oracles commands the baptizing of Believers, unless we will make ourselves wiser than what is written. Nadab and Abihu were not forbidden to offer strange Fire, yet for doing so they incurred God's Wrath, because they were commanded to take Fire from the Altar. 1
1 Mat. 28.18, 19. Mark 16.16. Lev 9.24. 10.16
Question 73 May not the infant children of believers under the Gospel be baptized since the infant descendants of Abraham were circumcised under the Law?
Answer:
No. Abraham had a command from God to circumcise his infant descendants, but believers have no command to baptize their infant children under the Gospel. 1
1 Gen. 17.9-12
Question 74 If the infant children of believers are in the Covenant of Grace with their parents, as some say, why may they not be baptized under the Gospel, as well as Abraham's infant descendants were circumcised under the Law?
Answer:
By the infant children of Believers being in the Covenant of Grace, it must either be meant of the Covenant of Grace absolutely considered, and if so, then there can be no total and final falling away of any infant children of believers from the Covenant, but all must be saved. 1
1 Jer. 32: 38 -40; John 10.28
Or, they must mean conditionally, on consideration that when they come to an age of maturity, they by true faith, love, and holiness of life, taking hold of God's Covenant of Grace, shall
have the privileges of it. This being their sense, I then ask what real spiritual privilege the infant children of believers have more than the infant children of unbelievers, if they live also to years of maturity, and by true faith and love take hold God's Covenant? I further demand, whether the Seal of the Covenant does not belong as much to the children of unbelievers as to the children of believers? and more too, since some infant children of unbelievers take hold of God's Covenant, and some infant children of believers do not2; as this often occurs to the sorrow of many godly parents. 2
2 Isa. 56.3-8; Acts 10.34-35. John 3.16
Suppose all the infant children of believers are absolutely in the Covenant of Grace; believers under the Gospel should not baptize their infant children any more than Lot had warrant to circumcise himself or his infant children, although he was closely related to Abraham, a believer, and in the Covenant of Grace too: since circumcision was limited to Abraham and to his family. Also by the same rule we should bring infants to the Lord's Table, since the same qualifications are required for the proper administration of Baptism as for the Lord's Supper. 3
3 Acts 2.41, 42
We must know the covenant made with Abraham had two parts:
First, a spiritual, which consisted in God's promising to be a God to4 Abraham, and all his spiritual descendants in a particular manner, 4 whether they were circumcised or uncircumcised, who believed as Abraham the Father of the faithful did.5 This was signified by God's accepting them as his people who were
not descended6 from Abraham, but through Jesus Christ, the Gentiles, the uncircumcised who believed, 6 should have their faith counted for righteousness, as Abraham's was before he was circumcised. 7
4 Gen. 17.19, 21. Gen. 21.10. Gal. 4.30 5 Acts 2:39. Rom. 9.7-8 6 Gal. 3:16, 28-29 7 Rom. 4: 9 -14
Second, this promise consisted of temporal good: so God promised Abraham's Seed should enjoy the land of Canaan, and have plenty of outward blessings, 8 and sealed this promise by circumcision. It was also a distinguishing character of the Jews being God's people from all the Nations of the Gentiles, who were not yet the spiritual descendants of Abraham: but when the Gentiles came to believe, and by faith became the people of God as well as the Jews, 9 then Circumcision, that distinguishing mark, ceased. The character of being the children of God now is faith in Christ and circumcision of the Heart. Whatever reason may be given for the Infants of Believers to be Baptized first, as their being the children of believers; or secondly, their being in the Covenant; or thirdly, that the infant descendants of Abraham a believer, were circumcised; all this you see avails nothing: for circumcision was limited to the family of Abraham and all others, though believers, were excluded. It was also limited to a particular day, the eighth day, and what ever reason might be given, it was not to be done before or after. It was limited to male and did not include female; if Baptism came in the place of circumcision, and is the seal of the Covenant under the Gospel as circumcision was under the Law, none but the males must be
baptized, because none but the Males were Circumcised. But as the Law regulated circumcision, now the Gospel regulates Baptism, and it depends purely upon the will of the Law-giver, at what periods of time, upon what Persons and terms Baptism is to be administered. We will do well, then, to heed what is declared in Scripture. 10
8 Gen.12;6-7; 13.15-17; 15: 16 ,18; 17:8-11 9 John 1:12; Rom. 2:28-29; Phil. 3:3; Gal. 3:26-28 10 Acts 3:22
Lesson 27 (Q. 75 -77)
Question 75 How does baptism remind you and assure you that Christ's one sacrifice on the cross is for you personally?
Answer:
In this way: Christ instituted this outward washing 1 and with it gave the promise that, as surely as water washes away the dirt from the body, so certainly his blood and his Spirit wash away my soul's impurity, in other words, all my sins. 2
1 Acts 2:38 2 Matt. 3:11; Rom. 6:3-10; 1 Pet. 3:21
Question 76 What does it mean to be washed with Christ's blood and Spirit?
Answer:
To be washed with Christ's blood means that God, by grace, has forgiven my sins because of Christ's blood poured out for me in his sacrifice on the cross.1 To be washed with Christ's Spirit means that the Holy Spirit has renewed me and set me apart to be a member of Christ so that more and more I become dead to sin and increasingly live a holy and blameless life. 2
1 Zech. 13:1; Eph. 1:7-8; Heb. 12:24; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rev. 1:5 2 Ezek. 36:25-27; John 3:5-8; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 6:11; Col 2:11-12
Question 77 Where does Christ promise that we are washed with his blood and Spirit as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism?
Answer:
In the institution of baptism where he says: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." 1 "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."2 This promise is repeated when Scripture calls baptism the washing of rebirth 3 and the washing away of sins. 4
1 Matt. 28:19
2 Mark 16:16 3 Titus 3:5 4 Acts 22:16
Lesson 28 (Q. 78 -79)
Question 78 Does this outward washing with water itself wash away sins?
Answer:
No, only Jesus Christ's blood and the Holy Spirit cleanse us from all sins. 1
1 Matt. 3:11; 1 Pet. 3:21; 1 John 1:7
Question 79 Why then does the Holy Spirit call baptism the washing of rebirth and the washing away of sins?
Answer:
God has good reason for these words. He wants to teach us that the blood and Spirit of Christ wash away our sins just as water washes away dirt from our bodies. 1 But more important, he wants to assure us, by this divine pledge and sign, that the washing away of our sins spiritually is as real as physical washing with water. 2
1 Matt. 3:11; 1 Pet. 3:21; 1 John 1:7 2 Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27
Of the Lord’s Supper (Lessons 29 -32)
Lesson 29 (Q. 80 -82)
Question 80 How does the Lord's Supper remind you and assure you that you share in Christ's one sacrifice on the cross and in all his gifts?
Answer:
In this way: Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat this broken bread and to drink this cup. With this command he gave this promise:1 First, as surely as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup given to me, so surely his body was offered and broken for me and his blood poured out for me on the cross. Second, as surely as I receive from the hand of the one who serves, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, given me as sure signs of Christ's body and blood, so surely he nourishes and refreshes my soul for eternal life with his crucified body and poured-out blood. 1
1 Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-25
Question 81 What does it mean to eat the crucified body of Christ and to drink his poured-out blood?
Answer:
It means to accept with a believing heart the entire suffering and death of Christ and by believing to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. 1 But it means more. Through the Holy Spirit, who lives both in Christ and in us, we are united more and more to Christ's blessed body. 2 And so, although he is in heaven 3 and we are on earth, we are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. 4 And we forever live on and are governed by one Spirit, as members of our body are by one soul. 5
1 John 6:35, 40, 50-54 2 John 6:55-56; 1 Cor. 12:13 3 Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 11:26; Col. 3:1 4 1 Cor. 6:15-17; Eph. 5:29-30; 1 John 4:13 5 John 6:56-58; 15:1-6; Eph. 4:15-16; 1 John 3:24
Question 82 Where does Christ promise to nourish and refresh believers with his body and blood as surely as they eat this broken bread and drink this cup?
Answer:
In the institution of the Lord's Supper: "The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given
thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."1 This promise is repeated by Paul in these words: "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf."2
1 1 Cor. 11:23-26 2 1 Cor. 10:16-17
Lesson 30 (Q. 83 -84)
Question 83 Are the bread and wine changed into the real body and blood of Christ?
Answer:
No. Just as the water of baptism is not changed into Christ's blood and does not itself wash away sins but is simply God's sign and assurance, 1 so too the bread of the Lord's Supper is not changed into the actual body of Christ 2 even though it is called the body of Christ 3 in keeping with the nature and language of sacraments. 4
1 Eph. 5:26; Tit. 3:5
2 Matt. 26:26-29 3 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:26-28 4 Gen. 17:10-11; Ex. 12:11, 13; 1 Cor. 10:1-4
Question 84 Why then does Christ call the bread his body and the cup his blood, or the new covenant in his blood? And Paul uses the words, a participation in Christ's body and blood.
Answer:
Christ has good reason for these words. He wants to teach us that as bread and wine nourish our temporal life, so too his crucified body and poured-out blood truly nourish our souls for eternal life. 1 But more important, he wants to assure us, by this visible sign and pledge, that we, through the Holy Spirit's work, share in his true body and blood as surely as our mouths receive these holy signs in his remembrance, 2 and that all of his suffering and obedience are as definitely ours as if we personally had suffered and paid for our sins. 3
1 John 6:51, 55 2 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:26 3 Rom. 6:5-11
Lesson 31 (Q. 85 -88)
Question 85 How does the Lord's Supper differ from the Roman Catholic Mass?
Answer:
The Lord's Supper declares to us that our sins have been completely forgiven through the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ which he himself finished on the cross once for all. 1 It also declares to us that the Holy Spirit grafts us into Christ, 2 who with his very body is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father 3 where he wants us to worship him. 4 But the Mass teaches that the living and the dead do not have their sins forgiven through the suffering of Christ unless Christ is still offered for them daily by the priests. It also teaches that Christ is bodily present in the form of bread and wine where Christ is therefore to be worshiped. Thus the Mass is basically nothing but a denial of the one sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ and a condemnable idolatry. 1 John 19:30; Heb. 7:27; 9:12, 25-26; 10:10-18 2 1 Cor. 6:17; 10:16-17 3 Acts 7:55-56; Heb. 1:3; 8:1 4 Matt. 6:20-21; John 4:21-24; Phil. 3:20; Col. 3:1-3
Question 86 Who are to come to the Lord's table?
Answer:
Those who are displeased with themselves because of their sins, but who nevertheless trust that their sins are pardoned and that their continuing weakness is covered by the suffering and death of Christ, and who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and to lead a better life. Hypocrites and those who are unrepentant, however, eat and drink judgment on themselves. 1
1 1 Cor. 10:19-22; 11:26-32
Question 87 Are those to be admitted to the Lord's Supper who show by what they say and do that they are unbelieving and ungodly?
Answer:
No, that would dishonor God's covenant and bring down God's anger upon the entire congregation.1 Therefore, according to the instruction of Christ and his apostles, the Christian church is duty-bound to exclude such people, by the official use of the keys of the kingdom, until they reform their lives. 1
1 1 Cor. 11:17-32; Ps. 50:14-16; Isa. 1:11-17
Question 88 How should this Ordinance of the Lord's Supper be closed?
Answer:
In singing Praises to God vocally and audibly for his great Benefits and Blessings to his Church in the shedding of the most precious Blood of his Son to take away their Sin; which Blessings are pointed out in this Sacrament. Also we find our Lord and his Disciples did close this Ordinance in singing a Hymn or Psalm; and if Christ sang, who was going to die, what cause have we to sing for whom he died, that we might not eternally die, but live a spiritual and eternal life with Father, Son, and Spirit in inexpressible Glory. 1
1 Mat. 26.30
Lesson 32 (Q. 89 -91)
Question 89 What are the keys of the kingdom?
Answer:
The preaching of the holy gospel and Christian discipline toward repentance. Both preaching and discipline open the kingdom of heaven to believers and close it to unbelievers. 1
1 Matt. 16:19; John 20:22-23
Question 90 How does preaching the gospel open and close the kingdom of heaven?
Answer: :
The kingdom of heaven is opened by proclaiming and publicly declaring to all believers, each and every one, that, as often as they accept the gospel promise in true faith, God, because of what Christ has done, truly forgives all their sins.
The kingdom of heaven is closed, however, by proclaiming and publicly declaring to unbelievers and hypocrites that, as long as they do not repent, the anger of God and eternal condemnation rest on them. God's judgment, both in this life and in the life to come, is based on this gospel testimony.1
1 Matt. 16:19; John 3:3 1 -36; 20:21-23
Question 91 How is the kingdom of heaven closed and opened by Christian discipline?
Answer:
Those who, though called Christians, profess unchristian teachings or live unchristian lives, and after repeated and loving counsel refuse to abandon their errors and wickedness, and after being reported to the church, that is, to its officers, fail to respond also to their admonition--such persons the officers exclude from the Christian fellowship by withholding the sacraments from them, and God himself excludes them from the
kingdom of Christ. 1 Such persons, when promising and demonstrating genuine reform, are received again as members of Christ and of his church. 2
1 Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:3-5, 11-13; 2 Thess. 3:14-15 2 Luke 15:20-24; 2 Cor. 2:6-11
Gratitude (Lessons 33 -45 )
Lesson 33 (Q. 92 -93)
Question 92 We have been delivered from our misery by God's grace alone through Christ and not because we have earned it: why then must we still do good?
Answer:
To be sure, Christ has redeemed us by his blood. But we do good because Christ by his Spirit is also renewing us to be like himself, so that in all our living we may show that we are thankful to God for all he has done for us,1 and so that he may be praised through us.2 And we do good so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits,3 and so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ. 4
1 Rom. 6:13; 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:5-10 2 Matt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 6:19-20
3 Matt. 7:17-18; Gal. 5:22-24; 2 Pet. 1:10-11 4 Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 14:17-19; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1-2
Question 93 Can those be saved who do not turn to God from their ungrateful and impenitent ways?
Answer:
By no means. Scripture tells us that no unchaste person, no idolater, adulterer, thief, no covetous person, no drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like is going to inherit the kingdom of God. 1
1 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:1-20; 1 John 3:14
Lesson 34 (Q. 94 -97)
Question 94 What is involved in genuine repentance or conversion?
Answer:
Two things: the dying-away of the old self, and the coming-to-life of the new. 1
1 Rom. 6:1-11; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:5-10
Question 95 What is the dying-away of the old self?
Answer:
It is to be genuinely sorry for sin, to hate it more and more, and to run away from it. 1
1 Ps. 51:3-4, 17; Joel 2:12-13; Rom. 8:12-13; 2 Cor. 7:10
Question 96 What is the coming-to-life of the new self?
Answer:
It is wholehearted joy in God through Christ1 and a delight to do every kind of good as God wants us to. 2
1 Ps. 51:8, 12; Isa.57:15; Rom. 5:1; 14:17 2 Rom. 6:10-11; Gal. 2:20
Question 97 What do we do that is good?
Answer:
Only that which arises out of true faith, 1 conforms to God's law,2 and is done for his glory;3 and not that which is based on what we think is right or on established human tradition.4
1 John 15:5; Heb. 11:6 2 Lev. 18:4; 1 Sam. 15:22; Eph. 2:10 3 1 Cor. 10:31 4 Deut. 12:32; Isa. 29:13; Ezek. 20:18-19; Matt. 15:7-9
Lesson 35 (Q. 98 -105)
Question 98 What is the Law of God?
Answer:
The Decalogue, or Ten Commandments. 1
1 Exod. 20. Deut. 5
Question 99 How are these commandments divided?
Answer:
Into two tables. The first has four commandments, teaching us what our relation to God should be. The second has six commandments, teaching us what we owe our neighbor. 1
1 Matt. 22:37-39
Question 100 What is the Preface to the ten Commandments?
Answer:
I am JEHOVAH, the Lord your God, who brought you out of the Land of Egypt, out of the House of Bondage.
Question 101 What do we learn from the Preface?
Answer:
Three things: first he shows to whom the right of all Rule belongs, that is, to God himself for he says, “I am JEHOVAH”. Secondly, he says he is the God of his people, that through the promise of his bountifulness he might encourage them to obey him. Thirdly, he says, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, as if he should say, I am the one who made myself known to you and bestowed all those Blessings upon you; therefore you art bound to show thankfulness and obedience unto me. 1
1 Exod. 20:2
Question 102 Do these things belong to us?
Answer:
Yes, because they figuratively include and imply all the deliverances of the Church; and further, also this was a type of our wonderful Deliverance achieved by Christ.
Question 103 What is the first Commandment?
Answer:
Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.
Question 104 What does the Lord require in the first commandment?
Answer:
That I, not wanting to endanger my very salvation, avoid and shun all idolatry,1 magic, superstitious rites,2 and prayer to saints or to other creatures.3 That I sincerely acknowledge the only true God,4 trust him alone,5 look to him for every good thing6 humbly7 and patiently,8 love him,9 fear him,10 and honor him 11 with all my heart. In short, that I give up anything rather than go against his will in any way. 12
1 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 10:5-14; 1 John 5:21 2 Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:9-12 3 Matt. 4:10; Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9 4 John 17:3 5 Jer. 17:5, 7 6 Ps. 104:27-28; James 1:17 7 1 Pet. 5:5-6 8 Col. 1:11; Heb. 10:36 9 Matt. 22:37 (Deut. 6:5) 10 Prov. 9:10; 1 Pet. 1:17 11 Matt. 4:10 (Deut. 6:13) 12 Matt. 5:29-30; 10:37-39
Question 105 What is idolatry?
Answer:
Idolatry is having or inventing something in which one trusts in place of or alongside of the only true God, who has revealed himself in his Word.1
1 1 Chron. 16:26; Gal. 4:8-9; Eph. 5:5; Phil. 3:19
Lesson 36 (Q. 106 -109)
Question 106 What is the Second Commandment?
Answer:
Thou shalt make to thee no graven Image, nor the likeness of anything which is in Heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor in the Waters under the Earth: thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them, for I the Lord thy God and a jealous God, and visit the sins of the Fathers upon the Children, unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me, and shew Mercy to thousands of them which love me, and keep my Commandments.
Question 107 What is God's will for us in the second commandment?
Answer:
That we in no way make any image of God 1 nor worship him in any other way than he has commanded in his Word. 2
1 Deut. 4:15-19; Isa. 40:18-25; Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:22-23 2 Lev. 10:1-7; 1 Sam. 15:22-23; John 4:23-24
Question 108 May we then not make any image at all?
Answer:
God neither ought and may not be visibly portrayed in any way. Although creatures may be portrayed, yet God forbids making or having such images if one's intention is to worship them or to serve God through them. 1
1 Ex. 34:13-14, 17; 2 Kings 18:4-5
Question 109 But may not images be permitted in the churches as teaching aids for the unlearned?
Answer:
No, we shouldn't try to be wiser than God. He wants his people instructed by the living preaching of his Word—1 not by idols that cannot even talk.2. 1
1 Rom. 10:14-15, 17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19 5 2 Jer. 10:8; Hab. 2:18-20
Lesson 37 (Q. 110 -112)
Question 110 What is the third Commandment?
Answer:
Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord they God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain.
Question 111 What is God's will for us in the third commandment?
Answer:
That we neither blaspheme nor misuse the name of God by cursing, 1 perjury, 2 or unnecessary oaths, 3 nor share in such horrible sins by being silent bystanders. 4 In a word, it requires that we use the holy name of God only with reverence
and awe, 5 so that we may properly confess him, 6 pray to him,7 and praise him in everything we do and say. 8
1 Lev. 24:10-17 2 Lev. 19:12 3 Matt. 5:37; James 5:12 4 Lev. 5:1; Prov. 29:24 5 Ps. 99:1-5; Jer. 4:2 6 Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:9-10 7 Ps. 50:14-15; 1 Tim. 2:8 8 Col. 3:17
Question 112 Is blasphemy of God's name by swearing and cursing really such serious sin that God is angry also with those who do not do all they can to help prevent it and forbid it?
Answer:
Yes, indeed. 1 No sin is greater, no sin makes God more angry than blaspheming his name. That is why he commanded the death penalty for it. 2
Lesson 38 (Q. 113 -114)
Question 113 But may we swear an oath in God's name if we do it reverently?
Answer:
Yes, when the government demands it, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote truth and trustworthiness for God's glory and our neighbor's good. Such oaths are approved in God's Word 1 and were rightly used by Old and New Testament believers. 2
1 Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Jer. 4:1-2; Heb. 6:16 2 Gen. 21:24; Josh. 9:15; 1 Kings 1:29-30; Rom. 1:9; 2 Cor. 1:23
Question 114 May we swear by saints or other creatures?
Answer:
No. A legitimate oath means calling upon God as the one who knows my heart to witness to my truthfulness and to punish me if I swear falsely. 1 No creature is worthy of such honor. 2
1 Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:23 2 Matt. 5:34-37; 23:16-22; James 5:12
Lesson 39 (Q. 115 -116)
Question 115 What is the fourth Commandment?
Answer:
Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath Day: six Days should thou labor, and do all that thou hast to do, but the seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou should do no manner of Work, Thou, nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, thy Man-Servant, nor thy Maid-Servant, nor they Cattle, nor the Stranger that is within thy Gates: for in six Days the Lord made Heaven, and Earth, the Sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, and hallowed it.
Question 116 What is God's will for you in the fourth commandment?
Answer:
First, that the gospel ministry and education for it be maintained, 1 and that, especially on the festive day of rest, I regularly attend the assembly of God's people 2 to learn what God's Word teaches, 3 to participate in the sacraments,4 to pray to God publicly,5 and to bring Christian offerings for the poor.6 Second, that every day of my life I rest from my evil ways, let the Lord work in me through his Spirit, and so begin already in this life the eternal Sabbath.7
1 Deut. 6:4-9, 20-25; 1 Cor. 9:13-14; 2 Tim. 2:2; 3:13- 17; Tit. 1:5
2 Deut. 12:5-12; Ps. 40:9-10; 68:26; Acts 2:42-47; Heb. 10:23-25 3 Rom. 10:14-17; 1 Cor. 14: 31 -32; 1 Tim. 4:13 4 1 Cor. 11:23-25 5 Col. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:1 6 Ps. 50:14; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8 & 9 7 Isa. 66:23; Heb. 4:9-11
Lesson 40 (Q. 117 -118)
Question 117 What is the fifth Commandment?
Answer:
Honor thy Father and Mother that thy days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Question 118 What is God's will for you in the fifth commandment?
Answer:
That I honor, love, and be loyal to my father and mother and all those in authority over me; that I obey and submit to them, as is proper, when they correct and punish me; 1 and also that I be patient with their failings—2 for through them God chooses to rule us. 3
1 Ex. 21:17; Prov. 1:8; 4:1; Rom. 13:1-2; Eph. 5:21- 22; 6:1-9; Col. 3:18-4:1 2 Prov. 20:20; 23:22; 1 Pet. 2:18
3 Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1-8; Eph. 6:1-9; Col. 3:18-21
Lesson 41 (Q. 119 -122)
Question 119 What is the sixth Commandment?
Answer:
Thou shalt do no Murder.
Question 120 What is God's will for you in the sixth commandment?
Answer:
I am not to belittle, insult, hate, or kill my neighbor--not by my thoughts, my words, my look or gesture, and certainly not by actual deeds–and I am not to be party to this in others; 1 rather, I am to put away all desire for revenge. 2 I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself either. 3 Prevention of murder is also why government is armed with the sword. 4
1 Gen. 9:6; Lev. 19:17-18; Matt. 5:21-22; 26:52 2 Prov. 25:21-22; Matt. 18:35; Rom. 12:19; Eph. 4:26 3 Matt. 4:7; 26:52; Rom. 13:11-14 4 Gen. 9:6; Ex. 21:14; Rom. 13:4
Question 121 Does this commandment refer only to killing?
Answer:
By forbidding murder God teaches us that he hates the root of murder: envy, hatred, anger, vindictiveness. 1 In God's sight all such are murder. 2
1 Prov. 14:30; Rom. 1:29; 12:19; Gal. 5:19-21; 1 John 2:9-11 2 1 John 3:15
Question 122 Is it enough then that we do not kill our neighbor in any such way?
Answer:
No. By condemning envy, hatred, and anger God tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves, 1 to be patient, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, and friendly to them, 2 to protect them from harm as much as we can, and to do good even to our enemies.3
1 Matt. 7:12; 22:39; Rom. 12:10 2 Matt. 5:3-12; Luke 6:36; Rom. 12:10, 18; Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12; 1 Pet. 3:8 3 Ex. 23:4-5; Matt. 5:44-45; Rom. 12:20-21 (Prov. 25:21-22)
Lesson 42 (Q. 123 -125)
Question 123 What is the seventh Commandment?
Answer:
Thou shalt not commit Adultery.
Question 124 What is God's will for us in the seventh commandment?
Answer:
God condemns all unchastity.1 We should therefore thoroughly detest it 2 and, married or single, live decent and chaste lives. 3
1 Lev. 18:30; Eph. 5:3-5 2 Jude 22-23 3 1 Cor. 7:1-9; 1 Thess. 4:3-8; Heb. 13:4
Question 125 Does God, in this commandment, forbid only such scandalous sins as adultery?
Answer:
We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and God wants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why he forbids everything which incites unchastity, 1 whether it be actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires. 2
1 1 Cor. 15:33; Eph. 5:18 2 Matt. 5:27-29; 1 Cor. 6:18-20; Eph. 5:3-4
Lesson 43 (Q. 126 -128)
Question 126 What is the eighth Commandment?
Answer:
Thou shalt not steal.
Question 127 What does God forbid in the eighth commandment?
Answer:
He forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law.1 But in God's sight theft also includes cheating and swindling our neighbor by schemes made to appear legitimate, 2 such as: inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God.3 In addition he forbids all greed4 and pointless squandering of his gifts.5
1 Ex. 22:1; 1 Cor. 5:9-10; 6:9-10 2 Mic. 6:9-11; Luke 3:14; James 5:1-6 3 Deut. 25:13-16; Ps. 15:5; Prov. 11:1; 12:22; Ezek 45:9-12; Luke 6:35 4 Luke 12:15; Eph. 5:5 5 Prov. 21:20; 23:20-21; Luke 16:10-13
Question 128 What does God require of you in this commandment?
Answer:
That I do whatever I can for my neighbor's good, that I treat others as I would like them to treat me, and that I work faithfully so that I may share with those in need. 1
1 Isa. 58:5-10; Matt. 7:12; Gal. 6:9-10; Eph. 4:28
Lesson 44 (Q. 129-130)
Question 129 What is the ninth Commandment?
Answer:
Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy neighbor
Question 130 What is God's will for you in the ninth commandment?
Answer:
God's will is that I never give false testimony against anyone, twist no one's words, not gossip or slander, nor join in condemning anyone without a hearing or without a just cause.1 Rather, in court and everywhere else, I should avoid lying and deceit of every kind; these are devices the devil himself uses, and they would call down on me God's intense anger.2 I should love the truth, speak it candidly, and openly acknowledge it.3
And I should do what I can to guard and advance my neighbor's good name.4
1 Ps. 15; Prov. 19:5; Matt. 7:1; Luke 6:37; Rom. 1:28-32 2 Lev. 19:11-12; Prov. 12:22; 13:5; John 8:44; Rev. 21:8 3 1 Cor. 13:6; Eph. 4:25 4 1 Pet. 3:8-9; 4:8
Lesson 4 5 (Q. 131 -134)
Question 131 What is the tenth Commandment
Answer:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house, nor his wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his. 1
1 Exodus 20.17.
Question 132 What is God's will for you in the tenth commandment?
Answer:
That not even the slightest thought or desire contrary to any one of God's commandments should ever arise in my heart. Rather, with all my heart I should always hate sin and take pleasure in whatever is right. 1
1 Ps. 19:7-14; 139:23-24; Rom. 7:7-8
Question 133 But can those converted to God obey these commandments perfectly?
Answer:
No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience.1 Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God's commandments. 2
1 Eccles. 7:20; Rom. 7:14-15; 1 Cor. 13:9; 1 John 1:8-10 2 Ps. 1:1-2; Rom. 7:22-25; Phil. 3:12-16
Question 134 No one in this life can obey the Ten Commandments perfectly: why then does God want them preached so pointedly?
Answer:
First, so that the longer we live the more we may come to know our sinfulness and the more eagerly look to Christ for forgiveness of sins and righteousness. 1 Second, so that, while praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, we may never stop striving to be renewed more and more after God's image, until after this life we reach our goal: perfection. 2
1 Ps. 32:5; Rom. 3:19-26; 7:7, 24-25; 1 John 1:9 2 1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 John 3:1-3
Of Prayer (Lessons 46-53)
Lesson 4 6 (Q. 135 -139)
Question 135 Why do Christians need to pray?
Answer:
Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness God requires of us. 1 And also because God gives his grace and Holy Spirit only to those who pray continually and groan inwardly, asking God for these gifts and thanking him for them.2
1 Ps. 50:14-15; 116:12-19; 1 Thess. 5:16-18 2 Matt. 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-13
Question 136 How does God want us to pray so that he will listen to us?
Answer:
First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, who has revealed himself in his Word, asking for everything he has commanded us to ask for.1 Second, we must acknowledge our need and misery, hiding nothing, and humble ourselves in his majestic presence. 2 Third, we must rest on this unshakable foundation: even though we do not deserve it,
God will surely listen to our prayer because of Christ our Lord. That is what he promised us in his Word. 3
1 Ps. 145:18-20; John 4:22-24; Rom. 8:26-27; James 1:5; 1 John 5:14-15 2 2 Chron. 7:14; Ps. 2:11; 34:18; 62:8; Isa. 66:2; Rev. 4 3 Dan. 9:17-19; Matt. 7:8; John 14:13-14; 16:23; Rom. 10:13; James 1:6
Question 137 What did God command us to pray for?
Answer:
Everything we need, spiritually and physically, 1 as embraced in the prayer Christ our Lord himself taught us. 1 James 1:17; Matt. 6:33
Question 138 What is this prayer?
Answer:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen. 1
1 Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4
Question 139 Are Christians tied to this very Form of Prayer?
Answer:
We are not. Our Lord here delivers to his Church a brief Summary of those things which we are to ask of God, but yet Christ also expects us to ask for particular benefits. This form a set of general topics, under which all benefits may be grouped.
All particulars of Prayer must agree & correspond with this general form, although we are not tied to this from. This is apparent from Jam. 1:5. where the Apostle exhorts the Saints, if any of them lack wisdom, they should ask of God, who gives liberally to all, but these words are not found in the form of prayer particularly expressed. In addition, we have examples of prayer both in the Old and New Testament, which do not exactly follow this form although all they asked was included in this prayer.
Lesson 4 7 (Q. 140 -141)
Question 140 Why did Christ command us to call God "our Father"?
Answer:
At the very beginning of our prayer Christ wants to kindle in us what is basic to our prayer--the childlike awe and trust that God through Christ has become our Father. Our fathers do not refuse us the things of this life; God our Father will even less refuse to give us what we ask in faith. 1
1 Matt. 7:9-11; Luke 11:11-13
Question 141 Why the words "in heaven"?
Answer:
These words teach us not to think of God's heavenly majesty as something earthly, 1 and to expect everything for body and soul from his almighty power.2
1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 17:24-25 2 Matt. 6:25-34; Rom. 8:31-32
Lesson 4 8 (Q. 142)
Question 142 What does the first request mean?
Answer:
"Hallowed be your name" means, Help us to really know you, 1 to bless, worship, and praise you for all your works and for all that shines forth from them: your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth.2 And it means, Help us to direct all our living--what we think, say, and do--so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us but always honored and praised. 3
1 Jer. 9:23-24; 31:33-34; Matt. 16:17; John 17:3 2 Ex. 34:5-8; Ps. 145; Jer. 32:16-20; Luke 1:46-55, 68 -75; Rom. 11:33-36 3 Ps. 115:1; Matt. 5:16
Lesson 4 9 (Q. 143)
Question 143 What does the second request mean?
Answer:
"Your kingdom come" means, Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you. 1 Keep your church strong, and add to it. 2 Destroy the devil's work; destroy every force which revolts against you and every conspiracy against your Word. 3 Do this until your kingdom is so complete and perfect that in it you are all in all. 4
1 Ps. 119:5, 105; 143:10; Matt. 6:33 2 Ps. 122:6-9; Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:42-47 3 Rom. 16:20; 1 John 3:8 4 Rom. 8:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:28; Rev. 22:17, 20
Lesson 50 (Q. 144)
Question 144 What does the third request mean?
Answer:
"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" means, Help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any back talk. Your will alone is good. 1 Help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to,2 as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven. 3
1 Matt. 7:21; 16:2 4 -26; Luke 22:42; Rom. 12:1-2; Tit 2:11-12 2 1 Cor. 7:17-24; Eph. 6:5-9 3 Ps. 103:20-21
Lesson 51 (Q. 145)
Question 145 What does the fourth request mean?
Answer:
"Give us today our daily bread" means, Do take care of all our physical needs 1 so that we come to know that you are the only source of everything good, 2 and that neither our work and worry nor your gifts can do us any good without your blessing. 3 And so help us to give up our trust in creatures and to put trust in you alone. 4
1 Ps. 104:27-30; 145:15-16; Matt. 6:25-34 2 Acts 14:17; 17:25; James 1:17 3 Deut. 8:3; Ps. 37:16; 127:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:58 4 Ps. 55:22; 62; 146; Jer. 17:5-8; Heb. 13:5-6
Lesson 52 (Q. 146)
Question 146 What does the fifth request mean?
Answer:
"Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" means, Because of Christ's blood, do not hold against us, poor sinners that we are, any of the sins we do or the evil that constantly clings to us. 1 Forgive us just as we are fully determined, as evidence of your grace in us, to forgive our neighbors. 2
1 Ps. 51:1-7; 143:2; Rom. 8:1; 1 John 2:1-2 2 Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-35
Lesson 53 (Q. 147 -149)
Question 147 What does the sixth request mean?
Answer:
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" means, By ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment.1 And our sworn enemies--the devil, 2 the world, 3 and our own flesh—4 never stop attacking us. And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong with the strength of your Holy Spirit, so that we may not go down to defeat in this spiritual struggle,5 but may firmly resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory. 6
1 Ps. 103:14-16; John 15:1-5 2 2 Cor. 11:14; Eph. 6:10-13; 1 Pet. 5:8 3 John 15:18-21 4 Rom. 7:23; Gal. 5:17 5 Matt. 10:19-20; 26:41; Mark 13:33; Rom. 5:3-5 6 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23
Question 148 What does your conclusion to this prayer mean?
Answer:
"For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever" means, We have made all these requests of you because, as our all-powerful king, you not only want to, but are able to give us
all that is good; 1 and because your holy name, and not we ourselves, should receive all the praise, forever. 2
1 Rom. 10:11-13; 2 Pet. 2:9 2 Ps. 115:1; John 14:13
Question 149 What does that little word "Amen" express?
Answer:
"Amen" means, This is sure to be! It is even more sure that God listens to my prayer, than that I really desire what I pray for. 1
1 Isa. 65:24; 2 Cor. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:13
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A condensed account
Christ Came to Save Sinners, An Introduction & Resources
An Exposition of 1 Timothy 1:15 concerning the Order of Salvation
The Text
1 Timothy 1:12–17 (CSB) I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance:
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” —and I am the worst of them.
But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Introduction
Early early days of my Christian life--early days of pre-Theologicus blogging and way way too much social media presence, I came up an idea to give thanks to God every day in the month of November. I would take what God has done and list every bit of Scripture I could find that would show who God is and what he has done for us. It started with his attributes--his holiness, goodness, love, mercies, etc--and give Scriptural Prooftext for those things. Further still, in what God did for us, the same. God thought of us--all the Scriptures. God saved us--all the Scriptures. And so forth. This was used to essentially to expound essentially Ordo Salutis or the Order of Salvation, which is this:
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
For me to even fathom such a thing was God's grace alone. This was before I knew what exposition, expounding, prooftexting or even Ordo Salutis was.
The posts on Thanksgiving morphed and expanded into what I consider to be my own reference source on the Order of Salvation and most of theology proper. With that reference in hand, I then wrote an exposition on Ordo Salutis to help me understand God's salvation of his people.
Since, I have moved on to the new current blogging format but held off migrating both Thanksgiving and Ordo Salutis to the new format--mostly because I wanted to improve and expound on it. On Ordo Salutis, just to clean and tighten up the writing and exposition (since it has been over a decade since starting that series). But with Thanksgiving, it was purely reference material and I wanted to insert something devotional or expositional into each chapter before spilling over into Scriptural Prooftext.
Then I thought, as the meme goes, "Why not both?"
This is that new series. Lots of work and a little bit of writing and re-writing. But I think it is worth it. I hope you do too.
The Resources
In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel-Centered Life.
Sinclair B. ferguson.
Ligonier Ministries. 2007.
Goodreads
The Christ Key
Chad Bird.
1517 Publishing. July 30, 2021.
Goodreads
The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped Our World
R.C. Sproul.
Crossway. 2018.
Goodreads
The Creedal Imperative.
Carl R. Trueman
Crossway, 2012.
Goodreads
Finally Alive.
John Piper.
Christian Focus. 2009.
Goodreads
Confessions
To the Judicious and Impartial Reader: Baptist Symbolics Volume 2.
James Renihan.
Founders Press. 2022.
Goodreads
A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689
Rob Ventura.
Mentor. January 17, 2023.
Amazon
Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith.
Sproul, R. C.
Orlando: Reformation Trust, 2019.
Goodreads
The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689: Or the Second London Confession with Scripture Proofs
Peter Masters.
Wakeman Trust. January 1, 1981.
Goodreads
Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith.
Samuel E. Waldron.
Evangelical Press. 2013.
Goodreads
The Westminster Confession: The Confession of Faith, The Larger and Shorter Catechism.
Westminster Assembly.
The Directory for the Public Worship of God, with Associated Historical Documents. 2018.
Goodreads
Theology
The Cross of Christ.
John R.W. Stott. 2006.
Goodreads
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
John Owen.
Banner of Truth. 2007.
Goodreads
No Condemnation in Christ Jesus: As Unfolded in the Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
Octavius Winslow.
Banner of Trust. 1991.
Goodreads
On the Incarnation.
Athanasius of Alexandria.
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. 1977.
Goodreads
All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism.
James E. Dolezal.
Reformation Heritage Books. 2017.
Goodreads
Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition.
John Calvin. Robert White (Translator).
Banner of Truth. 2014.
Goodreads
Reformed Dogmatics.
Herman Bavinck, John Bolt (Editor), John Vriend (Translator).
Baker Academic. 2003.
Goodreads
The Wonderful Works of God.
Herman Bavinck.
Westminster Seminary Press. 2019.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Louis Berkhof.
Eerdmans. 1996.
Goodreads
God is Love.
Gerald L. Bray.
Crossway. 2012.
Goodreads
The Existence and Attributes of God, Volume 1-2.
Stephen Charnock, Mark Jones (Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Charles Hodge.
Hendrickson Academic. 1999.
Goodreads
The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way.
Michael S. Horton.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
The Complete Works.
John Owen, Lee Gatiss (Series Editor), Shawn D. Wright (Series Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Knowing God.
J.I. Packer.
Crossway. 2023.
Goodreads
The Works of John Wesley.
John Wesley.
Beacon Hill Press. 1978.
Goodreads
Behold Our God
The Text
Romans 8:27-30 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
The Devotion
To proclaim ourselves as Christians is to proclaim that we believe and trust upon Christ as our Saviour and Lord.
At that beautiful moment, when God saved us, we hope and pray that each one of us are immediately surrounded by other brothers and sisters in Christ that are willing to walk alongside with us in love, encouragement, teaching and exhortation. This is called discipleship. This is the grassroots of the Great Commission. It is my sincere hope that no newly saved person is ever alone by themselves in trying to figure this new found faith especially when the cross of Christ has not only saved us to Himself but saved us to one another. Here at ground zero, at the precise moment when the Holy Spirit takes out our hearts of stone, we are then given a new heart and new desires by God. These new desires are to know and love God more and more each day.
But how is it that we are actually saved by God? This is the question that the idea of Ordo Salutis or "The Order of Salvation" attempts to answer.
But one we start knowing a little of the Bible, the better question might be:
What did God have to do in order to save His people to Himself?
In order to answer this, we have to fully dive into the Scriptures to see what God has revealed about what salvation is. We cannot rely on superstition, church history or simply what "feels good”. We must seek out what God says about salvation.
So in this series, we are going to attempt answer questions such as, "Does the Bible teach about God electing us to salvation?”, "Are we predestined by God?”, "What is free will of man?” and "Can a person truly be saved without the outward appearance of a new heart?”.
So in this, we begin with what some theologians call "the golden chain of salvation" found in this passage:
Romans 8:27-30 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
In verse 30, Paul did not simply throw the words "predestined”, "called”, "justified” and "glorified” at us as though their order did not matter. Paul was very careful in ordering those words in the way that to show what were the steps that God took in order to bring you and me all the way home back to him.
God has not simply created Creation to wind up up like a grand cosmic clock, set it in motion and then let it run its course. God has not looked down the passages of time, seen where we have chosen him and proceeds to choose that timeline. God has not left it up to you or me to save ourselves.
What it is so difficult for people to get is that you and I are born weak, depraved, far from God and without divine help, you and I will die and fall under the wrath of Jesus Christ, God Almighty, Who was, and Is, and Is to Come.
Christ did not come to give us a better life than our unbelieving neighbors. Christ did not come so that our favorite politician can be elected as president. Christ did not come so that a good job, nice home, money in the bank, and good long lives.
John 10:10 (CSB) A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
Luke 5:31–32 (CSB) Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 4:18–19 (CSB) The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Christ came to save his people from their sins.
The Scriptures
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
Genesis 3:1–21 (CSB) Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you. And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.” The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
Genesis 6:1–9 (CSB) When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves. And the LORD said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men. When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the LORD. These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
Genesis 12:1–4 (CSB) The LORD said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
Isaiah 6:1–7 (CSB) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies. Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.
Acts 7:54–8:3 (CSB) When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep. Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.
Acts 9:1–6 (CSB) Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Psalm 16:11 (CSB) You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Psalm 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
The Perfection of His Word
The Text
Psalm 19:7-10 (CSB)
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Psalm 19 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David.1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.
3 There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
4 Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming from his home; it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
6 It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
11 In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13 Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
The Weight of Our Sin
The Text
Psalm 51:4 (CSB)
Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Leviticus 18:24–22:31 (CSB)
24 “Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves by all these things.25 The land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its iniquity, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants.
26 But you are to keep my statutes and ordinances. You must not commit any of these detestable acts—not the native or the alien who resides among you.
27 For the people who were in the land prior to you have committed all these detestable acts, and the land has become defiled.
28 If you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it has vomited out the nations that were before you.
29 Any person who does any of these detestable practices is to be cut off from his people.
30 You must keep my instruction to not do any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them; I am the LORD your God.”
19:1 The LORD spoke to Moses:
2 “Speak to the entire Israelite community and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
3 “Each of you is to respect his mother and father. You are to keep my Sabbaths; I am the LORD your God.
4 Do not turn to worthless idols or make cast images of gods for yourselves; I am the LORD your God.
5 “When you offer a fellowship sacrifice to the LORD, sacrifice it so that you may be accepted.
6 It is to be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day, but what remains on the third day must be burned.
7 If any is eaten on the third day, it is a repulsive thing; it will not be accepted.
8 Anyone who eats it will bear his iniquity, for he has profaned what is holy to the LORD. That person is to be cut off from his people.
9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edge of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.
10 Do not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the resident alien; I am the LORD your God.
11 “Do not steal. Do not act deceptively or lie to one another.
12 Do not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God; I am the LORD.
13 “Do not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages due a hired worker must not remain with you until morning.
14 Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you are to fear your God; I am the LORD.
15 “Do not act unjustly when deciding a case. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly.
16 Do not go about spreading slander among your people; do not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am the LORD.
17 “Do not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him.
18 Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
19 “You are to keep my statutes. Do not crossbreed two different kinds of your livestock, sow your fields with two kinds of seed, or put on a garment made of two kinds of material.
20 “If a man has sexual intercourse with a woman who is a slave designated for another man, but she has not been redeemed or given her freedom, there must be punishment. They are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed.
21 However, he must bring a ram as his guilt offering to the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
22 The priest will make atonement on his behalf before the LORD with the ram of the guilt offering for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven for the sin he committed.
23 “When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, you are to consider the fruit forbidden. It will be forbidden to you for three years; it is not to be eaten.
24 In the fourth year all its fruit is to be consecrated as a praise offering to the LORD.
25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way its yield will increase for you; I am the LORD your God.
26 “You are not to eat anything with blood in it. You are not to practice divination or witchcraft.
27 You are not to cut off the hair at the sides of your head or mar the edge of your beard.
28 You are not to make gashes on your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves; I am the LORD.
29 “Do not debase your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.
30 Keep my Sabbaths and revere my sanctuary; I am the LORD.
31 “Do not turn to mediums or consult spiritists, or you will be defiled by them; I am the LORD your God.
32 “You are to rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the old. Fear your God; I am the LORD.
33 “When an alien resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him.
34 You will regard the alien who resides with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.
35 “Do not be unfair in measurements of length, weight, or volume.
36 You are to have honest balances, honest weights, an honest dry measure, and an honest liquid measure; I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37 Keep all my statutes and all my ordinances and do them; I am the LORD.”
20:1 The LORD spoke to Moses:
2 “Say to the Israelites: Any Israelite or alien residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death; the people of the country are to stone him.
3 I will turn against that man and cut him off from his people, because he gave his offspring to Molech, defiling my sanctuary and profaning my holy name.
4 But if the people of the country look the other way when that man gives any of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death,
5 then I will turn against that man and his family, and cut off from their people both him and all who follow him in prostituting themselves with Molech.
6 “Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists and prostitutes himself with them, I will turn against that person and cut him off from his people.
7 Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.
8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am the LORD who sets you apart.
9 “If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his death is his own fault.
10 “If a man commits adultery with a married woman—if he commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.
11 If a man sleeps with his father’s wife, he has violated the intimacy that belongs to his father. Both of them must be put to death; their death is their own fault.
12 If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have acted perversely; their death is their own fault.
13 If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman, they have both committed a detestable act. They must be put to death; their death is their own fault.
14 If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is depraved. Both he and they must be burned, so that there will be no depravity among you.
15 If a man has sexual intercourse with an animal, he must be put to death; you are also to kill the animal.
16 If a woman approaches any animal and mates with it, you are to kill the woman and the animal. They must be put to death; their death is their own fault.
17 If a man marries his sister, whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be cut off publicly from their people. He has had sexual intercourse with his sister; he will bear his iniquity.
18 If a man sleeps with a menstruating woman and has sexual intercourse with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood. Both of them are to be cut off from their people.
19 You must not have sexual intercourse with your mother’s sister or your father’s sister, for it is exposing one’s own blood relative; both people will bear their iniquity.
20 If a man sleeps with his aunt, he has violated the intimacy that belongs to his uncle; they will bear their guilt and die childless.
21 If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is impurity. He has violated the intimacy that belongs to his brother; they will be childless.
22 “You are to keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out.
23 You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and I abhorred them.
24 And I promised you: You will inherit their land, since I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God who set you apart from the peoples.
25 Therefore you are to distinguish the clean animal from the unclean one, and the unclean bird from the clean one. Do not become contaminated by any land animal, bird, or whatever crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you.
26 You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be mine.
27 “A man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist must be put to death. They are to be stoned; their death is their own fault.”
21:1 The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them: A priest is not to make himself ceremonially unclean for a dead person among his relatives,
2 except for his immediate family: his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother.
3 He may make himself unclean for his unmarried virgin sister in his immediate family.
4 He is not to make himself unclean for those related to him by marriage and so defile himself.
5 “Priests may not make bald spots on their heads, shave the edge of their beards, or make gashes on their bodies.
6 They are to be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they present the food offerings to the LORD, the food of their God, and they must be holy.
7 They are not to marry a woman defiled by prostitution. They are not to marry one divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.
8 You are to consider him holy since he presents the food of your God. He will be holy to you because I, the LORD who sets you apart, am holy.
9 If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by promiscuity, she defiles her father; she must be burned to death.
10 “The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the clothes, must not dishevel his hair or tear his clothes.
11 He must not go near any dead person or make himself unclean even for his father or mother.
12 He must not leave the sanctuary or he will desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am the LORD.
13 “He is to marry a woman who is a virgin.
14 He is not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people,
15 so that he does not corrupt his bloodline among his people, for I am the LORD who sets him apart.”
16 The LORD spoke to Moses:
17 “Tell Aaron: None of your descendants throughout your generations who has a physical defect is to come near to present the food of his God.
18 No man who has any defect is to come near: no man who is blind, lame, facially disfigured, or deformed;
19 no man who has a broken foot or hand,
20 or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has an eye defect, a festering rash, scabs, or a crushed testicle.
21 No descendant of the priest Aaron who has a defect is to come near to present the food offerings to the LORD. He has a defect and is not to come near to present the food of his God.
22 He may eat the food of his God from what is especially holy as well as from what is holy.
23 But because he has a defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar. He is not to desecrate my holy places, for I am the LORD who sets them apart.”
24 Moses said this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.
22:1 The LORD spoke to Moses:
2 “Tell Aaron and his sons to deal respectfully with the holy offerings of the Israelites that they have consecrated to me, so they do not profane my holy name; I am the LORD.
3 Say to them: If any man from any of your descendants throughout your generations is in a state of uncleanness yet approaches the holy offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the LORD, that person will be cut off from my presence; I am the LORD.
4 No man of Aaron’s descendants who has a skin disease or a discharge is to eat from the holy offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything made unclean by a dead person or by a man who has an emission of semen,
5 or whoever touches any swarming creature that makes him unclean or any person who makes him unclean—whatever his uncleanness—
6 the man who touches any of these will remain unclean until evening and is not to eat from the holy offerings unless he has bathed his body with water.
7 When the sun has set, he will become clean, and then he may eat from the holy offerings, for that is his food.
8 He must not eat an animal that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts, making himself unclean by it; I am the LORD.
9 They must keep my instruction, or they will be guilty and die because they profane it; I am the LORD who sets them apart.
10 “No one outside a priest’s family is to eat the holy offering. A foreigner staying with a priest or a hired worker is not to eat the holy offering.
11 But if a priest purchases someone with his own silver, that person may eat it, and those born in his house may eat his food.
12 If the priest’s daughter is married to a man outside a priest’s family, she is not to eat from the holy contributions.
13 But if the priest’s daughter becomes widowed or divorced, has no children, and returns to her father’s house as in her youth, she may share her father’s food. But no outsider may share it.
14 If anyone eats a holy offering in error, he is to add a fifth to its value and give the holy offering to the priest.
15 The priests must not profane the holy offerings the Israelites give to the LORD
16 by letting the people eat their holy offerings and having them bear the penalty of restitution. For I am the LORD who sets them apart.”
17 The LORD spoke to Moses:
18 “Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites and tell them: Any man of the house of Israel or of the resident aliens in Israel who presents his offering—whether they present payment of vows or freewill gifts to the LORD as burnt offerings—
19 must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for you to be accepted.
20 You are not to present anything that has a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf.
21 “When a man presents a fellowship sacrifice to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it has to be unblemished to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it.
22 You are not to present any animal to the LORD that is blind, injured, maimed, or has a running sore, festering rash, or scabs; you may not put any of them on the altar as a food offering to the LORD.
23 You may sacrifice as a freewill offering any animal from the herd or flock that has an elongated or stunted limb, but it is not acceptable as a vow offering.
24 You are not to present to the LORD anything that has bruised, crushed, torn, or severed testicles; you must not sacrifice them in your land.
25 Neither you nor a foreigner are to present food to your God from any of these animals. They will not be accepted for you because they are deformed and have a defect.”
26 The LORD spoke to Moses:
27 “When an ox, sheep, or goat is born, it is to remain with its mother for seven days; from the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as an offering, a food offering to the LORD.
28 But you are not to slaughter an animal from the herd or flock on the same day as its young.
29 When you sacrifice a thank offering to the LORD, sacrifice it so that you may be accepted.
30 It is to be eaten on the same day. Do not let any of it remain until morning; I am the LORD.
31 “You are to keep my commands and do them; I am the LORD.
Psalm 51 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.1 Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.
2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.
5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.
10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.
18 In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
1 Peter 1:13–2:12 (CSB)
13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.
15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct;
16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.
18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.
20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly,
23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
24 For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.
2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation,
3 if you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—
5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.
7 So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone,
8 and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.
12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
The Love of God
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
The Covenant of God
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
The Power of God
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Perfect Work of Christ
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Sufficient Work of Christ--We Are Clean
The Text
1 John 1:7–9 (CSB) If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Finished Work of Christ
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Rescuing Work of Christ
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Creating Work of Christ
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Spirit Gives Us A New Heart
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Spirit Gives Us Faith
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Spirit Gives Us A Renewed Mind
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Spirit Gives Us Belonging
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Spirit Gives Us Peace
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Spirit Gives Us Growth
After everything that God has done, it is only now you can repent of your sins.
LOOK AT GOD!
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Spirit Gives Us Life Forever
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
What Shall We Say to These Things?
The Text
The Devotion
The Scriptures
Genesis: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
Why Genesis? The pat answer is that it is beginning of everything that God has done. Everything we read from Exodus on, including and especially in the Gospels, can be traced right back to the first instance in Genesis.
The real answer is that this is a sincere challenge and I want to walk through it.
Here just the very small list of resources on Genesis that I have found most helpful.
The Resources
It Goes Without Say
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries & Books
I don't have a personal insightful recommendation on the following. I just wanted to have a stack of resources that I can check by and draw from if I need to.
Calvin's Commentaries.
John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
Genesis
James Montgomery Boice.
Baker Books. May 1, 2006.
Goodreads
Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (Preaching the Word)
R. Kent Hughes.
Crossway. November 30, 2012.
Goodreads
Genesis (Word Biblical Commentary)
Gordon J. Wenham.
Thomas Nelson Inc. October 9, 1987.
Goodreads
The Gospel in Genesis
Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
Crossway. 2009.
Goodreads
Genesis 1:1 Our Forever Love
The Word
John 1:1-2 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
The Text
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The Support
You would think that when you about to study Genesis, that the first study you are about to do is something about Creation. Almost. But to be honest, we are not just there yet.
Before the heavens and the earth were formed, before the mountains took shape and the oceans were filled, before time and space were created, from everlasting to everlasting there is one God.
What was God doing before he created the heavens and the earth? In other words, what was God doing before Genesis 1:1?
God
Before we even came about, God had everything he needed--he was not in need of anything more
John 10:25-30 (CSB) “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 17:1-5 (CSB) Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent —Jesus Christ. I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed.
To say "relationship" and "community" to describe the Triune God does not do it justice. It feels incomplete--I think mostly so because here on earth, we have never experienced perfect relationships and community with one another. Those concepts and words are marred, tainted and infected with sin and wickedness.
But not so with God.
The best way I have ever heard this explained was my old professor, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, who loosely quoting Augustine, explained it this way:
"You, me and one other person can be in the same room but we have three minds, wills, and spirits, along with three physical bodies. While the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can be in the same room, three distinct and different people but share one mind, one heart, one will, and one spirit."
Look how Christ explained it:
Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed.
And
I and the Father are one.
That is an insane thought. Never mind the fact that first century Jews saw that statement as utter blasphemous. But any mind from any time period would take that statement as nuts and insane. I am one with God? Looney.
But just because we can't wrap our minds around the concept of being one, doesn't mean it is not for real.
We will get there by the grace of God alone. Until then, the Father will conform us to the image of his Son so that he might be the firstborn among his siblings. (Romans 8:29)
Before time and space were thought of, God had already set his affection upon his people
Psalms 90:1-2 (CSB) Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Romans 8:28-30 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Ephesians 1:3-6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Ephesians 2:1-5 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Romans 5:6-8 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I have heard so many weird explanations from well-intended Christians try to do their best to explain away words like predestination and foreknew when it comes to God. We don't have a frame for knowing before existing. We don't have a mindset of loving before we were alive. But for the God was is from everlasting to everlasting, this is who he is and nothing more nor less.
There is one thought called Molinism that attempts to bridge the omniscience and omnipotence of God and the supposed free will of Mankind. Molinism explains it this way: "God sees throughout all of time and in every timeline and see where individuals would choose Him and makes that timeline happen." But there is a couple problems with that:
First, the Bible states that we were dead in our trespasses. So how does a dead person able to choose God unless there is something outside of that dead person to give them life? Have you ever met a dead person who brought himself back to life? Christ did so by the Holy Spirit. How can any one else do more than that? And in this, Romans 5:8 is such a comfort:
Romans 5:6-8 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The Bible rightly states that we were helpless and ungodly. But God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Think about this: when did the crucifixion of Christ occurred? A little over two thousand years ago. When did you start sinning against God? Before or after that? Christ never looked down the corridors of time and saw that we were choosing God but rather, he looked down the corridors of time, saw that were running hard into sin and death. Titus 3 says it best:
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Christ saw all of that and with great joy descended into death upon the cross so that we would live!
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Second, the Scriptures never says "foresaw" as in "God looked into time and foresaw those who would choose him." No, God foreknew his people.
Don't overthink it. God loved his people before time began.
God is eternal like that.
This is complete conjuncture because the Scriptures are not explicit and I certainly was not there. But I always thought that before anything, the Father and the Son were in perfection expressing their love for one another and then the conversation took a turn:
Father: I love you
Son: I love you
Father: I love you so much
Son: I love you so much
Father: I had a thought
Son: Oh yea!
Father: Do you know who I love so much?
Son: Alex? What about Kim?
Father: Yes. What about Dieter?
Son: Oh snap... and how about Dwayne
Father: and Lori
Son: and Jessica
Father: and Natsuko
Son: and what about...
Father: and what about...
Son: laughs
Father: laughs
Son: You know what I am thinking
Father: I had the same thought. With tears in his eyes But you know what is going to happen?
Son: Yea, I know. Tears welling up But don't you worry, I will go get them.
Father: This is hard and I will send you to save them all... but you are going to need all the help in the world.
Son: I wouldn't do it with Him. Spirit, you ready?
Spirit: deeply exhales Ready!
Father: I love you.
Son: I love you.
Father: I love you so much.
Son: I love you so much.
Father: Here we go!
Son: Let's do this!
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The Gospel
God, who is love and is the only one who can properly define what love is, in his perfection from eternity past to the eternity future, always had those who believed and trust in his Son.
If you believe and trust his Son, then before Genesis 1:1 even happen, God affectionately, passionately, perfectly, definitely loved you and loved you before everything.
You now have eyes to see, ears to hear, mind to think, and a new heart with new desires. You have the same Spirit in you that raised Christ Jesus from the dead.
You are not just a physical body walking around merely existing. You are now fully and truly alive.
Our Response
What is ours to do?
Figure out who is the elect and not the elect? Nope! That mystery does not belong to us.
Break our theology and the English language trying to make two concepts of sovereignty and the freedom of the will of dead people and make them compatible? Nope. God makes it clear for what we are to know. We don't get to fully know God--our finite minds cannot possible comprehend him on that level. But because of the perfect life and perfect death of Christ our Lord, we get to truly know him.
What we get do: repent of our sins and put our trust in the Mighty One who saves.
Genesis 1:1-5 Our Forever Wisdom
The Word
Proverbs 3:19-20 (CSB)
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom
and established the heavens by understanding.
By his knowledge the watery depths broke open,
and the clouds dripped with dew.
The Text
Genesis 1:1-5 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.
The Support
In the beginning, there was God. God made the heavens and the earth.
But all that God did was by his wisdom. God's wisdom was meant for all of creation for all time.
Let us see how the wisdom of God was there in beginning. And despite our fallen world, we can see where the wisdom of God permeated unscathed throughout all of time.
God
His Wisdom is in the being of the Spirit of God
Jeremiah 10:12-13 cf. 51:15-16 (CSB)
He made the earth by his power,
established the world by his wisdom,
and spread out the heavens by his understanding.
When he thunders,
the waters in the heavens are in turmoil,
and he causes the clouds to rise
from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain
and brings the wind from his storehouses.
His Wisdom is in His Word
Luke 11:47-51 (CSB) “Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Therefore, you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments. Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world — from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.
“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.
His Wisdom is in the Church
Ephesians 3:8-13 (CSB) This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.
His Wisdom is in Him as Father
Proverbs 29:15 (CSB) A rod of correction imparts wisdom,
but a youth left to himself
is a disgrace to his mother.
Hebrews 12:3-11 (CSB) For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:
My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly
or lose heart when you are reproved by him,
for the Lord disciplines the one he loves
and punishes every son he receives.Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Luke 2:52 (CSB) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
His Wisdom is in His Son
Isaiah 11:1-5 (CSB) Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
His delight will be in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge
by what he sees with his eyes,
he will not execute justice
by what he hears with his ears,
but he will judge the poor righteously
and execute justice for the oppressed of the land.
He will strike the land
with a scepter from his mouth,
and he will kill the wicked
with a command from his lips.
Righteousness will be a belt around his hips;
faithfulness will be a belt around his waist.
John 1:1-5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
When God created mankind, that wisdom was meant for us to use. Because of the perfect relationship and community we once had, we would truly had untapped access to the wisdom of God. Now, despite our fallen world, his wisdom perseveres but we no longer have access to it freely. For us to know God, we will need God to open our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts in order to see him, hear him, know him, and love him.
The Gospel
Now, because we are born fallen away from God and therefore, infinitely apart from God, God had to do everything in order to bridge the gap between us and him.
Here is the rub: the distance between God and us is infinite. We are finite beings who cannot mathematically, naturally, soulfully, and theologically bridge that gap. In order for us to get to God, something infinitely expansive and powerful will have to be the bridge.
That would be Jesus Christ.
Despite the brokenness of the cosmos, God's wisdom still prevails. Think about this: of all the ways we could save ourselves from destruction, do you think that any of us could have fathom for God to become man only to die as man for the children of God once and for all?
In certain circles within Christianity, they would say that it is enough for God to forgive us of our sin because that is what God does. But when we say that no sacrifice was needed, that makes God little and our sins little in his sight.
God is holy. He is not scared of our sins but he surely does not have to tolerate sin. The fact that he is holy means that he never has to deal with sin nor the effects of sin.
I bet I can get 100% response: raise your hands if you would not like to be affect by sin.
No one does. Yet we are all affected by our own sin and the sins of others. And it hurts. And it sucks. And it grieves us. And it breaks our hearts. It breaks our minds and our emotions.
We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) In order to forgive our sin, there must be the shedding of the blood. Something worthy must lose their life in order to gain life.
In His Wisdom, God foreknew us in our wickedness and sin
Romans 5:6-9 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
In His Wisdom, God Shed the Blood of His Son
Hebrews 9:19-28 (CSB) For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you. In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood. According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
In His Wisdom, God Was Pleased To Punish His Son For Our Sake
Isaiah 53:10-11 (CSB) Yet the LORD was pleased to crush him severely.
When you make him a guilt offering,
he will see his seed, he will prolong his days,
and by his hand, the LORD’s pleasure will be accomplished.
After his anguish,
he will see light and be satisfied.
By his knowledge,
my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will carry their iniquities.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
In His Wisdom, He Willfully and Joyfully Obeyed Unto Death
Matthew 26:37-42 (CSB) Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
Philippians 2:5-8 (CSB) Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
In His Wisdom, the Father Glorifies the Son
Philippians 2:9-11 (CSB)
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Our Response
Turn to God. Repent. Lay our sin upon Christ His Son. This is the wisdom of God that does not make sense to the world. It doesn't have to make sense to them. It almost doesn't have to make sense to us--we just need to trust and obey the gospel of Christ crucified.
But because His people turn to God and believe, this is what God does:
In His Wisdom, We Are Glorified with the Son
Romans 8:14-17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:28-30 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
That same wisdom that was there from the beginning that we once had. We have to take a hold of it by taking a hold of the Source of all Wisdom. We ask for wisdom from God by asking God for God.
We Call Upon and Desperately Need This Same Exact Wisdom
Proverbs 9:9-10 (CSB) Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still;
teach the righteous, and he will learn more.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
James 1:5-8 (CSB) Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
James 3:13-18 (CSB) Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
Now, how do I know that Christ joyfully obeyed God evening unto death on the cross? Because in the 2nd chapter of Acts, Peter preaches this about Christ himself:
Psalms 16:7-11 (CSB)
I will bless the LORD who counsels me—
even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
I always let the LORD guide me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad
and my whole being rejoices;
my body also rests securely.
For you will not abandon me to Sheol;
you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
You reveal the path of life to me;
in your presence is abundant joy;
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Genesis 1:6-13 Our Forever Home
The Word
Hebrews 11:3 (CSB) By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was
The Text
Genesis 1:6-13 (CSB) Then God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.” So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. God called the expanse “sky.” Evening came and then morning: the second day.
Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of the water he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” And it was so. The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Evening came and then morning: the third day.
God
The faith of the believer in Christ is that God made everything and he did so out of nothing
Acts 17:24-28 (ESV) The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
God alone is Creator, Sovereign, Omnipresent, Provider of Everything including life
24-25 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
The Gospel
God determines the times and places of where we live
26From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.
God does this not because of our comfort, liking, investments, or the safety so that we could carry out the commission from Christ Jesus
27He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
The glory of God is not contained in what we do--no matter how hard we try to box in God
28For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ Since, then, we are God’s offspring, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.
Psalms 72:19 (CSB) Blessed be his glorious name forever; the whole earth is filled with his glory. Amen and amen.
Habakkuk 2:14 (CSB) For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD’s glory, as the water covers the sea.
Idolatry is our feeble attempt to control God.
Our Response
Why are we to carry out the Great Commission?
Why are we to "go, and raise disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything Christ commands us to do?" (Matthew 28:19-20)
Why are we to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:15)?
Why are we to be His "witnesses" in our city, our nation, and all over the world? (Acts 1:8)
Here is the gospel command
Acts 17:30-31 (CSB) Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Now, I have said it once, I will say it a hundred times: the commands of the Lord are easier said than done.
When you preach, share, proclaim the gospel--when you share your testimony and the power of God--you are going to get three responses
You will be ridiculed and mocked
Acts 17:32-34 (CSB) When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him...
You will get some with good intentions with a hundred questions or just some lookee-lous
... but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.”
You will get some that will just follow Christ
So Paul left their presence. However, some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
No matter what the response that you get in the moment
God will be with you always
God will be with you until the end of the age
God is redeeming the whole earth
Our forever home was never about the dirt underneath our feet, the roof over our heads, or even the family we do or don't have, it was always the presence of the Almighty God.
God is sending every single person who trusts and obeys His Son Jesus Christ to invite and bring in others who are far, far from him.
Go and tell them that there is a God who made you, who loves you, who is not far from you, who is inviting you change your mind about your life, to trust in Him, and come on home to him forever.
In his presence, there is only life, there is only fullness of joy and there is only pleasures forevermore
Psalms 16:11 (ESV)
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
In his presence, is only complete satisfaction
Psalms 17:15 (ESV)
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
There is nothing else ever--not your life, being married, sex, success, power, wealth, kids--nothing at all will give you complete satisfaction and pleasures forevermore.
Once God opens our eyes, renews our minds, and exchanges our hearts, we worship like the sons of Korah once sang:
Psalms 84:10 (CSB) Better a day in your courts
than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than live in the tents of wicked people.
Genesis 1:14-19 Our Forever Light
The Word
John 8:12 (CSB) Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
The Text
Genesis 1:14-19 (CSB) Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars. God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.
God
From the beginning, when God made day and night, he was always the light and life of men
John 1:1-5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
The whole of Scripture testifies that God is only only life and light
John 1:6-9 (CSB) There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
Matthew 23:29-32 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ So you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors’ sins!
Matthew 23:33-36 (CSB) “Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell? This is why I am sending you prophets, sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.
The Gospel
You are not born into this
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
Some have rejected God
John 1:10-11 (CSB) He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
This is the gospel command: receive Jesus as your life!
John 1:12-13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
John 6:68-69 (CSB) Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
You want Jesus? You will have to be born again
John 3:3-5 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
That means your old life is dead
It is all of Romans 6.
- 1 - You don't get to sin all the more just because of grace
- 2 - We are dead to sin
- 3 - When we are baptized, we are baptized unto his death
- 4 - because Christ has risen from death, we get to walk in the newness of life
- 5 - because we are united with him in death, we are united in him in life
You are a new creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
Luke 13:1-5 (CSB) At that time, some people came and reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And he responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well. Or those eighteen that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.”
Our Response
Repent of sin
John 8:2-12 (CSB) At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.
Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, Lord,” she answered.
“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
Trust in Christ--he alone is life
Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
Genesis 1:20-25 Our Forever Creator
The Word
Hebrews 11:3 (CSB) By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
The Text
Genesis 1:20-25 (CSB) Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them: “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” Evening came and then morning: the fifth day.
Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
God
God Made Everything Out of Nothing
To believe in God, to trust in Christ, and to take Him at His word, by that very same word, you must believe that He created everything out of nothing. This is essentially to the faith of the Christian. There are no exceptions.
That is why the Apostles' Creed declares from the start:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And the Nicene Creed from the beginning also declares:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
What I did not say that we are somehow forbidden to discover, research, and examine all of God's creation--we should because all knowledge, science, and truth comes from God. (1 Corinthians 3:18-23) We can debate how we got here, the number of years that mankind has existed, the number of years that creation itself has existed--there is contention and debate there and I know that those debates will always continue on this side of heaven.
However, I will say this again: to be a Christian is to believe that Christ is your Savior and Lord and from within that belief, we believe that God is Creator of everything. The whole of Scripture declares this rightly. From that belief, here are two doctrinal implications. In other words, according to Scripture, since you must believe that God created everything, here are two results of that belief.
God is Sovereign Lord Over All Creation
This is not from a mere observation viewpoint as God sees everything as he told Job:
Job 39:1-4 (CSB) Do you know when mountain goats give birth?
Have you watched the deer in labor?
Can you count the months they are pregnant
so you can know the time they give birth?
They crouch down to give birth to their young;
they deliver their newborn.
Their offspring are healthy and grow up in the open field.
They leave and do not return.
However, remember of the story of Noah. Noah was declared righteous and then he obeyed God in building the ark. Noah did not have to command creation--that responsibility fell directly on God who is Lord:
Genesis 7:8-9 (CSB) From the animals that are clean, and from the animals that are not clean, and from the birds and every creature that crawls on the ground, two of each, male and female, came to Noah and entered the ark, just as God had commanded him.
God is Provider for All of Creation
If you continue to read on in Job 39 till chapter 41, God will continue to emphasize that he is the basic need provider for all of His creation.
The author of Psalms 104 worships in this way:
Psalms 104:10-18 (CSB)
He causes the springs to gush into the valleys;
they flow between the mountains.
They supply water for every wild beast;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds of the sky live beside the springs;
they make their voices heard among the foliage.
He waters the mountains from his palace;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of your labor.
He causes grass to grow for the livestock
and provides crops for man to cultivate,
producing food from the earth,
wine that makes human hearts glad—
making his face shine with oil—
and bread that sustains human hearts.
The trees of the LORD flourish,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
There the birds make their nests;
storks make their homes in the pine trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the cliffs are a refuge for hyraxes.
During the ministry of Jesus, he was confronted with the practical needs of the people--the need for shelter, protection, clothes, food, and water. That is why when we see a need among our neighbors, because we are the Bride of Christ, we get to respond in the way God responds to our need.
Look at how Jesus speaks of this provision for our most basic needs:
Matthew 6:26-30 (CSB) Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?
The Gospel
This is the gospel commandment of God: believe and trust in Him alone.
If we are to believe and trust in him, we must understand a couple of things.
God is need of nothing--He owns all of creation
Psalms 50:1-13 (CSB)
The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks;
he summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God appears in radiance.
Our God is coming; he will not be silent!
Devouring fire precedes him,
and a storm rages around him.
On high, he summons heaven and earth
in order to judge his people:
“Gather my faithful ones to me,
those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
for God is the Judge.Selah
“Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel.
I am God, your God.
I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices
or for your burnt offerings,
which are continually before me.
I will not take a bull from your household
or male goats from your pens,
for every animal of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird of the mountains,
and the creatures of the field are mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and everything in it is mine.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
Since he owns everything--everything we have comes from God
Psalms 16:5-6 (CSB)
LORD, you are my portion
and my cup of blessing;
you hold my future.
The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Here is the call: change your mind about what you have and where it comes from.
Our paychecks, our livelihood, the knowledge in our brains, the strength in our hands, the college we attended, the cars we drive, the clothes on our back, 5G and high speed internet--all of it--comes from God.
Our Response
Believe in God as Provision
But to say we believe in God, trust in Christ and take him at his word, means that we know that He will provide for all of our needs.
Matthew 6:31-32 (CSB) So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
God spoke all of creation out of nothing into existence. Do you think he struggles with providing for our needs? Absolutely not.
If we know that and trust God in that, how can we respond?
Thank the Lord Because He Provides for Us Everything
Psalms 50:14-15 (CSB) Offer a thanksgiving sacrifice to God,
and pay your vows to the Most High.
Call on me in a day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”
Seek After What Really Matters
Matthew 6:33 (CSB) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
Just like God provides the necessary sacrifice to save Isaac, God sends his Son as the necessary sacrifice to save our lives.
34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
For the Christian, our days are in his hands. Our lives are forever with him. No one can snatch us out of his hands. Not even death can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Genesis 1:26-31 Our Forever Image
The Text
Genesis 1:26-31 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
So God created man
in his own image;
he created him in the image of God;
he created them male and female.God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.
The Support
We are the image bearers, the mirror reflections of God
God takes our image bearing seriously
So many of the laws of God deals with how we are to treat other humans. Do not steal. Do not covet. Do not kill. Invite the immigrant in. Care for the widow, orphan, and the poor. Even when we take those laws lightly, God takes them ultra serious. When we try to turn a blind eye, God sees all. When we are faithless, He is faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13)
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Numbers 12 (CSB) Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he married (for he had married a Cushite woman). They said, “Does the LORD speak only through Moses? Does he not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard it. Moses was a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.
Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “You three come out to the tent of meeting.” So the three of them went out. Then the LORD descended in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them came forward, he said:
“Listen to what I say:
If there is a prophet among you from the LORD,
I make myself known to him in a vision;
I speak with him in a dream.
Not so with my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my household.
I speak with him directly,
openly, and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the LORD.So why were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” The LORD’s anger burned against them, and he left.
As the cloud moved away from the tent, Miriam’s skin suddenly became diseased, resembling snow. When Aaron turned toward her, he saw that she was diseased and said to Moses, “My lord, please don’t hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed. Please don’t let her be like a dead baby whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb.”
God
For God to save his people, he will have to be his people
Hosea 2:23b (ESV) And I will have mercy on No Mercy,
and I will say to Not My People, You are my people’;
and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’”
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
For God to save his people, the law must be perfectly obeyed
Philippians 2:7-8 (CSB) Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
Romans 8:3-4 (CSB) For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
For God to save his people, the blood of the perfect sacrifice must be shed for the forgiveness of sins
Hebrews 9:11-12 (CSB) But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
The Gospel
Through the blood of Christ, we are no longer enemies but reconciled to God
Romans 5:6-11 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Through the blood of Christ, there is no distinction among the people of God
Colossians 3:11 (CSB) In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
Our Response
Know that our sin against one another is sin against God
Colossians 3:5-11 (CSB) Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
Psalms 51:1-5 (CSB) Be gracious to me, God,
according to your faithful love;
according to your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion.
Completely wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you—you alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in your sight.
So you are right when you pass sentence;
you are blameless when you judge.
Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Know that when we trust in Christ, we are cleansed from all sin
Psalms 51:6-19 (CSB) Surely you desire integrity in the inner self,
and you teach me wisdom deep within.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.
God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore the joy of your salvation to me,
and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach the rebellious your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God—
God of my salvation—
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;
you are not pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.
You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.
In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;
build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Know that because of Christ, we get to forgive one another
Numbers 12:13-14 (CSB) Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “God, please heal her!”
The LORD answered Moses, “If her father had merely spit in her face, wouldn’t she remain in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”
Matthew 6:12-15 (CSB) And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.“For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.
Luke 23:32-34 (CSB) Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him. When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
Know that because of Christ, we get to love one another
John 13:34-35 (CSB) “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Romans 12:10 (CSB) Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.
1 John 4:7-11 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.
Genesis 2:1-3 Our Forever Rest
The Word
Exodus 20:8-11 (CSB) Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. For the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.
The Text
Genesis 2:1-3 (CSB) So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation.
The Support
Two explicit commands were given to mankind before the Fall, only one of them is forever
While the command of not eating from a certain tree no longer applies to us, we are still to rest after six days of work because God rested after six days of work.
God is Creator. We are his creation. We are to always obey our Creator. The call to obedience to God is always present: from Creation through the Garden through the Law all the way to the Gospel.
One thing has always been consistent: we are to obey our Creator and we are to rest like our Creator.
But why?
God
Look at God's heart towards us and some of the ways He is to His creation:
God loves us and has set apart his children from looking like the rest of the world
Deuteronomy 7:7-11 (CSB) The LORD had his heart set on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors, he brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps his gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commands. But he directly pays back and destroys those who hate him. He will not hesitate to pay back directly the one who hates him. So keep the command—the statutes and ordinances—that I am giving you to follow today.
Leviticus 20:26 (CSB) You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be mine.
God loves us and is always our protection and refuge from sin and evil
Psalms 61:1-3 (CSB) God, hear my cry;
pay attention to my prayer.
I call to you from the ends of the earth
when my heart is without strength.
Lead me to a rock that is high above me,
for you have been a refuge for me,
a strong tower in the face of the enemy.
Psalms 18:1-2 (CSB) I love you, LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock,
my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock where I seek refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
Psalms 18:30-31 (CSB) God—his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is pure.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is a rock? Only our God.
God loves us and has always been our home
John 14:1-5 (CSB) “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.”
“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”
The Gospel
Here's the good news: the good news of Christ brings us all the way home to the Father.
Within the gospel, we must understand the truth that Jesus is the only way to fullness of life and eternal life.
God loves us and in Christ alone, he is the only way to God
John 14:6-7 (CSB) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
God loves us and in Christ alone, he is the only one who will satisfy the eternal hole within our hearts
And the Triune God does so by dwelling in our hearts.
Psalms 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
Psalms 16:11 (ESV) You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
God loves us and in Christ alone, we have our rest
In Christ alone, we get satisfaction.
In Christ alone, we get to live.
In Christ alone, we get the fullness of joy.
In Christ alone, we get pleasures evermore.
In Christ alone, we finally get to rest.
What does Christ say?
Matthew 11:29-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Our Response
God loves us and one day, in him alone, we will have our rest forever
Revelation 21:1-8 (CSB) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Genesis 2:4-25 Our Forever Righteousness
The Word
Psalms 1:2-3 (CSB) Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams
that bears its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
The Text
Genesis 2:4-25 (CSB) These are the records of the heavens and the earth, concerning their creation. At the time that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, no shrub of the field had yet grown on the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not made it rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground. But mist would come up from the earth and water all the ground. Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he placed the man he had formed. The LORD God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
A river went out from Eden to water the garden. From there it divided and became the source of four rivers. The name of the first is Pishon, which flows through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. Gold from that land is pure; bdellium and onyx are also there. The name of the second river is Gihon, which flows through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris, which runs east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.” The LORD God formed out of the ground every wild animal and every bird of the sky, and brought each to the man to see what he would call it. And whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man no helper was found corresponding to him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the LORD God made the rib he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man said:
This one, at last, is bone of my bone
and flesh of my flesh;
this one will be called “woman,”
for she was taken from man.This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.
God
God is our forever righteousness.
The way God designed, loved, and created all of mankind, his own creation, his own image, and Adam and Eve, his originally created son and daughter was in righteousness--that is, right-standing with him forever and ever.
The fall of mankind is not God's fault. Sin is high treason and rebellion against our great God. And by birth and by choice, we are continue to rebel against this great and holy God.
Don't you see? There is nothing that you or I can do to make ourselves right with him. God must do all the work because God is the source of all righteousness. Because we have fallen away, we have no ounce of righteousness to make our way to God.
And attributes like righteousness, holiness, and just--just because mankind can be a little bit of those things, not so with God. Either God is perfectly righteous or not at all. God is perfectly holy or not at all. God is fully merciful or not at all. This perfection of everything that the Bible says about God can be summed up in one word: glory. But that is for a whole other series.
In other words, God is the standard of living and of life. He is the moral and ethic standard. We are the ones that are far from Him, not the other way around.
Looking at Creation and specifically in Creation in how it relates to mankind: Adam, the imagebearer, the right-standing son of God (Luke 3:38)
God is righteous in our life
Life does not come from sin. Only death comes from sin. God is righteous--God is perfect and without sin. From that righteousness, God literally breathes life into us.
4 These are the records of the heavens and the earth, concerning their creation. At the time that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, no shrub of the field had yet grown on the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not made it rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground. But mist would come up from the earth and water all the ground. Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
John 1:1-5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
God is righteous in our provision
If God, who is righteous, gives literal life, God is righteous in the provision of sustaining that life.
8 The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he placed the man he had formed. The LORD God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Psalms 16:5-6 (CSB) LORD, you are my portion
and my cup of blessing;
you hold my future.
The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Matthew 6:31-34 (CSB) So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
God is righteous despite the sin in the world
In other words, God is right standing and free from sin despite the brokenness of the entire material creation.
10 A river went out from Eden to water the garden. From there it divided and became the source of four rivers. The name of the first is Pishon, which flows through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. Gold from that land is pure; bdellium and onyx are also there. The name of the second river is Gihon, which flows through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris, which runs east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
The psalmist describes creation and righteousness in this way:
Psalms 1 (CSB) How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!
Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams
that bears its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
That should sound familiar based on what John the Baptist said about Christ:
Matthew 3:11-12 (CSB) “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”
Here's Paul explaining it all the way home:
Romans 8:5-8 (CSB) For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
God is righteous in our vocation, calling, and work
We were not simply made to exist and merely survive. No, God has given us a purpose--to worship him in everything that we do.
15 The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.
Sin changed all of that. We must still work. We must still respond to the calling of God but God promises that it would be difficult.
Genesis 3:17-19 (CSB) And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’:
The ground is cursed because of you.
You will eat from it by means of painful labor
all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow
until you return to the ground,
since you were taken from it.
For you are dust,
and you will return to dust.”
God in Genesis 3 calls it "toil" and "painful labor". Look how Jesus describes his calling and purpose upon us:
Acts 9:13-16 (CSB) “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Jesus still calls. He always calls. And it really looks different from person to person--from believer to believer. We will suffer for his name sake.
God is righteous in our obedience
God is free from sin. God is righteous. From that righteousness, God sets our boundaries and limitations with His holy law. That started in verse 16:
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
2 Timothy 2:11-13 (CSB) This saying is trustworthy:
For if we died with him,
we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.
God is righteous in our community, friends, marriages, and family
From the perfection and sin-free standard of the Triune God, who is eternally in community as Father, Son, and Spirit, God has called us to one another.
18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.” The LORD God formed out of the ground every wild animal and every bird of the sky, and brought each to the man to see what he would call it. And whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man no helper was found corresponding to him.
The ringing fulfilled declaration of the Lord God is this:
They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Not "I have saved you. Now we are going hunker down by ourselves until my Son comes back." That's not Christianity. That is not even God.
God is righteous in our intimacy and closeness
I almost wanted to call this "vulnerability". But invulnerability didn't exist in this creation because his children did not know of bondage of sin and enjoyed the freedom of the glory of God because they were his children (Romans 8:18-24)
20 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the LORD God made the rib he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man.
Let me put it in another way:
Song of Songs 1:2-4 (CSB)
Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your caresses are more delightful than wine.
The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating;
your name is perfume poured out.
No wonder young women adore you.
Take me with you—let’s hurry.
Oh, that the king would bring me to his chambers.
God is righteous in our connection
That connection that a husband and wife feels, from sibling to sibling, to friend to friend, from Christian to Christian, was always there from the start:
23 And the man said:
This one, at last, is bone of my bone
and flesh of my flesh;
this one will be called “woman,”
for she was taken from man.
In other words:
Ezekiel 11:19 (CSB) I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh,
Why do you think Eve was taken from the rib of Adam? What is closest to the heart without ripping the heart out.
But what does God do for his people? Rips there sin-filled hearts and puts his righteous, soft, loving heart in each of us.
God is righteous in our freedom
This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.
Matthew 19:1-8 (CSB) When Jesus had finished saying these things, he departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea across the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees approached him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds?”
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that he who created them in the beginning made them male and female, and he also said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
“Why then,” they asked him, “did Moses command us to give divorce papers and to send her away?”
He told them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts, but it was not like that from the beginning.
The world wants to say that Jesus never talks about marriage nor does Jesus even suggest marriage is between a man and a woman. What did I just read? And even though he could say something completely original and it be the word of God, Jesus quotes the Moses in the Genesis 2 to describe marriage and the fact it is between a man and woman.
And the way that God designed marriage, romance, love, and sex is freedom. Freedom to be and grow as a person in worship to God and by God's grace alone, do so with another person as they grow and be and worship God.
The Gospel
The hard truth: we don't have this. None of it. Not intrinsically. Not automatically. Not inherently. Not by birth.
But here is the good news:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Spell this out: The Father made Jesus, who did not know sin, to be sin for us so that in Christ, we might become the righteousness of God.
Self-righteousness is deceptive. Isn't it. Because you think you are doing something good but you are just damning yourself to hell unless you repent now.
Jesus' righteousness comes from a place so completely alien to us. Jesus is righteous because not only did he not sin but he knew no sin. None us cannot claim that. All of us know sin. God knows no sin. Yet, he died so we could have that exact same righteousness forever. Because of that death and because of that righteousness for self-righteousness exchange, we can now be with God--like it was always designed in the beginning--forever.
Our Response
We have got to stop thinking that we, within ourselves, with the work of our hands, the thoughts in our heads, the voices we are listening to and the world at large is the standard for life.
Nothing outside of God is the standard for nothing. We are not progressing away from God. We are not even trying to get back to the way it once was. We came from God, created by God, loved by God, called by God, saved by God, adopted by God, justified by God, sanctified (I said what I said) by God and glorified by God. Therefore, we have to get to God.
But we are weak, crippled, wicked, desperate, sick, fallen, separated, lost, orphaned, widowed, and divorced from God. We are filled to the brim with sin.
Fortunately, God is the Almighty. God is whole and healing, God is our relief. God is the cure. God is high and lifted up, God has drawn closer than a whisper, God the Spirit chases us down bears witness that God is our Father. And Jesus Christ is the way, truth, and the life and He is our forever Bridegroom that will never leave us nor forsake us because He will forever perfectly love us.
We are His people and He is forever our great God all because of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Christ is our Righteousness!
What are we to do?
Believe in, trust, and obey the one who is True and Right and has, is, and will make all things right with Him--Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:8-21 (CSB) I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy still be filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; let the holy still be holy.”
“Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book.
He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone. Amen.
Genesis 3:1-13 The Gospel Needed
The Support
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
The Text
Genesis 3:1-13 (CSB) Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman.“In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
11 Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”
13 So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?”
And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
God
In this particular study, I was tempted in breaking my usual template and wanted to step away from examining God first. But the more I read the passage, the more we can see what the passage does proclaim God in the light of the lies and the schemes of devil.
In other words, the more you know God and his word, the more that your mind and heart can reject the lies of Satan and the philosophies of this world.
God is creator of all things
3:1a Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made.
God is the creator of all things--heavens, earth, animals, plants, humans, angels, Satan, demons, and hell.
A question might arise, "Did God create someone or something that go on to undo His good creation?" God did create all but not for the expressed purpose of countering and end up sinning against God. (If you want to counter this with Romans 9, jump om my channel on Monday where in a few months, I will be digging into Romans 9.)
We have examined Genesis 1 and 2. We know the intentions of God that this creation was always suppose to be perfect with the jewel of his creation, mankind, being in perfect, right-standing, and holy relationship with his maker. When it goes wrong, that blame does not fall at feet of the Creator of all things but rather those who willfully sinned against the Creator.
Is God powerless to stop evil? No, absolutely not. God is omnipotent. He is all powerful. He is the Almighty God. The explanation on why he did not stop the serpent nor Eve nor Adam from sinning against him cannot be easily explained away. This is where I confess where my finite mind cannot comprehend the Infinite God who is all knowing, all powerful, and present everywhere. I am a mere mortal that will not dare judge God and make this all of his fault. I know that my actions against him was sin and it has devastated and destroyed my life and those around me. But only God is good and He was the only one who can come save me out of death and into life.
Our counter to that: we are not good and we were born into sin. And from the start of sin, we love to blame everybody else for our sin. Blame-shifting is a sin that the sons and daughters of Adam love to participate in. Instead of accepting blame for their own sin and then repenting of their sins and giving their sins over to Christ who was crucified for the sin of his people, we instead think that we still need to blame others for our actions. If you believe and trust and obey God, Christ is no less crucified if you blame others for your sin. Just repent. Go to God.
Ah, easier said than done. Why is it so difficult to repent? Why can't we do so naturally?
Let us get into the text and let us see God for who he really is.
God is generous
3:1b He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Satan here will immediately attack the children of God and lie about God's perfect provision and generosity.
The counter punch to this Satanic lie comes from Christ himself:
Matthew 6:31-34 (CSB)So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
God is generous by default. Listen, he created everything out of nothing. Do you think he is limited in his provision?
And he is not limited on grace for he gives graces upon grace. He is not limited in his mercies for they are new every morning.
Christ has commanded us to seek Him first and his righteousness--for our God has already provided and will always provide.
More so, the Father has his kids forever. No one is going to snatch them out of the seal of the Spirit and the double grip of the Father and the Son.
If the children of God can never be separated from his love, then what is generosity but by the grace of God? And what is provision other than the Sovereign Lord himself.
God is holy
3:2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
Did you catch that? What is the difference between what God commanded and what Eve repeated?
... or touch it,...
God is holy--God is completely set apart from all evil and sin. Or to say it right, sin and evil is completely separated from God. God is far above, far from, separated, and God wholly rejects sin.
The saints of the Old Testament had a grasp on his holiness and they knew the gospel. But not in a million years could have guess that God would have come into our broken world as a newborn baby boy and be able to topple kingdoms left and right for thousands of years after his life, death, and resurrection.
God is holy and the commandments that come from God are holy.
But what is our response? Either we sin or listen to me carefully, not instead of sin but in the midst of our depravity and wickedness, we dog-pile man-made rules on onto his holy law because man is a legalistic machine.
Here's the counter punch to that. Matthew 23 is Christ on a rightful rant against our tendencies to add on to his holy word. Here's a sample of his preaching:
Matthew 23:23-24 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!
God gives commands and we get it all jacked up. Yet, God is still holy and his law is still good. Not content just for the word of God to stand alone, we love to put rules on top of God's good gifts. Gifts like love, ministry, raising children, marriage, and relationships. We don't need more rules. We need God and we need his word because it is true and perfect.
And you think three little words in addition to God's commandment wouldn't do any harm. Adam and Eve thought so well. And they could have never imagine where that little bit of separation would be their utter destruction and death.
The Gospel
Those who have read Genesis 3 and heard it preached before know we are going to get to the first instance of the good news preached by God.
But because we have his precious word, we can see the good news before it was preached.
Here is good news: God alone gives and preserves life
3:4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman.
In this, the serpent told a half-true, which is always a full lie. But the Devil will never give us the full truth. Do you think when sin entered into this world that Adam and Eve thought they would see death all around them and then live long enough to see their son, Abel, murdered by his own brother? Only then, to die and to perish?
They didn't die instantly. But they did die. The spirit of God that was in them left their now mortal, sin-filled bodies to rot and perish.
The counter punch to this was the life and existence of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:10-11 (CSB) Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
Jesus was born just like we were. Grew in stature and wisdom. And when the time came to step into his ministry, the Spirit of God descended upon him and remained in Christ until Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross so that the children of God would live forever!
Here is good news: God is God alone
Go back to Genesis 3 where Satan keep spitting out more half-truths:
3:5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Are there any other gods?
Psalms 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD,
are the Most High over the whole earth;
you are exalted above all the gods.
Isaiah 44:8 (CSB) Do not be startled or afraid.
Have I not told you and declared it long ago?
You are my witnesses!
Is there any God but me?
There is no other Rock; I do not know any.
Asaph writes it in this way about those who think of themselves like a god
Psalms 82 (CSB) God stands in the divine assembly;
he pronounces judgment among the gods:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.
4 Rescue the poor and needy;
save them from the power of the wicked.”
5 They do not know or understand;
they wander in darkness.
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, “You are gods;
you are all sons of the Most High.
7 However, you will die like humans
and fall like any other ruler.”
8 Rise up, God, judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to you.
Adam and Eve were tempted by being like God. They were not satisfied with being right-standing and in perfect community with God. They thought there was something more--something more life giving. There is nothing more than God. Sin, hell, Satan, and demons will preach to your heart and soul and mind all the long day: "There is something greater than this. Follow your heart. You are sad. Just be happy"
You followed your heart. And you end up in the deepest, darkest trenches, left for dead. And if God has mercy on your soul, you will want something more than death.
Our Response
Realize and know: we have nothing more than God
3:6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Here's how Paul describes that moment:
Romans 1:21-23 (CSB) For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became foolsand exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
In this great exchange, we swapped God for something that we thought for something that would make us happy. But in the end, we exchanged God for death.
Christ arrives and he exchanges death for Himself.
John 6:65-69 (CSB) He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
66 From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”
68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Realize and know: sin brings shame into our souls
3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
When we sin, we feel shamed. And if we get good at sinning, then we can harden our hearts against feeling that shame. We can cover ourselves in our self-righteousness and do our best to cover up that shame that covers up that sin.
And we are sinned against, when we don't run to God and get healing from God, we cover up the shame with bitterness and anger which is all rooted in self-righteousness.
The only way you can be free from shame is to be open and confess your sins to the Lord God. Christ has demanded that you give your sin over to him. Why? So he can shame you? No! So he can love you and set you free. To condemn you? No! Jesus is the one who died--you have no condemnation because you are in Christ Jesus. So he can punish you? No, he has no wrath for you. His wrath is only for those who disobey him. Your confession and repentance is obeying him. You took him at his word and you trust him.
Realize and know: no matter how far you are, God is chasing after you
3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Christ will do this for each and every one of us:
Matthew 11:28 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
You do not need to be afraid. Christ has come to save you, commune with you, and be with you.
Realize and know: God is calling out to you
3:9 So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
If you have heard the Lord God call you, you know that your life and mind and heart was changed in an instance. Look at the Bible. Look at when God had called his people to himself. They responded. Even the most harden sinner and persecutor, in the middle of his response, Saul who becomes Paul, calls him, "... Lord?"
Look at how Paul describes that moment on the road to Damascus:
1 Timothy 1:12-14 (CSB) I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an (violent and) arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief,and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Realize and know: God is merciful, kind, and gracious to you--even if you think you have committed the worst kinds of sin
3:10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
Luke 18:13 (CSB) “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
What did Christ say about the tax collector? He went home justified.
Christ comes to you. You cannot run too far off. He holds the stars in his hands. The prophet Isaiah says, "Is the saving arm of God too short?" That is a ridiculous question: God has the opposite of T-Rex arms. He saves whom he wills.
Realize and know: God is truth and will proclaim truth to you in grace and love
3:11 Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
Romans 2:3-4 (CSB) Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment?Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
God is so patient with you. Come to him and let God take the burden of sin and death off of all you.
The evangelist Paul Washer said it this way, "The arms of the Loving Savior are extended far and wide inviting you to come in--until one day, a day we do not know when--he will drop his arms down for all of eternity."
Realize and know: you don't need to blame anybody else for your sin
3:12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”
That sin doesn't belong to anybody else.
Men, you are looking at porn because you have no wife or did you just figured out that your wife is a whole human being made in the image of her creator and wasn't created to fulfill your porn fantasies? But you are sexually immoral and you are lavishing and heaping God's wrath upon your life.
You are going to stand before God and blame your wife or the lack of having a wife? Lunacy.
Women, you have convinced yourself that men are evil and depraved and that gives you the freedom to do whatever you want and your disobedience, in all of its forms, is going to look kindly upon by God for your unrepentance.
I was introduced to porn when I was 8. I was addicted to porn longer than some of you have been alive. I was molested and raped as a kid. But I get a free pass to consume porn and continue to sin against His precious imagebearers and store up lustful thoughts and intentions in my heart? That is madness.
Realize and know: God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save you and me from our sins
3:13 So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
That was the moment that single human born of a woman would be born into sin. There would be no escaping from it--not even death.
Paul puts it like this:
Ephesians 2:1-3 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sinsin which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
We were so foolish, dumb, blind, and dead that we didn't know we were being deceived and led astray right into death.
But this what God is offering: Himself.
This is his response to his lost and forsaken children:
Ephesians 2:4-5 (CSB) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
You are not going to think right and love right on your own. If you sit and think I don't need God to do those things, then I have no good news for you. But if you know you are desperate and need to be rescued from the world and this life, call to Jesus.
Call upon his name and he will give himself over to you.
He is going to ask for your life--all of your thoughts, your heart, your sin, your wrongdoings, everything. But in exchange he gives you eternal life, complete satisfaction, fullness of joy and pleasures evermore.
Paul says it like this:
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Genesis 3:14-24 The Gospel Proclaimed
The Word
Numbers 21:4-9 (CSB) Then they set out from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to bypass the land of Edom, but the people became impatient because of the journey. The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”Then the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died.
7 The people then came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so that he will take the snakes away from us.” And Moses interceded for the people.
8 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover.”So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.
The Text
Genesis 3:14-24 (CSB) So the LORD God said to the serpent:
Because you have done this,
you are cursed more than any livestock
and more than any wild animal.
You will move on your belly
and eat dust all the days of your life.
15 I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.16 He said to the woman:
I will intensify your labor pains;
you will bear children with painful effort.
Your desire will be for your husband,
yet he will rule over you.17 And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’:
The ground is cursed because of you.
You will eat from it by means of painful labor
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow
until you return to the ground,
since you were taken from it.
For you are dust,
and you will return to dust.”20 The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
22 The LORD God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.”So the LORD God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.
God
Christ is cursed for our sins
John 3:14-15 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
John 12:32-33 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
The Gospel
Christ gives the law to be cursed
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (CSB) If anyone is found guilty of an offense deserving the death penalty and is executed, and you hang his body on a tree,you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse.
Christ gives his life over to be cursed
15 I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.
John 3:16-17 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Christ is our curse for our sin
Galatians 3:13 (CSB) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.
The Father gave Christ Our Sin So We Can Gain His Righteousness
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Our Response
We are to suffer under the curse of sin--that is inescapable
Read each line and feel the weight of the curse.
16 He said to the woman:
I will intensify your labor pains;
you will bear children with painful effort.
Your desire will be for your husband,
yet he will rule over you.
One side note: I don't know why Complementarians use this as a way to defend their doctrine. This was the proclamation of the curse of sin on our world by God. Not that God had to curse our world because of sin but rather sin is the curse and this was God's way of telling Adam and Eve, "You are now going to suffer." (Especially telling since up until that point, Adam and Eve did not have the word 'suffering' in their vocabulary.)
17 And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’:
The ground is cursed because of you.
You will eat from it by means of painful labor
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow
until you return to the ground,
since you were taken from it.
For you are dust,
and you will return to dust.”
Acts 9:15-16 (CSB) But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Romans 8:16-18 (CSB) The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
And yet, Christ subjected himself to that same suffering--even to the point of death.
Isaiah 53:3–5 (CSB) He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.
Philippians 2:5–8 (CSB) Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
God still blesses us despite the curse
Genesis 3:20 (CSB) The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.
God still saves us despite the curse
Genesis 3:21 (CSB) The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
God is still holy despite the curse
Genesis 3:22-24 (CSB) The LORD God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.”So the LORD God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.
This is not the end
Psalms 32:1-2 (CSB) How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! 2 How joyful is a person whom the LORD does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!
Genesis 4 The Gospel Meeting
The Word
James 1:13–18 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
The Text
Genesis 4 (CSB) The man was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the LORD’s help.”She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the LORD.And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent?If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 Then he said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
13 But Cain answered the LORD, “My punishment is too great to bear!Since you are banishing me today from the face of the earth, and I must hide from your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 Then the LORD replied to him, “In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And he placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. Then Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain was intimate with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain became the builder of a city, and he named the city Enoch after his son. Irad was born to Enoch, Irad fathered Mehujael (May-who-sha-el), Mehujael fathered Methushael (Meh-thu-sha-el), and Methushael fathered Lamech. Lamech took two wives for himself, one named Adah (A-da) and the other named Zillah. Adah bore Jabal; he was the first of the nomadic herdsmen. His brother was named Jubal; he was the first of all who play the lyre and the flute. Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. Tubal-cain’s sister was Naamah (Na-a-mah).
23 Lamech said to his wives:
Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
wives of Lamech, pay attention to my words.
For I killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain is to be avenged seven times over,
then for Lamech it will be seventy-seven times!25 Adam was intimate with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has given me another offspring in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.
God
God meets us when we made us
Genesis 4 (CSB) The man was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the LORD’s help.”
17 Cain was intimate with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain became the builder of a city, and he named the city Enoch after his son. Irad was born to Enoch, Irad fathered Mehujael (May-who-sha-el), Mehujael fathered Methushael (Meh-thu-sha-el), and Methushael fathered Lamech. Lamech took two wives for himself, one named Adah (A-da) and the other named Zillah. Adah bore Jabal; he was the first of the nomadic herdsmen. His brother was named Jubal; he was the first of all who play the lyre and the flute. Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. Tubal-cain’s sister was Naamah (Na-a-mah).
25 Adam was intimate with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has given me another offspring in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26a A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh.
God meets when he provides for us
2 She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground.
Matthew 5:45b (CSB) “For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
God meets us when we are tempted by sin
3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the LORD.And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent?If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
James 1:13 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
God meets us when we sin
Sin only leads to death
8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 Then he said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Left unchecked, sin begats greater sin
23 Lamech said to his wives:
Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
wives of Lamech, pay attention to my words.
For I killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain is to be avenged seven times over,
then for Lamech it will be seventy-seven times!
James 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
The Gospel
God has the greatest mercy for sinners
13 But Cain answered the LORD, “My punishment is too great to bear!Since you are banishing me today from the face of the earth, and I must hide from your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 Then the LORD replied to him, “In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And he placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. Then Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Ephesians 2:1-5 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sinsin which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
- The mercy of God on Adam and Eve
- The mercy of God on Cain
- The mercy of God on us!
Titus 3:3-7 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviorso that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Our Response
Don't be tempted and deceived by sin
James 1:16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Stop counting your sins
If you are in Christ, there is no limit to his forgiveness for your sins
Matthew 18:21-22 (CSB) Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?”22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.
Stop counting your sins. God has infinitely placed all of your sins upon his Son if you believe and trust in him.
If you know him, stop counting your sin. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
If you do not know God and you might be asking, "Is there any mercy left for me?"
You must do what God has commanded every single son of Adam to do if they wanted this sweet mercy for their lives on earth and in heaven:
Genesis 4:26 At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.
Romans 10:8-13 (CSB) On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim:If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
From Genesis to Revelation. Day six of creation to the last day. It doesn't matter. You want God's daily mercies, his oceans of grace, and his unending love for you even if you have done unspeakable evil and live in shame and fear.
Call upon his name and you will be saved. Full stop.
Genesis 5 The Gospel Plan
The Text
Genesis 5 (CSB) This is the document containing the family records of Adam. On the day that God created man, he made him in the likeness of God;he created them male and female. When they were created, he blessed them and called them mankind.
3 Adam was 130 years old when he fathered a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. Adam lived 800 years after he fathered Seth, and he fathered other sons and daughters. So Adam’s life lasted 930 years; then he died.
6 Seth was 105 years old when he fathered Enosh. Seth lived 807 years after he fathered Enosh, and he fathered other sons and daughters. So Seth’s life lasted 912 years; then he died.
9 Enosh was 90 years old when he fathered Kenan. Enosh lived 815 years after he fathered Kenan, and he fathered other sons and daughters. So Enosh’s life lasted 905 years; then he died.
12 Kenan was 70 years old when he fathered Mahalalel. Kenan lived 840 years after he fathered Mahalalel, and he fathered other sons and daughters. So Kenan’s life lasted 910 years; then he died.
15 Mahalalel was 65 years old when he fathered Jared. Mahalalel lived 830 years after he fathered Jared, and he fathered other sons and daughters. So Mahalalel’s life lasted 895 years; then he died.
18 Jared was 162 years old when he fathered Enoch. Jared lived 800 years after he fathered Enoch, and he fathered other sons and daughters. So Jared’s life lasted 962 years; then he died.
21 Enoch was 65 years old when he fathered Methuselah. And after he fathered Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and fathered other sons and daughters. So Enoch’s life lasted 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.
25 Methuselah was 187 years old when he fathered Lamech. Methuselah lived 782 years after he fathered Lamech, and he fathered other sons and daughters. So Methuselah’s life lasted 969 years; then he died.
28 Lamech was 182 years old when he fathered a son. And he named him Noah, saying, “This one will bring us relief from the agonizing labor of our hands, caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.”Lamech lived 595 years after he fathered Noah, and he fathered other sons and daughters. So Lamech’s life lasted 777 years; then he died.
32 Noah was 500 years old, and he fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The Support
Luke 3:36-38 (CSB) son of Noah,
son of Lamech,son of Methuselah,
son of Enoch, son of Jared,
son of Mahalalel, son of Cainan,
38 son of Enos, son of Seth,
son of Adam, son of God.
God
The gospel was always the plan. It is still always the plan.
Everything that God is, it would be well within his rights to do as he please: wipe the earth and start over (Genesis 6) or wipe a nation and start over (Exodus 33).
He can do whatever he wants and he does as he pleased.
But through it all, no matter how sinful and treasonous our responses and actions might be, God is still merciful. It does not matter if we get it right or not, God is gracious and kind and he is inviting us not get it right or figure it out, but "come and see" the glory of God--Jesus Christ. (John 1:46)
The Gospel
From:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.
to:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
God was going to be sin for man so that we might be the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
When I got saved back in 2007, a older gent gave me this USB thumb-drive with tons of Christian resources. On that little drive was Chuck Missler's "Learn the Bible in 24 Hours."
Just a little forewarn: he can jump the rails a little. But what I learned in that 24 hour session changed my life. My sweetest and fondest memories was binge watching these video series of nothing but Powerpoint presentations. I was in my little north Dallas apartment, on the same computer and monitor where just a few months earlier I had consumed porn without end, was now used by God to fill my heart and mind with the knowledge of him. I remember falling asleep at my desk finishing Isaiah on New Year's Eve and then waking up the next morning to Jeremiah and just kept right along.
It was a great gracious gift of God that lead me in the direction of where I am today. And I will never forget what Mr. Missler taught in the Genesis episode:
So, do a quick little online search and see what each of these names in Genesis 5, from Adam to Noah, what they mean and put it all together. Just a heads up, when I did this, I had to dig a little beyond Wikipedia. But check this out:
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Adam | man |
| Seth | appointed |
| Enosh | mortal |
| Kenan | sorrow |
| Mahalalel | the shining one of God |
| Jared | descend |
| Enoch | teaching |
| Methuselah | purpose death |
| Lamech | make low |
| Noah | rest |
Put that into a sentence:
"Man appointed mortal sorrow; the Shining One of God descends and teaches--his purposeful death will give those who are lowly, rest."
Sounds a tad familiar? Who is the only one who can give us rest for our weary souls--when we have spent all of our lives chasing down things not-God to fill our empty hearts, only to be broken hearted again and again.
Who is the only one?
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB)“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Our Response
We are to put our faith in the one gives us rest by living and dying for us
Romans 5:6-11 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Christ is the only one who has proven his love for us.
Christ is the only one who can justified us with his death.
Christ is the only one who can saved us from his wrath.
Christ is the only one who can reconcile us to God with his death.
Christ is the only one who can saved us by his life.
Genesis 5:21-24 (CSB) Enoch was 65 years old when he fathered Methuselah. And after he fathered Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and fathered other sons and daughters. So Enoch’s life lasted 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.
People might think it is amazing that God took up Enoch in an instant. Even the author of Hebrews would agreed.
Hebrews 11:5-6 (CSB) By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
But what was more amazing that the Bible says this about Enoch, "that he walked with God".
Jude 1:14-16 (CSB) It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy onesto execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.”These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.
Enoch preached the gospel of God to "people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage."
Don't let the good news of God fall on your deaf ears. Listen and believe and repent and obey the Lord!
Boast in God
Romans 5:11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Go and praise God that you are saved today. Give thanks for all that he has done.
Genesis 6:1-7 The Gospel Certainty: The Wickedness of Man
The Introduction
Hamartiology (ha mar tee ology). Incredibly huge word. If I would take a guess, I would say that maybe just a few people in here today has ever heard this word before--fewer still have even used it in a sentence. Hamartiology (ha mar tee ology) is simply "the study of sin." Undoubtedly, anybody who would undertake such a discipline would be, most likely, from a Christian perspective and within that perspective, "the study of sin and its effects."
Here's why I am not sure I would have the gumption to take on such a academic. If I read my Bible, and see what God says on sin, and know I was once a prisoner within my own sin, how would I even have the right mind and the right eyes to even see the fullest effects of sin? Even with the Triune God dwelling in me, I am not God--unless the Spirit warns me, can I even see the fullest outcome when I make a sinful choice?
If I tried to write a book on sin, I would feel like it would be wholly incomplete. Because of my mortal nature and not fully glorified on this side of heaven, I would miss so much.
Because of the nature of sin, if I am tempted by sin and give into that sin, I cannot see the full effects of sin.
Dr. Steven Lawson calls this "the slippery slope of sin." I have been on this earth long enough to know that left unchecked, not confessed, not repentant, and not given over to the Lord Jesus Christ, sin is always a slippery slope into levels of evilness and wickedness that you couldn't possibly imagine.
Let us do a quick review of Genesis so far. God makes a perfect world in Genesis& 2. Then, we saw the breaking of the cosmos in Genesis 3. We saw sin went full stride in Genesis 4--with not only murder but sexual immortality and pride. In Genesis 5, we witness that sin doesn't ease up as the generations of mankind continue forward but instead, it becomes bigger and more devastating with every passing generation.
Now the philosophy of the world is evangelizing to you and me that with enough knowledge and understanding while keeping apart from God, humanity can fix its own problems. That is the gospel of humanism and secularism.
Let me ask you a question: how's that working for us?
And don't be too quick to divorce yourself from humanity: how many of us, time and time again, try to fix our own sinful mess without running to God.
How's that working for us?
But what is the end of sin? We are just six chapters in the Bible itself and God reveals to us just how quickly it goes demonic, dark, and dead.
The Text
Let us start off by reading the text first and then go to God in prayer:
Genesis 6:1-7 (CSB) When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves. 3 And the LORD said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
5 When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, 6 the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. 7 Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”
The Support
Before we even mention Noah's name, we must stop here and examine the effects of sin for:
Romans 6:23a (CSB) For the wages of sin is death...
Before we get to death, sin will lead us straight to the demonic
Genesis 6:1-2 (CSB) When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves.
Compare: Angelic/Demonic vs. Royals vs. Sethite debates.
Remember Gen 3 to 4 to 5.
I have said this time and time before: the supernatural forces has more to do with your life than you can possible see and imagine. You cannot see but it has a great impact on your life than anything circumstance within the material plane.
Ephesians 6:12 (CSB) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
Without God, you are fighting the wrong fight and against the wrong people. You spend your time being hateful and hating one another instead waging war on the real enemies of God--namely Satan and demons, hell, sin, and death.
Before we get to death, sin will rob us of life worth living
3 And the LORD said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.”
We already know the spirit within mankind departed mankind when Adam and Eve sinned against man. We know by perusing through the Old Testament that the Spirit never rests upon the mankind permanently until the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus until his death. Now that Christ has lived the perfect life, died the saving death of his people, and was resurrected by the Spirit back into life, the Spirit of God rests upon all Christians to take them home.
This is not Holy Spirit but rather, the breath of life of God by God. Don't forget that God was still in the business of multiplying mankind despite our sinful ways. God declared that Man shall die. In this decree in verse 3, God declares that man will not live forever nor even for a long time. (The life expectancy of man starts to decline after God makes this decree.)
Romans 5:12-14 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.
God
We were born into sin and we disobey God at every turn. I don't care if you think you are a good person. You are not. You have committed wicked treasonous acts against the Holy God.
Let us try to examine what God does when mankind chooses to go their own way:
4 The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men. 5 When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,
Sin will always bring the judgment of God
Did you catch that? What did mention the multiplication of sin in Genesis 3, 4, and 5? What was the one sin that came to the surface pretty quickly--a sin that God calls an abomination or "detestable" in his own eyes?
They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
Proverbs 16:5 (CSB) Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
We live in a culture that celebrates the powerful and the famous. If we are not too careful we might look at that line and think nothing of it. But God declares prideful men and women "detestable".
But sin is not done.
6 the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.
Sin will always grieve the heart of God
Go to:
Ephesians 4:30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.
How does one grieve God?
Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
In other words:
Letting all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting, slander and malice be stored up in you--letting hate and anger and sin rule your heart and affections and letting sin dictate your thoughts. Keeping yourself from forgiving others despite the fact Christ was quick to forgive you.
And don't think for a moment your sin is overlooked or missed by God.
"What, my sin is not that bad and there are so many people doing far worse things."
"Why does it matter what I am doing?"
"I think that my sin is not actually sin because I am loving another person and doesn't it say that God is love?"
Don't be foolish. You cannot claim ignorance. God will never say one thing is a sin and change his mind later because you said so. And I will admit that the Bible is not always clear. Things like Nephilim we might never know on this side of heaven. But just because a few things in the Bible are unclear does not mean the entire Bible is unclear.
And if I know that we may only understand what has been freely given to us God by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12), which no doubt includes Christ, salvation, faith, grace, and his precious Scripture, for you to claim that most of the Bible is unclear and "who can know it" puts you on the wrong side of God's grace.
Here's something else that's crystal clear:
Sin will always bring the wrath of God upon all unbelievers
7 Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”
Let us, once and for all, dismiss the foolish notion of "Old Testament God / New Testament God." There is one God and he is the maker of heaven and hell. Let us also dismiss the wrong notion of "Father is the God in the Old Testament and Jesus is the God of the New Testament because the Father is so angry and Jesus just preaches love one another.
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Also, go and read Acts 5 and see what the Holy Spirit does to Ananias and Sapphira for lying to God.
And after Christ was beaten within an inch of his life, as he began his death march towards the excruciating, blood-curdling pain and torture, Jesus takes precious energy to prophesy in this one moment to the women who were mourning and lamenting him:
Luke 23:28-30 (CSB) But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
Christ prophesied and fulfilled his own judgment:
Revelation 6:15-17 (CSB) Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?
Has it happened yet? No, not yet. Not in our timeline. But because God is perfect and cannot lie, this promises is as good as done. Past tense.
The Gospel
This is a lot of death. And that is what sin is. Do you think it is even a coincidence that we are living in a time where the world and even some Christians are trying to redefine what is sin as the sin keeps piling on the body count. The pandemic death toll is at 4.5 million. We cannot keep track of lives lost in war zones such as Afghanistan.
Christian? What does God say? How is God going to save us now?
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
Our Response
Sin does not leave us alone. Sin does not get better on its own. Sin is not neutral. It is always crouching and waiting to devour us. It will consume us. It will destroy us. It will kill us.
World has decided what is sin against God and what isn't sin against God. And it is going straight to hell.
What is God going to do? He sent himself, namely his Son to be lifted up upon the Christ. He sent his Spirit to boldly empower his saints to go and do the work of the ministry.
What is ours to do? Stop playing and toying with your sins. Stop hanging on to sins that while might not kill you right away, I promise you will kill everything around you that is good in your life.
Wanna mess with porn? How about death to your marriage and friendships.
Wanna mess with pride? How about being an abomination in the sight of God.
Wanna mess with greed? How about the loss of your soul.
I can keep going all day.
But if you are listen to me, and the Spirit of God is nudging you and speaking to you to give your sin over to Him, don't ignore it. Don't leave this channel to think about it some more. Tomorrow is not guarantee. Walk through that narrow gate. Give up your life for Jesus so Christ can give you the newness of life. You will just have to give up all your sin.
Genesis 6:8-9 The Gospel Certainty: The Grace of God
The Introduction
Genesis chapters 3 through the beginning of 6 starts to unveil and unravel the destructive nearly unceasing power of sin and corruptness. Our wickedness and transgression against the Holy God was not without the most severe consequences. To call it, "consequences", is an understatement. The best phrase I have heard said, "the breaking of the cosmos".
Do you think that something in space and time didn't break? Could you even imagine when sin came into our existence, that the departure of the spirit, the cracking of the mind, the depletion of strength, hardening of the heart, and the infection of the will?
Did it happen all at once or over time? I think the answer is yes.
Could we imagine going from righteousness to sinfulness? No. None of us can imagine the transition because all we have known all of our lives is our mind cracking, the vacancy of the spirit, the weakness of our bodies, the cancer over our wills and the coldness of our hearts.
Is there even a cure for this? As Paul cries out at the end of Romans 7, "Who will save me from this body of death?"
Let us search for the answer.
The Text
Genesis 6:8-9 (CSB) Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.
9 These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
God
In order to be saved from sin and saved from this body of death, the Lord must look upon your wicked soul, your treasonous existence and see that you are so far from him, must grant you favor.
Genesis 6:8-10 (CSB) Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.
Growing up in church, because of the foolishness of our assumptions that we must be good based on what we have done, we see this verse and think, "Oh, Noah must have been a righteous fellow. That is why he found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Noah must have been worshipping God, giving tithes, attended church, and always blessing the Lord's name. Noah was the only righteous one in the land.
But that is not what the text says!
Go back to verse 5:
Genesis 6:5-7 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”
Let me ask a silly question: was Noah human? Did Noah have a human mind?
If the answer is yes, what was the inclination of Noah's mind all the time?
Then the Lord said, "I will wipe mankind."
The Almighty God was well within his rights to wipe mankind from the face of the earth.
Do you know of a better way? Yes, Jesus Christ. That is because you know him. But without knowing Christ--think like the world for just a second--what is the best thing to do?
Here's what the world wants: I just want the things of God like provision, riches, beauty, influence, power, talent and glory. All the things to make my life really super easy and fun and then for God to leave me alone and stop bothering me.
Every inclination of mankind was nothing but evil all the time.
The Gospel
To say Noah was the exception or in the case with our church culture, the normal and the usual. "God has to save Noah because Noah was doing the right things" wasn't the case because there isn't another case like that in the Bible.
What I do find in the Bible is that we are sinners and God came to us:
Mark 2:17 (CSB) When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:1-5 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sinsin which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Do a character study. Tell me what Adam was doing or Abraham or Jacob or David or Ruth or Isaiah or John the Baptist.
Just being a sinner until God came to them and saved them.
You might contend that the Scriptures say, "Noah was a righteous man." Yes it does that say in the next verse. But what happened first? Noah was righteous then he found favor? Or was it the other way around.
9 These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
10 And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
When God gives us grace, this is the gospel:
We are declared righteous.
Noah was a righteous man
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We are declared blameless.
blameless among his contemporaries
Isaiah 43:25 (CSB) “I am the one,I sweep away your transgressions
for my own sake
and remember your sins no more.
Psalms 103:10-12 (CSB) He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve
or repaid us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his faithful love
toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed
our transgressions from us.
Our Response
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We are to confess our sins to God
Psalms 51:1-4 (CSB) Be gracious to me, God,
according to your faithful love;
according to your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion.
2 Completely wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you—you alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in your sight.
So you are right when you pass sentence;
you are blameless when you judge.
We are to repent of our sins to God
We are now one with God, who has given us Christ, his own heart, and His Spirit to seal us for all time.
You are no longer an enemy of God. No longer a child of destruction.
God is your friend. Father is your Father. The Spirit is your witness that you are a child of God. Christ is your Eldest brother.
Noah walked with God
Go and be with God
Do what you must to know him more and to love him more. Don't walk away. Don't go your own way. This is the best route. This is the only way to get to life everlasting, fullness of joy, pleasures evermore and complete satisfaction.
Put your trust in him. He will be with you forever.
Genesis 6:10-22 The Gospel Certainty: The Holiness of God
The Introduction
In Genesis 1 & 2, God created the heavens and the earth, we were introduced to the omnipotence, omniscient, and omnipresent of God. And please don't be put off by these big fancy words.
- omnipotence - all powerful; Almighty
- omniscient - all knowing and all wise
- omnipresent - everywhere and in every moment of time
In Genesis 3, in light of temptation, evil, our sin, we saw the grace, the mercy, the salvation, and the righteousness of God.
In Genesis 4, we saw the God as a just God upon the sinfulness of man. And it is not the mercy of God that we should highlight but the Bible makes clear that God alone is the one who judges the sin of man.
In Genesis 5, we saw the preservation of God's providence upon mankind.
But in Genesis 6, starting with verse one, the Bible then starts to take all of those attributes of God and starts unraveling and unwrapping, layer by layer then holiness of God.
I say this because in the judgment of the holy and perfect God upon all of mankind is just and rightfully so.
When you read through Genesis 4-6, I want you to see something. In the midst of man's wickedness, evil, corrupt, vileness, sinful depravity, how many times did you see mankind call out for the saving grace and the tender mercies of God?
So many people say we cannot judge someone else's salvation even though Jesus clearly said:
Luke 6:43-45 (CSB) “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
You want to know how you can tell the difference between a believer and unbeliever? Between the Christian and the sinner?
A Christian will always cry out for mercy and salvation in the midst of their sin--when the temptation is overwhelming and they will surely drown if God does not save them. The unbeliever has no clue of the impending doom on their lives.
Yet, not even Noah cried out for mercy and grace. But God extended to him.
And not even the salvation of Noah was a big enough warning to everybody else around Noah that something is terribly wrong and it is coming for them.
The Text
Genesis 6:10–22 (CSB)
10 And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with wickedness.
12 God saw how corrupt the earth was, for every creature had corrupted its way on the earth.
13 Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
14 “Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside.
15 This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
16 You are to make a roof, finishing the sides of the ark to within eighteen inches of the roof. You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper decks.
17 “Understand that I am bringing a flood—floodwaters on the earth to destroy every creature under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.
18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.
19 You are also to bring into the ark two of all the living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you.
20 Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds—will come to you so that you can keep them alive.
21 Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them.”
22 And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.
The Support
1 Peter 1:13-16 (CSB) Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
God
We can talk all day about what mankind needs from God in order to be saved to God. But one of the most distinctive attributes that belong to God eternally and by default, and not to any man born of woman with the exception of one, and that would be the holiness of God.
What is the holiness of God? Or to ask the same exact question, what does it mean to be holy?
One of the best treatises on holiness would have to be this little well-known paperback called, "The Holiness of God," written by R.C. Sproul. I made mentioned before that the near impossible challenge of writing a book on the subject of sin is so impossible because sin conceals and clouds and confuses our intellect, will, and heart. It breaks everything. On the opposite end of the spectrum, trying to nail down the holiness of God is a seemingly impossible tasks. It took Dr. Sproul three chapters before he could try to wrap words around the definition of the word, 'holy'.
In his book, he defines 'holy' as purity, sanctify, perfect, transcendence and yet, all of those descriptions are secondary. And with holiness, every thing he does is holy: love, mercy, grace--all of it is holy. And because God alone is holy--that is enough to garner all of our worship. To worship something not holy would be idolatry. No ifs ands nor buts.
But all of that, squeezed and compressed into one definition is to say "to separate". In other words, in the midst of our sin and depravity and wickedness of our thoughts and actions, God is holy--he is completely "separate" from us.
Because God is holy, what is the relationship that God has with sin and sinful people? I still remember reading John R.W. Stott's explanation of this relationship (for the lack of a better word) in his book, "The Cross of Christ". I will never ever forget, starting around page 107 to 110, he goes and explains it this way:
- God is high above our sin - He is above wickedness.
- God is far from our sin - He is does not tolerate it
- God is the light that exposes sin - the darkness cannot overcome God's light
- God is the fire that burns sin - he is a consuming fire that refines his people as many times as he wants to
- lastly, God is "vomits" and rejects sin - when he comes into his world, sin cannot infect him. His being rejects the thought and vomits it out of himself
Why am I am talking about the holiness of God when this is a story of the building of Noah's ark? This is bigger than the felt board with the animals going in two by two.
This is a story of the Holy One of God who will stop at nothing to "separate and cut" his people from all sin and all disease and all wicked thoughts and all corruptness. He will do so by unleashing his full wrath on the world while protecting and shielding his little lambs the holy terror that will consume this world.
Holiness of God is unsuspecting
10 And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The blessings to Adam and Eve, that is, the common grace was still ongoing in the world. Despite our wickedness and depravity, God did not withhold anything good from mankind. First, we breath air. Second, we get to marry. Third, we get to have kids. We get to have friends. We get to have family, provision, jobs, sunsets, sex, fun, entertainment, science, sports, and everything good in the world. God did not withhold that.
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with wickedness.
12 God saw how corrupt the earth was, for every creature had corrupted its way on the earth.
Holiness of God is just
Despite the goodness and the loving-kindness towards all of mankind, by birth and by choice, we have all chosen to commit treason against the Only Holy God--either by committing sin or failing to do the right and good thing.
And this is unbelievers cannot see on their own: they still think that they are good solely based on what they do (or stop doing) rather than what Christ has done.
And this what believers can see, although not perfectly--with bleared eyes, that anything good that they have ever done was because God is good and he has created us for good works that were prepared ahead of time by him.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Holiness of God is revealing
13 Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
Noah had no business being included into the plans of God. That is what it means to be saved by God. Listen, you are not just being saved from sin--you are being saved to God. And just like Abraham, Enoch, Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, you get to walk with the God of the Universe as your Lord, Savior, Protector, Redeemer, and Friend.
God only shares his plans with those whom he calls friends--those who have placed their hope and trust into his Son, Jesus Christ. And his plans? Right here--the Bible.
People without God revealing Scripture and what is contained in them will never understand them on their own. I don't care what your IQ is or how many skins you got hanging on your wall. It doesn't matter.
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
Name off the things freely given to us by God: Himself, Jesus, Spirit, grace, love, kindness, mercy, salvation--what about his word? What about the Bible? He gave us his word--but we cannot understand it unless the Spirit of God dwells in us, reveals the word to us, and if the Father wills us to maturity.
Holiness of God is perfect
14 “Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside.
15 This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
16 You are to make a roof, finishing the sides of the ark to within eighteen inches of the roof. You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper decks.
This is not the last time we are going to receive a set of holy blueprints and instructions from God to us to show us what we must do in order to behold the Living God and his goodness. What so many people fail to understand is that they treat the Bible like these instructions to build an ark thinking that they will have joy, happiness, safety, even eternal life just by doing what the Scriptures say.
John 5:39-40 (CSB) You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
The Scriptures reveal the plan of God: that is Jesus Christ. Call upon his holy name and what? You will be saved.
Holiness of God is final
17 “Understand that I am bringing a flood—floodwaters on the earth to destroy every creature under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.
As completely, utterly, perfectly devastatingly the Flood was upon the earth, this was nothing compared to the wrath that is coming for mankind in the end. And that wrath is two-fold:
Revelation 6:15-17 (CSB) Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”
And if had just read Luke's Gospel, this sounds super familiar. Because after being beaten and mangled to within an inch of his life and not having enough life to carry his own instrument of torture and death, Jesus takes just enough spirit strength and prophesies this future.
And here is the second part of that wrath--one that lasts forever:
Matthew 24:45-51 (CSB) “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Don't let anybody try to tell you that Christ never talked about hell. Christ talked about hell and eternal damnation plenty of times. If you read the Gospels and you can't see it yourself, you might want to question your own salvation.
The Gospel
Holiness of God is salvation for his people
18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.
19 You are also to bring into the ark two of all the living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you.
20 Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds—will come to you so that you can keep them alive.
And time and time again, through his precious word, God's promises are made and they will always be fulfilled and true.
We play with our sin thinking that there is no separation of God because God is merciful--he has to be merciful on me.
No. You are being presumptuous about the fact God is kind to you--that God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
What is the kindness of God that comes from not his love but all rooted in his holiness?
Romans 2:2-8 (CSB) Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness.
Holiness of God is eternal life for his people
21 Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them.”
Just as God perfectly planned and provided for the salvation of Noah and his family in the midst of the great flood, God perfectly sent His Perfect Son, who perfectly and joyfully obeyed God--even to death on a cross--in order to live and die so that His people would be saved from sins forever.
Our Response
22 And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.
God calls you to put all your hope, fear, doubt, trust, belief, and obedience into His Son, Jesus Christ.
If you don't know him, don't waste another second not knowing him. This is no time to mull it over or think it through. Before you go, trust in him today. Right now. No special prayers. No careful words.
Pray this.
The Holiness of God demands our obedience
Genesis 7:1–10 The Gospel Certainty: The Salvation of God
The Introduction
When you read Genesis 4 and 5, you might be tempted to follow the section headings within the chapters--The Line of Cain, The Line of Seth, so on and so forth.
While extremely helpful, don't assume the section headings are inerrant and infallible--even our chapter and verse numbers were thought up by humans as a helpful way to remember the "address" of a particular passage in Scripture. What I mean is that what you see in the headings or cross-references are there to help along but that's not everything in the text.
Don't gloss over thinking you know the passage you are about to read. Call on the Holy Spirit and he will help you see what God wants to say to you.
I say that to say that when you read Genesis 4 through 6, you might be tempting in thinking that there is something holy, good, set apart in the lineage of Adam to Noah--as though something was inherently good within the that particular bloodline.
John 1:11-13 (CSB) He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
What Bible teaches clearly is that every human being born of man was born far from the holiness of God. By birth, we are destined to died. "No one is righteous; no, not one" as the Apostle Paul quotes King David in the Psalms.
As I overstated that Noah, in his flesh and depravity, was wicked like all of mankind on the face of the earth.
But the God saved him.
God is going to bring judgment and he will spare and protect his people.
Let us get into the text and see how this goes.
The Text
Genesis 7:1–10 (CSB)
1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.2 You are to take with you seven pairs, a male and its female, of all the clean animals, and two of the animals that are not clean, a male and its female,
3 and seven pairs, male and female, of the birds of the sky—in order to keep offspring alive throughout the earth.
4 Seven days from now I will make it rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing I have made I will wipe off the face of the earth.”
5 And Noah did everything that the LORD commanded him.
6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood came and water covered the earth.
7 So Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives entered the ark because of the floodwaters.
8 From the animals that are clean, and from the animals that are not clean, and from the birds and every creature that crawls on the ground,
9 two of each, male and female, came to Noah and entered the ark, just as God had commanded him.
10 Seven days later the floodwaters came on the earth.
God
God is the only one who can declare us to be righteous
1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.
Romans 5:1-2 (CSB) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
We see in two accounts in the Gospels where Jesus simply declares that person who has come to him (either with help or forced) looking to be healed and looking for mercy.
To the paralyzed man being brought down through the roof on a stretcher:
Luke 5:20 Seeing their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to think to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
And to the woman caught in the middle of adultery, what does Christ say to her?
John 8:10-11 (CSB) 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, Lord,” she answered.
“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
And to Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus and close friend of Jesus, who began that friendship not as someone who cleaned themselves up and approached in self-righteousness, but in the midst of shame and ridicule of church folks as she desperately came to worship Christ and anointed his feet with oil as he inched closer to his death and burial:
Luke 7:47-50 (CSB) Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
We might be so tempted as the world and some progressive Christians would like to think that Christ has the simple authority to declare you freed from sin and that is it. Like Jesus Christ has the magical power of hocus pocus and boom, your sins are forgiven.
Which is sounds amazing except we have the rest of the Bible to tell us in what power, promise, and authority can do such things. The Pharisees could not believe that this simple man named Jesus could utter the words, "your sins are forgiven" and rightfully, in their own eyes, call it blasphemous. Except in that statement, we see the hardness of their cold, dead hearts--they did not believe in God. If they did, they would have known this was the Son of God who is God.
And according to the Scriptures alone, Christ came to our world and he was set out to do one thing:
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Romans 3:25-26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
God declares his people to be righteous only, only because of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
This is not hocus pocus. This is not saying some empty words in vain, for Jesus' words comes from his mouth and will not return back to him empty but it will accomplish what pleases the Lord and prosper in what He has sent it to do. (Isaiah 55:11)
God set Noah apart from a wicked generation.
That generation is not nearly as wicked as our own. This generation of mankind, that means you and me, fiddles and plays with sexual immorality all the live long day. And if we don't kill babies to cover up our sin, we tend to run into darken rooms with our little screens breaking our minds and hearts over perverse images.
The Gospel
2 You are to take with you seven pairs, a male and its female, of all the clean animals, and two of the animals that are not clean, a male and its female,
3 and seven pairs, male and female, of the birds of the sky—in order to keep offspring alive throughout the earth.
Here is the good news:
God is the only one who can provide for our righteousness
Read the Old Testament and stop and think about every passage that mentions a sacrifice. And then go and read the meaning of it all in Hebrews 9 & 10.
Sum it up like this:
Hebrews 10:1-4 (CSB) Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Think of the rivers of animals' blood that was poured out upon the altar, year after year--all of it was in obedience to God and none of it saved you from you sins.
It was Christ alone and his blood that cleansed them and cleansed us from all unrighteousness.
God saved those animals. It wasn't to provide for us provision--we had plants and it was only a little bit later that we were allowed to eat meat. But if I know God and I know his word, he was making future provisions for foreshadowing the sacrifice of His only begotten Son:
What did Abraham say to Isaac when Isaac asked, "Where is the lamb?"
Genesis 22:8 (CSB) Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.
And God did and God did forever.
4 Seven days from now I will make it rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing I have made I will wipe off the face of the earth.”
God alone will judge the living and the dead
1 Peter 4:1–6 (CSB)
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished with sin—
2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.
3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.
4 They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander you.
5 They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit according to God’s standards.
You and I will stand before God and give an account for our lives.
There are only two ways you and I can go about this.
One, stand before the King of kings, before the Ancient of Days, before the Holy Spirit and defend yourself. There is no one who will speak for you because they do not know you perfectly like the only God who sees and searches hearts. You will rattle off a bunch of good things you have done like:
- I said the sinner's prayer
- I got baptized when I was 6
- I taught Sunday School
- I was a church planter
- I lead a mega church
- I was a preacher
- I wrote tons of Christian books
- I never cussed
- I never cheated on my wife
- I gave millions of dollars to my church
- Lord, Lord, didn't I gave prophecies in your name
- Lord, Lord, didn't I cast out demons in your name
- Lord, Lord, just look at the mountain of miracles for the fame of your name
But what does Christ say to those who would defend themselves in his throne room?
Matthew 7:23 (CSB) Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
How were lawbreakers depart from the Son of God?
Revelation 20:11-15 (CSB) Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
You depart not into some neutral territory or some wilderness. You will sit under the never ending wrath of God where, Christ himself describes it this way:
Matthew 8:12 (CSB) But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:41-42 (CSB) The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness. They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:49-50 (CSB) So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous,and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 22:13 (CSB) “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 24:51 (CSB) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:30 (CSB) And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Christian, listen to me: do not let the world or other Christians try to tell you that Christ never spoken about hell. Your pithy word search "hell" in your Bible is coming up with zero results and that lie you are believing might send you straight to hell.
Our Response
If it is clear that God's judgment upon mankind is certain, what is ours to do?
Respond to the Lord's gospel command to repent of your sins and enter into your rest
6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood came and water covered the earth.
7 So Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives entered the ark because of the floodwaters.
8 From the animals that are clean, and from the animals that are not clean, and from the birds and every creature that crawls on the ground,
9 two of each, male and female, came to Noah and entered the ark, just as God had commanded him.
Matthew 7:13-14 (CSB) “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
When you obey the gospel of Christ, that is entering into the joy and rest and protect of the Almighty God
10 Seven days later the floodwaters came on the earth.
Not your fame, not your power, not your might, not your riches, not in the things you did--only by trusting Christ, repenting of sin, and obeying God will you see protection from his wrath.
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Come through the narrow gate.
Come into the rest and ease of God.
Enter in the joy of your master.
Genesis 7:11-24 The Gospel Certainty: The Will of God
The Introduction
Make no mistake: everybody who has a opinion of God is a theologian. The question remains are you a good or bad theologian.
"God doesn't exist." - that's a bad theologian. God does exist, he has made his eternal power obvious and divine nature obvious--or as the Apostle Paul puts it, "have been clearly seen" since the beginning of creation but you choose to suppress the truth so you can go your own way and not respond to the gospel commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bad theology, if left unchecked, might led you straight to hell.
Then you might be asking, "Wait, is there bad theology that doesn't lead straight to hell?" There are some nuance within all of theology--the study of nature of God--which I think do not make you hellbound.
Take for example--those who sit under false preaching and teaching similarly to those in word of faith movements. The false pastor proclaims, "You can control the will of God with your lips." Go on and try that. Let me know how that goes.
Spoiler alert: it won't go well.
Dive a little bit more into theology and then you are going to have to deal with the will--both the will of man and the will of God.
On the surface, we could say, "God desires all men to be saved"--which is emphatically true:
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (CSB) First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
But what is also true is that God's will in his kindness is meant to lead you to repentance. (Romans 2:4)
Every thing in the Old Testament is a foreshadow to Christ in the New Testament. Oft quoted:
Old Testament is Christ concealed. New Testament is Christ revealed.
And throughout the annuals of history, you have seen the will of man--under the barrage of temptation, the hubris of the soul, and the sin infection of the heart--will fool themselves into thinking that they can take on the will of God. And man does so by altering and twisting right theology so that mankind can do what is right in their own eyes.
One thing to note: in literature, you will almost never see the hero show their hand so quickly in the book. We are but seven chapters into the first book and already the Lord God Almighty will show the fullest extend of his will--to those who would breath his air without thanks and to those who would praise his name with every breath they draw in and all peoples in-between.
The Text
Genesis 7:11–24 (CSB)
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the sources of the vast watery depths burst open, the floodgates of the sky were opened,12 and the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
13 On that same day Noah along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, entered the ark, along with Noah’s wife and his three sons’ wives.
14 They entered it with all the wildlife according to their kinds, all livestock according to their kinds, all the creatures that crawl on the earth according to their kinds, every flying creature—all the birds and every winged creature—according to their kinds.
15 Two of every creature that has the breath of life in it came to Noah and entered the ark.
16 Those that entered, male and female of every creature, entered just as God had commanded him. Then the LORD shut him in.
17 The flood continued for forty days on the earth; the water increased and lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth.
18 The water surged and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water.
19 Then the water surged even higher on the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole sky were covered.
20 The mountains were covered as the water surged above them more than twenty feet.
21 Every creature perished—those that crawl on the earth, birds, livestock, wildlife, and those that swarm on the earth, as well as all mankind.
22 Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils—everything on dry land died.
23 He wiped out every living thing that was on the face of the earth, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark.
24 And the water surged on the earth 150 days.
God
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the sources of the vast watery depths burst open, the floodgates of the sky were opened, 12 and the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
The will of God: promises are made and promises are kept
Basic facts: God is not a liar and does not possess the ability to lie
Titus 1:1-2 (CSB) Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
Numbers 23:19 (CSB) God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?
Hebrews 6:17-19a (CSB) Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
More so, when God promises he will do something, rest assure it will be done in the way he said it would.
To the unbeliever, that is frightening.
To the believer, it is our only hope and stay.
See the difference? What is the drive behind perspective?
The unbeliever does not have the Triune God within them and fears everyone but God.
For the believer, the possess the heart of God, the Spirit of God, the Son of God and Father God within them--they fear nothing but God.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
The unbeliever foolishly hopes that this Bible is not real, that God is not real, and God will not do what he says he will do.
The believer hopes and knows that God is real, his word is real, because he really sent His Spirit to us because His Son perfectly live and innocently died so that what?
He would save his people from there sins.
13 On that same day Noah along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, entered the ark, along with Noah’s wife and his three sons’ wives.
The will of God: to save his people from their sins
I have preached over and over again that I think that Noah and his family were as wicked as the people of his time. Why? Not only does Genesis 6 says so but the rest of Scriptures says so. Since Genesis 3, God has proclaimed to the world that we are far from him and if we do not turn from our sin, we will surely perish.
But God has made a way and provision to turn away from yourself and your sin: trust in God. In that spectacular moment, God rescued you and redeemed you. He has forgiven you and cleansed you from all unrighteousness. Why? Because you trusted God to give him your sin--not just a one time thing but every day, you must repent.
14 They entered it with all the wildlife according to their kinds, all livestock according to their kinds, all the creatures that crawl on the earth according to their kinds, every flying creature—all the birds and every winged creature—according to their kinds.
The will of God: to provide all you need and all you actually need
Matthew 6:31-34 (CSB) So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Christ is sustainer of life
John 6:35-37 (CSB) “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again. But as I told you, you’ve seen me, and yet you do not believe. Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
Christ is the light of life
John 8:12 (CSB) Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
Christ is the narrow gate to life
John 10:7-10 (CSB) Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
Christ is the shepherd of life
John 10:11-15 (CSB) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep.“I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me,just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
Christ is the way, true, and life
John 14:6-7 (CSB) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Psalms 16:11 (CSB) You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Christ is the connection to life
John 15:1-3 (CSB) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Christ is the resurrection to new life
John 11:25 (CSB) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.
God has provided everything that you will need to fully and truly live--he has done so perfectly.
15 Two of every creature that has the breath of life in it came to Noah and entered the ark.
The will of God: all those who believe and trust will God will live
John 3:14-17 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Romans 10:11-13 (CSB) For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
16 Those that entered, male and female of every creature, entered just as God had commanded him. Then the LORD shut him in.
The will of God is the judgment of God
17 The flood continued for forty days on the earth; the water increased and lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth. 18 The water surged and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 Then the water surged even higher on the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole sky were covered. 20 The mountains were covered as the water surged above them more than twenty feet.
Luke 23:29-31 (CSB) Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Revelation 6:15-17 (CSB) hen the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”
The will of God is the wrath of God
21 Every creature perished—those that crawl on the earth, birds, livestock, wildlife, and those that swarm on the earth, as well as all mankind.
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
The will of God: The will of God is final
22 Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils—everything on dry land died.
Revelation 20:11-15 (CSB) Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
The Gospel
23 He wiped out every living thing that was on the face of the earth, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark.
The will of God is the salvation of mankind
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
Our Response
24 And the water surged on the earth 150 days.
The will of God is coming
What is your decision right now? Do not mull over and think it through? This is not a decision that you go home and think about it some more.
Too many people want to argue and debate about the supposed free will of mankind and whether or not mankind can choose to follow and obey and believe in God.
This is not a decision over what to eat for breakfast.
This is not about who is your favorite college basketball team.
This is not even about what business you go to work for.
This is not about who is going to be your spouse.
This is about your eternal existence. Leave now, go your own way, and end up under the active burning wrath of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Choose on this day on whom you will serve. God is calling you-gospel commanding--to come trust your Son.
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ before, you can do so now. If you have been in church all of your life and you just now realize you never trusted Christ, what about now. Now is the best time.
You don't have to get out of your seat. Sit still. Call upon the name of the Lord to save you. Call upon God and pray to God to ask God for God. If you do these things, you will get God.
That is the only guarantee I have for you and it doesn't come from me, it comes from God.
Genesis 8:1-14 The Gospel Certainty: The Restoration of God
The Introduction
The salvation of God can explained in a myriad of ways.
Now, we know that God saves his people from their sins. That is Matthew 1:21.
But the salvation does not stop there.
In the eradication of sin upon the earth, God has not just made a neutral ground for all believers. He has not just taken away the negative parts and leaves us in limbo.
When God saves you, it is not a one shot deal. In that faithful moment, God has only just begun.
He begins to do things in us that we couldn't possible fathom. If we did not have the Bible, surely we would not believe it. It would be too fantastic.
God has judged the earth. He released the waters in the heavens and in the earth. He covered the earth with his just wrath upon a wicked mankind. Unbelievers will rebel instead of running to the Only God that can save them.
For those who have run to the arms of the Savior and given over their sins, their hearts, and their lives, the salvation of the Almighty God is the only thing that actually saves.
Let us get into the text.
The Text
Genesis 8:1–14 (CSB)
1 God remembered Noah, as well as all the wildlife and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water began to subside.2 The sources of the watery depths and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky stopped.
3 The water steadily receded from the earth, and by the end of 150 days the water had decreased significantly.
4 The ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.
5 The water continued to recede until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were visible.
6 After forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made,
7 and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth.
8 Then he sent out a dove to see whether the water on the earth’s surface had gone down,
9 but the dove found no resting place for its foot. It returned to him in the ark because water covered the surface of the whole earth. He reached out and brought it into the ark to himself.
10 So Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove from the ark again.
11 When the dove came to him at evening, there was a plucked olive leaf in its beak. So Noah knew that the water on the earth’s surface had gone down.
12 After he had waited another seven days, he sent out the dove, but it did not return to him again.
13 In the six hundred first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the water that had covered the earth was dried up. Then Noah removed the ark’s cover and saw that the surface of the ground was drying.
14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth was dry.
God
1 God remembered Noah, as well as all the wildlife and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water began to subside. 2 The sources of the watery depths and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky stopped. 3 The water steadily receded from the earth, and by the end of 150 days the water had decreased significantly.
God restores: God alone redeems
- Creation is broken
- Man is wicked
- We are far from God
- Yet God saves
John 3:5-8 (CSB) Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
You might say to yourself: This is way too extreme--killing every living thing other than those who are in the Ark
But not extreme:
Romans 6:8-10 (CSB) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him,because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In his judgment, sin cannot go on to live and infect his children
Someone must conquer sin, Satan, demons, hell, and death--Christ Jesus is his name
And Christ sent his Spirit out so that our old selves can remain dead and we are made new in life with him
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (CSB) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
We must still deal with past sins--their effects don't go away. I wish we could be saved from the effects of sins that we have committed and especially those who have sinned against us.
However, if you believe and trust in Christ, you are a new creation in Christ.
You are no longer defined by your sins--past, present, and future.
You are no longer defined by sins against you--past, present, and future.
You are not defined by sin. God defines you. God defines you in Christ. God defines you by the power of His Holy Spirit.
In the restoration of God, we are redeemed. That doesn't mean your past instantly evaporate and your reality has changed. Yet, in the darkness and despair, God brings you up from death, washes you clean in his righteousness, and he will heal you.
4 The ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. 5 The water continued to recede until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were visible.
God restores: God alone is glorious
We are born again
But we cannot fully see the glory of God.
Exodus 33:14-20 (CSB) And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”“If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here. How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”The LORD answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the LORD’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.”
And
1 Corinthians 13:12 (CSB) For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (CSB) We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
We don't see God fully glorious because we have not gone all the way home.
But think about this. So that we have not see the full glory of God yet--to be perfectly alive, obtain the fullness of joy, swim in pleasures forevermore, and to be completely satisfied--remember we have not seen other people where will finally be when God is done with them.
Where people are now is not where they will be at by the grace of God.
In other words, by the grace of God, we have not met the real us.
You are a new creature. You are being sanctified and being conformed to the image of His Son.
2 Corinthians 4:1-6 (CSB) Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth. But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
Give mercies to others--believers and unbelievers alike. Christ has given you mercy; give mercy to where people are at and believe that God will make us whole and healed and new.
The Gospel
6 After forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made, 7 and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth.
God restores: Holy Spirit buries our old selves
In this particular passage, we are going to examine the raven and the dove. The dove has always symbolizes the Holy Spirit:
Luke 3:21-22 (CSB) When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened,and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”
While we shall not making images of the Triune God, it is acceptable to use the dove as a symbol as the Holy Spirit.
And make no mistake. The Flood that was the judgment of God upon Noah was a form of baptism on Noah and his family. (I can already hear the Presbyterians calling out.) Make no mistake: just as Jesus was baptized and the Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove, Noah and his family was baptized and the dove was sent out.
So the foreshadow of the dove is obvious but why the raven. I am scratching my head. In John Calvin's commentary, he wondered why did Noah send out a raven.
Is it perhaps to find the remains of the dead?
If that be true, then the analogy between baptisms and the Holy Spirit are all the more true.
The raven was sent out. One of it's natural instincts is to feed on carrion.
When we are in Christ, our old selves are dead and buried with Christ.
Romans 6:4-9 (CSB) Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,since a person who has died is freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him,because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.
God does the work. But with the Spirit, you must be willing to kill off sins that dare try to live again in your little heart and soul. It will devour you if you give it the opportunity. I don't care how old in the faith you are--sin will kill, steal, and destroy. You best be on guard.
Romans 8:10-11 (CSB) Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
Just like what John the Baptist said: you and I must decrease so Christ can increase in me.
Let me speak on the old self. The way we were naturally born by God yet completed and totally corrupted by sin and its effects. And there is no doubt that God can use us--even in our brokenness.
But we are not our natural talents, our personalities, neither are we our brokenness and sin. That is not a personhood. That is not life. We are new creation because Christ is in us. The Triune God is in us.
I am big and loud and mean and I was born with a heart filled with lust. I used that to try to protect myself so people would stop hurting me. Why on earth would I want to continue that way? I see that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. Wait, that sounds a billion times better.
I pray: Lord, make yourself glorified in me. Would you make me gentle? Can I be know as a joyful, loving saint and son of God all because of what your Son has done for me?
8 Then he sent out a dove to see whether the water on the earth’s surface had gone down, 9 but the dove found no resting place for its foot. It returned to him in the ark because water covered the surface of the whole earth. He reached out and brought it into the ark to himself.
God restores: Holy Spirit will save whom he will save when he wants to save on his own time
If the dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, the first release of the dove by Noah would then symbolize a born again of his people like nothing else we have seen.
John 3:5-8 (CSB) Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
You know when you see the Holy Spirit move by how? What did Jesus say? When people are being born again and not a moment before.
You hope and pray for the lost to be found. You hope and pray and you are eager to see the softening of the heart. You hope the interest in the Bible is something. The willingness to go to church is something. Even asking the right question.
In the end, until the exchange of hearts happens, faith is deposited, and the Triune God dwells in that person, that person remains lost until found.
10 So Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove from the ark again. 11 When the dove came to him at evening, there was a plucked olive leaf in its beak. So Noah knew that the water on the earth’s surface had gone down.
God restores: Holy Spirit gives us peace
John 14:27-31 (CSB) “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me.
This is a peace that is not because there is no sin, no war, no battles, no conflicts. This is beyond anything that we can comprehend. In the midst of fallen world, the Father and the Son has a double almighty grip upon our lives and no one can snatch us out of their hands. If that wasn't enough, the Holy Spirit seals us in the mighty hands of God.
John 20:19-23 (CSB) When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you."Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (CSB) Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
We are not going anywhere--not with God.
12 After he had waited another seven days, he sent out the dove, but it did not return to him again.
God restores: Holy Spirit brings us all the way home
Psalms 16:10-11 (CSB) For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay. 11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Psalms 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
Romans 8:35-39 (CSB) Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?As it is written:
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our Response
13-14 In the six hundred first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the water that had covered the earth was dried up. Then Noah removed the ark’s cover and saw that the surface of the ground was drying.
God restores: the power of the Holy Spirit who saved you is the one that will bring you home to God
Romans 8:29-30 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Guard the deposit that the Lord has made.
Pray and depend on the Holy Spirit and not on your own strength to keep you close your God.
You didn't earn your salvation by doing the right thing? Why on earth do you think you will keep it with God doing all the work.
Pray to God. Trust in Christ. Be led by the Spirit. Obey his commands.
Genesis 8:15-22 The Gospel Certainty: The Promise of God
The Introduction
Through judgment and wrath and righteousness and the holiness of God and his right decisions, the people of God who have put their faith, trust, believe, and obedience and yes, hope, in their Christ alone, will be saved.
The Word
Lamentations 3:19–26 (CSB)
19 Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison.20 I continually remember them and have become depressed.
21 Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
24 I say, “The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.”
25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him.
26 It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.
The Text
Genesis 8:15–22 (CSB)
15 Then God spoke to Noah,16 “Come out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you.
17 Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, those that crawl on the earth—and they will spread over the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”
18 So Noah, along with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, came out.
19 All the animals, all the creatures that crawl, and all the flying creatures—everything that moves on the earth—came out of the ark by their families.
20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. He took some of every kind of clean animal and every kind of clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, he said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of human beings, even though the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth onward. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.
22 As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
The Support
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
God
15 Then God spoke to Noah,
16 “Come out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you.
17 Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, those that crawl on the earth—and they will spread over the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”
Promise of God: God will deliver you through the world
James 4:13-17 (CSB) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.
I am not trying to preach your best life now. Because you if you think you believe there is a God and don't obey him, this is the best that life gets. Because your way is straight to a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
If you have put your sins and trust and faith into the Holy One of God that is Christ Jesus our Lord, this is the by far the worst your life can ever get.
Listen, we are here for a moment.
Loss of brother, mother, father, grandmother, children, childhood, jobs--abused, tormented, persecuted, brought to the brink of suicide and death.
Oddly specific? It should be--this is my life! This is the brokenness of my sin and the sins against me. I cannot look to remove those pains away from me--I need someone that will meet me in my pain and bring me up to himself. I need God.
The promises in Psalm 16 and 17?
Actual life. Fullness of joy. Pleasures evermore. Complete satisfaction?
Those are not nice things to have if you get them. I have experienced everything this world has to offer. I have chased the end of the my sin in lust, perversion, pornography. I got to the end and it was death. World has nothing. God has everything. I need all of those things that God is promising so I can truly live.
The Gospel
18 So Noah, along with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, came out.
19 All the animals, all the creatures that crawl, and all the flying creatures—everything that moves on the earth—came out of the ark by their families.
Promise of God: the people of God are saved
Tell me when you get bored of the good news.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 5:8-9 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
Acts 2:21 (CSB) Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
If you don't get this: the ark of Noah is Christ our Lord. Christ is the one who judged mankind, released the floodwaters of his righteous wrath but the protector of the his people and his world.
You might say, "But didn't Noah build the ark?"
First of all, who gave the command? Who made Noah? Who gave grace? Who gave strength? Who included Noah on his own plans? Who prophesied? Who made the trees that made the wood? Who made the ore that made the nails that made the wood? Who commanded the animals to come in two by two?
Who alone is righteous? Who alone calls for repentance of sin? Who is the only one who can save us from this body of death?
Jesus Christ is his name!
Matthew 23:37-39 (CSB) Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”
Our Response
20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. He took some of every kind of clean animal and every kind of clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Promise of God: remember and worship him
21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, he said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of human beings, even though the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth onward. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done. 22 As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
Promise of God: hold fast of all the promises of God
Genesis 9:1-7 The Gospel Certainty: The Love of God
The Introduction
There is no doubt that God is personal and he responds personally to us as individuals. He cares for us, speaks to us, answers are prayers and provides for us.
God certainly acts very intimately and personally.
But throughout the Bible, what we see is a consistent God--the only God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
And the story of Noah is beyond the judgment and wrath by God on sin and unbelievers. "Be like Noah, do your best, and don't be caught outside the ark and you will be saved." I think that misses the entire point of Noah story because it misses the gospel of Christ.
What we have clearly seen, since Genesis 6, is that God does everything in order to save you and me to him forever.
The Flood is a microscopic few of the final judgment and the wrath pour out in the last book of the Bible--the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
When we look at the Bible as a whole, we see God's goodness and everything he did was good. We saw his people who were good but then fell. God's judgment came as a prophecy to what we see in Revelation.
That through trials, tribulations, and persecutions, God came in the form of a man yet fully God--Jesus Christ-- who came, lived, died, resurrected, and ascended back to the right hand of God.
Make no mistake: Jesus Christ will return again to judge the living and the dead. In that judgment, his wrath is poured out again like he did so in the Flood. Unlike the Flood, it will never be done by water and outright destruction. Instead, Christ came to bring life. And we are finally restored to him, just like God intended in the beginning.
This gospel is the promise of God. The promise of God is perfectly established in his unbreakable covenant. Why would God make a covenant with a being that is so unrighteous and far from him?
Because He loves us so much--he promises to love us forever, no matter what we do.
Sounds familiar? Like a parent to a child? Like a husband to a wife? Like home to a lost soul? Now you see why God is so tender to the orphan, the widow, and the lost?
Let us examine the covenant--the unbreakable promise of God.
The Text
Genesis 9:1–7 (CSB)
1 God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.2 The fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are placed under your authority.
3 Every creature that lives and moves will be food for you; as I gave the green plants, I have given you everything.
4 However, you must not eat meat with its lifeblood in it.
5 And I will require a penalty for your lifeblood; I will require it from any animal and from any human; if someone murders a fellow human, I will require that person’s life.
6 Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed, for God made humans in his image.
7 But you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out over the earth and multiply on it.”
The Support
The covenant of God is beyond just a mere promise. God is a promise keeper--he lacks the ability to break any of his promises. We are filled with sin. We break promises all the time. To quote the movie Top Gun: "We are writing checks that our butts cannot cash."
But not God. He is explicit in what he says and how he says it. And what really should pop your top is that because God is not restricted by time nor space, the future where he said he will do something--guess what? He is already there. He is there in the future right now. But that is whole other sermon.
Here is the simple definition of the covenant: you and I have our parts to do in this promise. However, if you fail to do your part, I will still do my part.
When God makes a covenant, he is always going to hold up his end of the bargain. The commands he gives within the covenant--well, we are going to fail. And listen to be carefully: these are still commands but these then become blessings if you fulfill them or curses if you deny them.
God
1 God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
The Love of God has blessed us to do his will
If you think this is God's commandment to have babies--almost. This is not a commandment but a blessing. Some cannot have babies. And if you pay attention to the world, we are getting more and more older singles and these older singles will sometimes make their way into our churches--God be so gracious.
Can your church switch context and minister to these single people who are absolutely cherished by God or will you just keep preaching to families and married folk?
This verse here sums it up: whatever God has called us to do, he will give grace to do his will.
In other words, take it all the way back to Genesis 6: "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
You and I will need favor and grace to do his will. No exceptions.
2 The fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are placed under your authority. > 3 Every creature that lives and moves will be food for you; as I gave the green plants, I have given you everything. 4 However, you must not eat meat with its lifeblood in it.
The Love of God knows exactly what you need
Matthew 6:31-34 (CSB) So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
You see that. Do you and I need food, water, and shelter? Yes. Do you and I need provision by God? Yes.
But what do we really need to do in order to live?
John 3:5-8 (CSB) Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
You and I must be born again in order to live with God forever and ever. Heaven is beyond perfection. Our minds cannot fathom.
But if you are not excited about being in the physical presence of God to enjoy and be with him for all of eternity, then why go to heaven.
Heaven is not heaven without the tangible, felt presence of the Triune God.
Go to God for God. Nothing else is going to satisfy you.
The Gospel
5 And I will require a penalty for your lifeblood; I will require it from any animal and from any human; if someone murders a fellow human, I will require that person’s life. 6 Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed, for God made humans in his image.
The Love of God is the penalty for our lives
1 John 4:10 (ESV) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:10 (CSB) Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
The Love of God is the life for our lives
Hebrews 10:1-4 (CSB) Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Romans 6:10 (CSB) For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
The Love of God sheds his blood for our lives
Hebrews 10:5-7 (CSB) Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said: You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. 6 You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. 7 Then I said, “See— it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, God.”
Hebrews 10:8-10 (CSB) After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law),he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
Jesus Christ is the penalty.
Jesus Christ is the life.
Jesus Christ is the blood.
Jesus Christ is that provision.
Jesus Christ is the righteousness we need.
Jesus Christ is the blessing.
Our Response
The Love of God: Love God then go
7 But you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out over the earth and multiply on it.”
The covenants of God, the promises of God, in the working of God to save his people is because God loves us so much.
John 3:14-17 (CSB) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Love God. Obey God. And go and tell others of this amazingly good news.
Peace and grace be with us all.
Genesis 9:8-17 The Gospel Certainty: The Redemption of God
The Introduction
It is one thing to wrap our minds around the continuous work of God in redemption. It is whole other thing to sit and think and meditate on the permeance of God's work in redemption.
What I mean is this: when we dwell on the promises of God especially when it comes to God saving us, I think things like salvation, adoption, calling, and even election can be understood simply--whether we believe it or not. With a careful bigger explanation, we can explain the work of Christ in atonement (Christ's payment for our sins), propitiation (Christ's wrath-absorbing death on the cross) and expiation (Christ's removal of our sins) pretty straightforward.
But redemption? You know why I think this is not so easy to explain? Because I see way way too many Christians who, by the grace of God, get saved by God and then spend the rest of their lives trying to be their own redeemer when Christ alone is our redeemer.
But let me ask you this: what is redemption?
You might say, "Joe, I was going to ask you that." And I will be like, "I am glad you asked."
But those of you who have already read the passage know for the fact that the word "redemption" or "redeemed" is not in the passage.
But let me tell you what God does here is one of the grandest displays of redemption.
Let us get into it.
The Text
Genesis 9:8–17 (CSB)
8 Then God said to Noah and his sons with him,9 “Understand that I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you,
10 and with every living creature that is with you—birds, livestock, and all wildlife of the earth that are with you—all the animals of the earth that came out of the ark.
11 I establish my covenant with you that never again will every creature be wiped out by floodwaters; there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations:
13 I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
14 Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds,
15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature.
16 The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the permanent covenant between God and all the living creatures on earth.”
17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and every creature on earth.”
The Support
1 Corinthians 7:22-24 (CSB) For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people. Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called.
To redeem is to purchase. That is appropriate when it comes to cashing in a coupon or a gift card.
When we speak of redemption in relation to humanity, it is far far more complex and nuance.
No one can simply purchase you. You are a free person. In the past--especially during Bible times--if you owe a debt, you could sell yourself into slavery. Historical note: when you kidnap or man-steal a person to take them across the ocean to sell that person when that image-bearer owed NO DEBT, that is a wickedness and evil deplorable act in the sight of God. Christian as the American slave-owners might think they were about 160 years ago, if they did not repent and believe in Christ, rest assure they are in a place of their own weeping and gnashing of their teeth because they sit under the just wrath of Jesus Christ.
But I digress.
When someone has purchased you, they get all of you--your heart, your soul, your sins, your depravity. And no one has the authority nor power to purchase anybody. No one except God himself.
In the wickedness of man, there is no redemption with humans. There is no purchase power that has all of the person.
In the goodness of Christ, there is only redemption. With that purchase, comes salvation for you.
God
8 Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, 9 “Understand that I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you—birds, livestock, and all wildlife of the earth that are with you—all the animals of the earth that came out of the ark. 11 I establish my covenant with you that never again will every creature be wiped out by floodwaters; there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
When God redeems, God will not destroy you
Calvin mentions it this way:
That the memory of the deluge might not inspire them with new terrors, as often as the sky were covered with clouds, lest the earth should again be drowned; this source of anxiety is taken away.
John Calvin. Calvin's Commentaries (22 Vols.)
When Noah saw another rain cloud in the sky, he never had to second guess that another flood was coming and somehow he missed the calling of God. If you have been called by God and you love Christ and you want to obey his every word, you are under the protection of anything that is to come.
"Nor life nor death nor anything in all of creation can separate us from the love of God that is Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) There is no judgment for you. The Son of God has been judged in your place. There is no wrath for you. The Son of God has been taken on that wrath for you. There is no condemnation because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Part of God saving his people was God's judgment upon sin. For those who trust the Son, they will have eternal life. For those who disobey the Son, the wrath of the Son remains upon them.
But there is not an ounce of God's anger left over from the cross for you. You sin? You fall? You stumble? Then you confess. Then you repent. Do so quickly. Make it easy to fall back into the mighty arms of the only Savior you and I have ever known.
The Gospel
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations: 13 I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature. 16 The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the permanent covenant between God and all the living creatures on earth.”
When God redeems, God gives you a new life
God poured his wrath out on all living things but kept Noah, his wife, his family, and the animals safely within his mighty grasp. They were never not once in danger for their lives and they will never had perish. But when the ark landed, and they were able to walk on dry ground (not the first nor last time we will see this in the Bible), before they could work a day, begun building a home, going to make a meal, before they could even start to live, God spoke to them and gave them a promise: I have chosen you and I have saved you.
Because of this new life, we get to go and live!
2 Corinthians 5:16-19 (CSB) From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
Once God has wiped away the world, and he promised Noah that it would never happen like that ever again so Noah can go live in the grace of God. But what God does for his people: He washes us clean from the inside out so we can live in the righteousness of God and live to God forever.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (CSB) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
And
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviorso that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Our Response
17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and every creature on earth.”
When God redeems, we don't have to pay God back
Yesterday, I mention the insanity of the gospel. Because if you start to dwell on it, and you are thinking, "Wait, this is too good to be true," then I assure you that you are on the right track in proper thinking of the gospel of Christ and his grace. It is just too awesome--too lovely--too fantastic. I am running out words.
It is almost enough to drive someone to madness! How can a wretched, deplorable, wicked, depraved sinner like me be found in grace and favor of the holy, just, and righteous God! This is too good to be true.
And I would quickly agree with you--it is too good! And it would be except we have the supernatural entrance of Jesus Christ, born to the virgin Mary, lived a life without sin although tempted in every way as we were; falsely accused, tried under Pontius Pilate, illegally crucified upon the cross, buried in a tomb for three days. But on the third day, the first Easter Sunday, at the righteous decree of God the Father by the power of the Almighty Spirit of God, Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God, was raised from death to life, championing and conquering over sin, hell, death, Satan, and demons.
It would be too wonderful of news. But it is no lie. We have Jesus Christ.
I don't care how atheistic or agnostic you might be, you cannot deny that Christ is real. Christ is real and he has commanded you and me to repent of our sins right now because the kingdom of God is here right now and not even the gates of hell can contain it.
In all of that, when God saves you, it is a gift.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
Gifts are free. They are not earned.
Here's the point of emphasizing God's free gift. Sometimes Christians upon being saved by God and with great rejoicing, they want to do all the things. But my brother and sister, just remember one sweet thing: you don't have to pay back God for your new life. You just need to go and live this new life.
John 8:10-11 (CSB) When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
You have been redeemed. You have been brought with a price of the only begotten Son of God. Now, go and live freely.
Genesis 9:18-29 The Gospel Certainty: The Glory of God
The Introduction
We are here at the end of the story of Noah. We are completing his life here in Genesis.
We have seen him be spared and saved by the grace of God alone, declared righteous, blameless, and one who walked with God. We have seen him and his family walk through the greatest catastrophe on the earth that displayed the righteousness, holiness, wrath and judgment of the omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God of the Universe. After that, we see God being with Noah and declaring an unbreakable promise that his wrath will not pour out like this any again.
Noah's response was correct: worship our great God.
We are not even one percent into the Bible before we see who God is and his relationship to the people of all the earth.
God has literally cleaned the outside the man. God wipes all of wickedness and sin off the earth. God has made Man's circumstances absolute perfect.
I think it is the cry of most people and most Christians, "I want an easier life!" Perhaps you and I won't readily admit it but the way you live your life unto God will show the world what you hold supreme.
God in his almightiness most certainly make our circumstances perfect. What do you think the response of mankind to these perfect circumstances?
The Text
Genesis 9:18–29 (CSB)
18 Noah’s sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan.19 These three were Noah’s sons, and from them the whole earth was populated.
20 Noah, as a man of the soil, began by planting a vineyard.
21 He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent.
22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside.
23 Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked.
24 When Noah awoke from his drinking and learned what his youngest son had done to him,
25 he said: Canaan is cursed. He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.
26 He also said: Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; Let Canaan be Shem’s slave.
27 Let God extend Japheth; let Japheth dwell in the tents of Shem; let Canaan be Shem’s slave.
28 Now Noah lived 350 years after the flood.
29 So Noah’s life lasted 950 years; then he died.
God
18 Noah’s sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were Noah’s sons, and from them the whole earth was populated.
The Glory of God: Mankind is blessed--God will do what he says he will do
Genesis 9:1 (CSB) God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
Again, be fruitful and multiple is not a commandment but a blessing by God.
Furthermore, we have already seen that God will stop at nothing to save his people from their sins.
20 Noah, as a man of the soil, began by planting a vineyard. 21 He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent.
The Glory of God: Mankind sins--God is righteous
Matthew 23:27-28 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
God wipes the wickedness off the earth. All the evil has been purged. Life should be easy.
God even provides the technology for wine and has blessed mankind with wine.
Yet, even in the goodness and with the provision of God, mankind will always sin within God's goodness. But our sins and trespasses never negates the goodness of God or even God himself.
We can try to resolve the problem of evil--but when you do, you better be sure that God is in his proper place and Man is in his proper place.
God is exalted and high and lifted up--infinitely far above us.
Man is mortal and born in sin and depravity--far from the glory of God.
Make no mistake: look at Religious History. Man will go to great lengths to either exalt Man above his place or make God a little lower than he ought. Once you do that, you are no longer orthodox and proper and history. Congratulations, you have just created a false religion which the Bible rightfully declares is led by demons (Deuteronomy 32:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:20)
Deuteronomy 32:16-17 (CSB) They provoked his jealousy with different gods; they enraged him with detestable practices. 17 They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods they had not known, new gods that had just arrived, which your ancestors did not fear.
1 Corinthians 10:20 (CSB) No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons!
God has saved man. God has wiped wickedness from the earth. Yet, Noah sins in the eyes of God.
And I don't have short-term memory loss: I remember the declaration in Genesis 6.
Genesis 6:8-9 (CSB) Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
How do we reconcile the these two opposing issues?
I think that any Christian who has been saved for longer than a moment already feel this strain. We believe in God, trust in God, and by the Spirit alone, obey Christ but yet we fall.
Romans 7:22-24 (CSB) For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Guess what? Salvation is not a one time thing. It is an every day, every hour, every second type of thing.
I look back at my life with God and see how he will rescue me from my sins over and over again; from despair over and over again; from darkness over and over again; from wickedness over and over again.
God don't stop. God can't stop. Never stop rescuing us. It is what he does.
Romans 8:12-13 (CSB) So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh,because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Proverbs 24:16 (CSB) Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
God sees you and knows you and sees that you stumble. But he gives himself to you and with his strength and Spirit, you always get back up one more time.
He never grows tired. He never weakens. He never gives up. He doesn't become exasperated with you. In fact, it is the opposite:
Zephaniah 3:17 (CSB) The LORD your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.”
He rejoices because you stumble to get up once more.
He is glad that you grabbed his hand to walk with you once more.
You might be in the wilderness but his love is quiet and close and intimate as a whisper.
When he sees you returning to him, he delightfully sings to your heart and soul.
His love is steadfast. His grace is stacked upon even more grace. His mercies never come to an end because they are brand new every morning.
The same God who wipes our sin and wickedness is the same God who loves us enough to send his only begotten Son, to live and die for us so that we can be with the Father forever.
The Gospel
22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked.
The Glory of God: Mankind can only hope to cover up their own shame--God fully forgives our trespasses
Man cannot wipe away their own sin. They lack the power to do so.
Look at the power of God when we sin and yet trust in God:
Psalms 51:7 (CSB) Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Psalms 103:12 (CSB) As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:19 (CSB) That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
Ephesians 1:7-8 (CSB) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his gracethat he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (CSB) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB)But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviorso that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Titus 2:14 (CSB) He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
What does man do about the problem of evil? Nothing on their own.
What does God do about the problem of evil? Everything, continuous for all time until the end of time.
24 When Noah awoke from his drinking and learned what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said: Canaan is cursed. He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers. 26 He also said: Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; Let Canaan be Shem’s slave. 27 Let God extend Japheth; let Japheth dwell in the tents of Shem; let Canaan be Shem’s slave.
The Glory of God: what God does, Mankind cannot undo
Let me address something real quick: it has been the wickedness of preachers before me that would say that all African descendants were from the family of Ham and because of the curse of Noah, descendants of Ham--more specifically, Ham's son, Cush--were to always be slaves of the white race.
That is wickedness. That is evil. That is blasphemy. And if you believe and teach that, you are the son of Satan and a child of hell by the declaration of Jesus Christ.
John 8:44 (CSB) You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
In Noah's drunken stupor and hangover, he probably felt like the smallest person in the world and it shows. Leaning on his own shame and guilt, he attempts to curse one of his son's descendants. Now, did it work? We don't know a Canaanite today so you can make the argument it did work.
But let us not foolishly believe that we can control God, tell God what to do, and certainly undo the blessings of God with an empty curse from our feeble, wicked mouths.
We are weak. He is strong. We are desperate. He alone gives relief. We are far. He draws near. Never forget that.
Our Response
28 Now Noah lived 350 years after the flood.
The Glory of God: God is not here to make your circumstances better
Most of us don't even live a tenth of the first people on the earth. Don't you think that Noah thought his life went by like a flash. If by the sheer grace of God, maybe we will get to see 100.
What are you praying for? An easy life or an holy life unto God. Don't give me the response, "Why not both?" Because the easy life is an easy street straight to hell. You have one life to live. Live unto the Lord.
29 So Noah’s life lasted 950 years; then he died.
The Glory of God: God came as His Son, Jesus Christ, to bring you all the way back home
How do we answer the question: "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
I will contend to you that Paul's cry is your cry and my cry if we love the Lord. We have the dwelling of the Triune God. We have been washed clean. We are led by the Spirit. We love God's law. Yet, we still sin against. Who is going to save me and you from this body of sin?
Paul figured it out. This is his answer.
Romans 7:25 (CSB) Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
As the hymn goes:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.Helen Howarth Lemmel
Those in the flesh will die in the flesh. Those in the Spirit will have everlasting life.
Genesis 10 The Gospel Certainty: The Lineage of God
The Introduction
Genealogies are important. But not in the way you might think.
It might help to know where we came from, who are our ancestors, or what's in our DNA But our lineage ain't worth anything if we are not saved by God.
Let us examine the passage and get into it.
The Text
Genesis 10 (CSB)
1 These are the family records of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They also had sons after the flood.2 Japheth’s sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
3 Gomer’s sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
4 And Javan’s sons: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
5 From these descendants, the peoples of the coasts and islands spread out into their lands according to their clans in their nations, each with its own language.
6 Ham’s sons: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
7 Cush’s sons: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And Raamah’s sons: Sheba and Dedan.
8 Cush fathered Nimrod, who began to be powerful in the land.
9 He was a powerful hunter in the sight of the LORD. That is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a powerful hunter in the sight of the LORD.”
10 His kingdom started with Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
11 From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah,
12 and Resen, between Nineveh and the great city Calah.
13 Mizraim fathered the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh,
14 Pathrus, Casluh (the Philistines came from them), and Caphtor.
15 Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth,
16 as well as the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,
17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,
18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the Canaanite clans scattered.
19 The Canaanite border went from Sidon going toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and going toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim as far as Lasha.
20 These are Ham’s sons by their clans, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.
21 And Shem, Japheth’s older brother, also had sons. Shem was the father of all the sons of Eber.
22 Shem’s sons were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
23 Aram’s sons: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
24 Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber.
25 Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg, for during his days the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
26 And Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were Joktan’s sons.
30 Their settlements extended from Mesha to Sephar, the eastern hill country.
31 These are Shem’s sons by their clans, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.
32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their family records, in their nations. The nations on earth spread out from these after the flood.
The Support
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
Our God
This is almost a repeat of Genesis 4, 5, & 6 in the sense we are talking about genealogies.
In Genesis 5, we spoke about the descendants from Adam to Noah. Right at the beginning of chapter 6, Moses writes about the rise of powerful men.
Genesis 6:4 (CSB) The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
What was God's response?
Genesis 6:5-7 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”
You know what happens after that. God first saves his people from their sins--Noah and his family. God eliminates all evil, resets all circumstances, takes away all of Noah's problems off the face of the earth.
Noah's response? The sin that was indwelling within him.
God started over with Noah. But you and I know Noah was far far from perfect--no one is perfect, no one is righteous, all have fallen short of the glory of God. Noah was declared righteous but the war with sin raged within his flesh (Romans 7:7-25) We should not be so shocked that the earth once again fell into sin. God could remove all of our circumstances and our lives will still be jacked up because of us. That is just sin.
Out of the flood, fallen children of Adam once again populated the earth. Holiness and righteousness did not spread but sin, power, greed try to seized control. Little people with their pitiful little lives trying to fight for pitiful little control over their stupid little kingdoms.
Not so with God, who rules and reigns over all of creation.
Let us examine the difference between the kingdom of the world vs. kingdom of God:
Kingdom of Babylon vs. Kingdom of God
Kingdom of Babylon
Born in sin
1 These are the family records of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They also had sons after the flood.
Much like our fall started with Adam, this second go-around starts with Noah. Even declared righteous, Noah is not perfect and still needs God to be sanctified cleansed every day.
Notice something back in Genesis 9 that is the same as Genesis 3. What was Noah's response to his drunkenness? Did he repent of his sin and pray to the Holy God who just saved Noah from the wrath of God or was he quick to blameshift to someone else for his own sin?
Adam blamed Eve. Noah blamed and tries to curse his grandson?
Genesis 9:24-25 (CSB) When Noah awoke from his drinking and learned what his youngest son had done to him, he said: Canaan is cursed. He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.
Born out of power
Genesis 10:6-12 (CSB) Ham’s sons: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. Cush’s sons: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And Raamah’s sons: Sheba and Dedan. Cush fathered Nimrod, who began to be powerful in the land. He was a powerful hunter in the sight of the LORD. That is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a powerful hunter in the sight of the LORD.” His kingdom started with Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, and Resen, between Nineveh and the great city Calah.
In the kingdom of the world, on the strongest and most powerful get to rule. They get to be the oppressors and crush those underneath them. For what? A tiny bit of perceived power? What sense does that make?
Sustains in depravity and immorality
Genesis 10:13-19 (CSB) Mizraim fathered the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh, Pathrus, Casluh (the Philistines came from them), and Caphtor. Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, as well as the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the Canaanite clans scattered. The Canaanite border went from Sidon going toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and going toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim as far as Lasha.
If you grew up in church, reading the Bible, these nations and these lands should sound familiar to you. Because we are blessed with complete word of God, this passage ends up being prophetic. But we will get to that later.
Deep in the hearts of men, we want to go our own way. We are given chance after chance, grace upon grace, and but without the indwelling of God in our beings, we will fight to go our own way.
The weak, frail, poor, widow, orphan, lost are excluded
This is complete conjecture. But you have to see this. Read chapter 10 and see what is excluded that we find missing from other genealogies.
What? No repentant sinners listed. Not a one. Stark contrast to the kingdom of God.
What will become of these powerful people who for a brief moment here on earth try to consume as much they can.
Judged under the wrath of God
Revelation 18:21-24 (CSB) Then a mighty angel picked up a stone like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
In this way, Babylon the great city
will be thrown down violently
and never be found again.
The sound of harpists, musicians,
flutists, and trumpeters
will never be heard in you again;
no craftsman of any trade
will ever be found in you again;
the sound of a mill
will never be heard in you again;
the light of a lamp
will never shine in you again;
and the voice of a groom and bride
will never be heard in you again.
All this will happen
because your merchants
were the nobility of the earth,
because all the nations were deceived
by your sorcery.
In her was found the blood of prophets and saints,
and of all those slaughtered on the earth.
Kingdom of God
Existed before time in truth
John 1:1-5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
Born in a manger, weak, frail
Luke 2:6-7 (CSB) While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Philippians 2:5–8 (CSB)
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.
7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
Includes the fringes, the lost, the orphan, the widow, the lost
Matthew 5:1–12 (CSB)
1 When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.2 Then he began to teach them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.
12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Gospel
Reading the Prophets, Isaiah to Malachi
Promises and the prophecies of God.
God expounds and elaborates on how he will make things right
But the nations--even including the descendants of Shem and Japheth--were judged for their wickedness and depravity and they were torn down.
Read Ezekiel 12-35. The prophet Ezekiel prophesies the end of the nations around Israel and then including judgments against Israel. All of those judgments came true.
The kingdoms out of the lineage of Christ was also judged for their wickedness
Jeremiah 22:25-30 (CSB) In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread, who intend to take your life, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans. I will hurl you and the mother who gave birth to you into another land, where neither of you were born, and there you will both die. They will never return to the land they long to return to.” Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered pot, a jar no one wants? Why are he and his descendants hurled out and cast into a land they have not known? Earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: Record this man as childless, a man who will not be successful in his lifetime. None of his descendants will succeed in sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah.
Reminder of Jeremiah 23 - woe to false shepherds
Reading through the Old Testament and then descending into the Prophets starting with Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, and Amos: there is good news there to be sure. But our sin--my sin--is revealed time and time again. It causes me to cry out with Paul, "Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death!"
But you keep reading the Bible. You turn the page. You go from the Old to the New Testament and there it is: the rest for our weary soul, the righteousness that we so desperately needed, the holiness that calls us from the kingdom of the world, the grace and truth that opens our eyes, the mercy we need for life, and the love that has always been there from everlasting to everlasting.
Matthew 1 (CSB)
1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:2 Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Aram,
4 Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon,
5 Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse,
6 and Jesse fathered King David. David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,
7 Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, Abijah fathered Asa,
8 Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, Joram fathered Uzziah,
9 Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, Amon fathered Josiah,
11 and Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel, Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel fathered Abiud, Abiud fathered Eliakim, Eliakim fathered Azor,
14 Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, Achim fathered Eliud,
15 Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, Matthan fathered Jacob,
16 and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.
19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her
25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
Luke 3:23–38 (CSB)
23 As he began his ministry, Jesus was about thirty years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, son of Heli,24 son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,
25 son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,
26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,
27 son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,
28 son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,
29 son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,
30 son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,
31 son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,
32 son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon,
33 son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah,
34 son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,
35 son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,
36 son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,
37 son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel, son of Cainan,
38 son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.
Lineage not of power, nor royalty, nor wealth but one of faith
Hebrews 11:1-2 (CSB) Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved.
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Not upon the strength of our faith but based on the strength of the Almighty God
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.
What is God's gift? Salvation, grace, faith? The answer is yes--all three.
Our Response
We build our little kingdoms and we are vaporized like dew in the high noon sun.
But the kingdom of God rules and reigns forever--because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We exalt ourselves, he was lowly in heart. We are filled with pride in our pithy accomplishments, he was gentle. We amass power in order to feebly try to control our world and our circumstances for an easier life, Christ held his body on a cross and bled out so he could put Satan, demons, hell, and death to open shame and separate.
We are not to live for power. We are to live in the power of the Almighty. We are not of this world but we are merely passing through it.
We are not born into this family by the blood of our ancestors but born again into this family by the blood of the Lamb and our testimony.
John 1:12-13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
My grandfather left his wife and kids to be with another woman. Came back home, stricken with prostate cancer and died in his 40s.
My father was a child molester. Sexually abused me and my siblings. Arrested, tried, and sentence to nearly 400 years. Died in prison in around his 60s.
Me? I was so addicted to porn that I ended up working in the porn industry. How did that work out for me? Two divorces and not being with my kids all the time. Relationships wrecked.
Yet, God saved my grandfather and redeemed his life. God saved my dad--and then he decided to forgo parole to "a light in a very dark place". He ministered to his fellow inmates up to his death.
And God saved me. I have lost my family but he has restored my soul for his namesake.
Our lineage, ancestry, bloodline ain't worth jack unless God comes into our bloodlines and redeems us. And it starts with us. Not our parents, not our pastor, not our church--you and I must decide today to repent of our sins and trust in Christ alone.
Choose on this day on whom you will serve.
Genesis 11 The Gospel Tongue
The Word
Colossians 2:4-10 (CSB) I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ. So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
The Introduction
If you have been on this channel for longer than a minute, or better yet, if you have been to college or some sort of college prep high school, you should be no stranger to philosophy. Now for those of us who haven't done any of that, don't tap out on me just yet. Just stay the course. We will get through this. I promise you that you won't have any homework essays to do. Just stay with me.
We read in the Paul's letter to the church in Colossae and his warning to them is the same warning to the church in America:
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
Don't be so hasty here. Respond with, "Well, that's okay, I don't philosophy anyway," as though ignorance is bliss and you go about your merry way.
Here's the kick in the pants: you and I are constantly, continuously, overwhelmingly inundated with philosophy all the time. How do I know? Go and take a Philosophy course. If you are in school, sign up for Philosophy 101 next semester, If you have no interest in school, let me suggest two incredible resources:
If you have the time: Philosophy as taught by R.C. Sproul at Ligonier Ministries.
If you don't have the time and like to read, highest recommendation:
The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped Our World
R.C. Sproul.
Crossway. 2018.
Goodreads
If you don't have the time and you don't like to read, then let me brutally and tragically summarize modern philosophy. Among of all the schools of thought, the greatest and loudest voices that the Western world is hearing right now from the world and not from God are really three voices:
Pragmaticism - Whatever brings the results that we want, that is the right course of action. For some of you, you might think this sounds oddly like business and you would be right. Pragmaticism plays a huge role in the way we do modern business.
Humanism - What humans can do and can accomplish is of prime importance. The divne and the supernatural should less emphasized if not, extinguished altogether. In other words, all of the world's problems can be solved by mankind and mankind alone.
Secularism - Whatever humans are going to do, religion should have no part of it whatsoever. Government, politics, morals, etc.. should be decided by what humans think is right but religion should not be a factor in any of that.
Now, if you got a glance at today's study in Genesis 11, you might be asking, "What does philosophy have anything to do with the Tower of Babylon?"
I am so glad you asked that question.
The Text
Genesis 11 (CSB)
1 The whole earth had the same language and vocabulary.2 As people migrated from the east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there.
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make oven-fired bricks.” (They used brick for stone and asphalt for mortar.)
4 And they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let’s make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered throughout the earth.”
5 Then the LORD came down to look over the city and the tower that the humans were building.
6 The LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.
7 Come, let’s go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
8 So from there the LORD scattered them throughout the earth, and they stopped building the city.
9 Therefore it is called Babylon, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the LORD scattered them throughout the earth.
10 These are the family records of Shem. Shem lived 100 years and fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood.
11 After he fathered Arpachshad, Shem lived 500 years and fathered other sons and daughters.
12 Arpachshad lived 35 years and fathered Shelah.
13 After he fathered Shelah, Arpachshad lived 403 years and fathered other sons and daughters.
14 Shelah lived 30 years and fathered Eber.
15 After he fathered Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and fathered other sons and daughters.
16 Eber lived 34 years and fathered Peleg.
17 After he fathered Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and fathered other sons and daughters.
18 Peleg lived 30 years and fathered Reu.
19 After he fathered Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and fathered other sons and daughters.
20 Reu lived 32 years and fathered Serug.
21 After he fathered Serug, Reu lived 207 years and fathered other sons and daughters.
22 Serug lived 30 years and fathered Nahor.
23 After he fathered Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and fathered other sons and daughters.
24 Nahor lived 29 years and fathered Terah.
25 After he fathered Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and fathered other sons and daughters.
26 Terah lived 70 years and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
27 These are the family records of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot.
28 Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans, during his father Terah’s lifetime.
29 Abram and Nahor took wives: Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah.
30 Sarai was unable to conceive; she did not have a child.
31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.
32 Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran.
Our God
Let me sum up philosophy in the light of orthodox, right, proper theology: Philosophy is excellent in explaining the depravity of man and when used correctly, can predict the direction of the society in about 50 years. Philosophy, however, is the worst at fixing the depravity and problems of mankind.
Here's a spoiler alert: the gospel is the only thing that can fix mankind. And you and I know that gospel of Jesus Christ is both fully divine and fully supernatual. In other words, to save anyone is completely outside of you and me, and completely depends on whatever God does and does not do.
If that explanation is good for you, you can go ahead and drop off this episode.
If you are at all curious on how this plays out with mankind, and more specifically the Tower of Babel (or Babylon), then hold on.
1 The whole earth had the same language and vocabulary.
2 As people migrated from the east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there.
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make oven-fired bricks.” (They used brick for stone and asphalt for mortar.)
Pragmaticism does not work in the kingdom of God
"Whatever gets us results is the right course of action" - how many of you all have been in ministry and discipleship for longer than 5 minutes? What if we did counseling or discipleship or preaching like this? It would be disasterous. Why? Because the slippery slope is that we always focus on results rather than the people.
I remember hearing this story of a pastor who was setting up a marriage counseling session with a couple and they were having a hard time getting their schedules to work. His assistant said, "I am not sure that would work for that couple." He rudely responded, "It doesn't matter what works for them, it only matters if it works for the church."
Years and years after that incident, the pastor was still haunted by his words and by that belief in his heart.
If God did what works, sure he would have wiped us all of the face of the earth and started again. But he didn't. All throughout the Bible, God did things the hard way. God would do it in a certain way that mankind, on their best day, knew deep down inside it was going to fail magnificient.
Look how hard it was for the Israelites to accept Jesus as the Messiah and as God. The Old Testament had over 260 prophecies on how God was going to make things right. And Jesus filled those prophecies to a tee. But our little pea-sized brains keeps thinking, "I wouldn't do it that way." I wouldn't let Jesus come as a little baby--whatever something happens to him. I wouldn't let him come as a male--males are in power and corrupted. I wouldn't let him come poor and in need--he needs to come in power and come to kick butt and take names and overthrow empires with the spilling of blood!
God does the opposite. God's kingdom is upside down. God's ways are higher than our ways. And the saints of God do it not the ways of business in a way to produce results fast. We are to love one another and point each other to Christ. And many times, we do so unto death. And many times, we won't see the fruit of our faith. But God does. And that is all that matters.
4 And they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let’s make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered throughout the earth.”
5 Then the LORD came down to look over the city and the tower that the humans were building.
6 The LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.
Humanism does not work in the kingdom of God
Humanism will have a real shot in fixing our problem but it sucks at one thing: admitting what is at the core of the problems with mankind.
They will keep pointing to this problem or that problem, tackling the problem and usually not fixing the problem and making it worse.
Let me bring up a super hot topic now: Critical Race Theory. Let me again, oversimplify CRT. CRT attempts to seek and find ways, even subtly, where society is bent and broken towards outright racism. Knowing the Bible and possessing pretty good theology and you can reply, "Well, that's depravity. We get that." But that's not what CRT states. In essence, we can educate the masses not to make racist decisions--or decisions that are anti-racist--and the problem with racism can be solved.
Now those with the Christian Nationalist bent (which is an oxymoron) will wanna cheer me on. But you think CRT is wrong because you don't like being called a racist and not because CRT misses the mark.
Here's God's way: the gospel is the only thing that is going to fix the hatred of man:
Titus 3:3-7 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
The world already rejects this notion. It's supernatural, divine, and robs us of our glory. Christians balk at this because it is "the easy way out". But I wonder, if some Christians or ex-Evangelicals has seen the blasphemous use of the gospel and the name of God to promote all kinds of evil--especially in the name of hatred and bigotry and racism.
They would argue that Christianity and the gospel doesn't work because it doesn't do enough to protect people from the evils of the world.
The Gospel
Yet, the good news of God is not a way to protect us from being hurt. The gospel of Christ is the proclamation that we get to be in the eternally safe and loving arms of Jesus. And no power in hell, no scheme of man--including hatred, bigotry, and racism--can ever separate us from the love of God that can only be found in Jesus Christ our Lord.
7 Come, let’s go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
8 So from there the LORD scattered them throughout the earth, and they stopped building the city.
9 Therefore it is called Babylon, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the LORD scattered them throughout the earth.
Secularism does not work in the kingdom of God
Try as we might, we cannot separate God from this world. Because of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ on high, He is now King of kings and Lord of lords--that means he rules and reigns over people and all nations.
Wanna go Communist in a country like China and completely try to rip out God in your goverment. Then watch as the mystery, might, sovereignty and the love of God as he begins to move and plant seeds in such a way where in the year of our Lord 2022, there are more Christians in China then there are people living in America. Noticed I didn't say more Christians than the number of Christians in America. But there are more Christians in China than the population of America.
And I thought America was a Christian nation. Yet, the Christian population in America is shrinking. Chinese spent decades trying to persecute and murder Christians only Christians shrewdly figure ways out to spread the gospel.
Upside-down compared to mankind. Wrong way compared to our notions and good intentions. Yet, our little kingdoms come and go and yet, the gates of hell cannot even stop the kingdom of God.
You want upside down? Try this on for size, taken from Luke 3:
Noah begat Shem begat Arphaxad begat Cainan begat Shelah begat Eber begat Peleg begat Reu begat Serug begat Nahor begat Terah begat a wealthy landowner and shepherd named Abram. > > 29 Abram and Nahor took wives: Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. > > 30 Sarai was unable to conceive; she did not have a child. > > 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. > > 32 Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran.
God picked a bloodline to cut through all our intellect, wisdom, notions, knowledge, and power from the source of our wickedness. God didn't do things the easy way. God didn't save his people the fast way. God plays the long game--because Christ the Alpha and the Omega--the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
He was here before time began. He will be here for all of eterntiy.
Yet, Christ steps into our moment in time, cutting through our depravity and just holds out his hands, and command, "Give me your sin and your trust and your faith and your belief." Do this and be saved.
Genesis 12:1-6 The Gospel Predestination
The Introduction
How did we get here? What I mean by that is how is setting the stage to do his will and his good pleasure in his people who are not yet his people.
Well, logic dictates, he must start with a person. Now, because we have seen a couple of genealogies (Genesis 5) and we have heard the proclamation of the gospel (Genesis 3:15) and for most of us, this is not the first time hearing this story, we know that through one bloodline starting with Adam through Noah through a man name Terah.
Genesis 11:24–32 (CSB)
24 Nahor lived 29 years and fathered Terah.25 After he fathered Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and fathered other sons and daughters.
26 Terah lived 70 years and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
27 These are the family records of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot.
28 Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans, during his father Terah’s lifetime.
29 Abram and Nahor took wives: Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah.
30 Sarai was unable to conceive; she did not have a child.
31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.
32 Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran.
Biblical genealogies are not there so that God and throw out a bunch of names so that in the year 2022, some English speaking Americans will get tripped up and mispronounce all of them. No, I promise you that is not the point.
Ever person listed, whether saved by God or not, matters to him because He loves them. You have a name? You are loved by God. You matter to him. And you love and trust and believe his Son. Then your name is written in the Book of Life forever. But that is another sermon for another time.
I want you to keep in mind when we read and study Genesis 12, God is putting together his people through one man. We just read his family of origin. Let us see how and perhaps why God chose Abraham.
The Text
Genesis 12:1-6 (CSB)
1 The LORD said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
6 Abram passed through the land to the site of Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.)
Our God
Predestined by God: Abraham was minding his own business
Look at the gap between the end of chapter 11 and the beginning of 12.
What was Abram doing? The Bible does not say. But we know that while Abram was good with money, he was not wise with people. We know, based on the Bible, that he was not a righteous person. Much like Noah was wicked in the sight of the Lord, but then Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord (remember the order) and Noah became righteous.
If all who are born of Adam--that includes you and me--were in sin and destined to die, something outside of us must come in and save us. We could fall for the folly of mankind who throughout history thought that if we could be rich enough, smart enough, wise enough, work hard enough, we could save ourselves. And yet, all humans of every generation dies off.
We know from the Bible--we know that from what we read of Genesis thus far--that Abram was just as sinful as any man. But Abram found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Abram did not and could not earn the favor of God. Abram was born into a family--a Gentile family (Jews have not yet been born) and went about life.
God came in the midst of his ordinary every day life and gives the covenant call:
1 The LORD said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
Predestined by God: Abraham was called out by God
Romans 8:30a (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called
What is being called by God really about?
In today's evangelical world, and perhaps you grew up like I did that everyone was "called into ministry" as through it will be a full-time job and we all have to file for non-profit statuses. No. What does it mean to be called by God is to be saved by God.
You might say, "What, if God calls us to himself, then we would respond to him favorably guaranteed? Don't I get a choice in the matter?"
If all the arguments I have ever heard against the Doctrines of God or what we call 'Calvinism', this response makes me the most insane.
Don't look at it like God is giving you a multiple choice like Morpheus in The Matrix with the blue or the red pill. Or for our non-sci-fi fans, another choice, "Should I have Reese's Puffs or Cocoa Puffs for breakfast?"
The choice to be with God is the dead coming alive. Don't look at it like a mere choice, "Should I get a green or a red truck?" Look at this choice in the right manner:
John 11:41–43 (CSB) So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.”After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
Dead people do not choose. They are dead. They just lay be dead. Lazarus was 4 days dead. Super dead. Likewise, in our sins, we are super dead in our sins and trespasses. But what happens? But God, in his great love our us, calls out to our dead souls and cold hearts, pulls our expired hearts out, gives us his own heart and his own spirit. And now, we get to live. Now we are alive. Now we choose to live. There is only one way to live--live to God. To not live to God, to sin and trespass against God is death.
Since you and me are alive to Christ, you and I get to minister and love and serve and encourage one another. You want a calling? That's your calling. Love God with all of your being and love your neighbor as yourself. You might have to work a regular job. In fact, I am almost sure of that. The upside is that you don't have to file paperwork for a non-profit status. But you do get to love God and love others. And that is far far far sweeter thing.
5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
The Gospel
Predestined by God: Abraham was made righteous by God
Remember when I asked you to look in the gap between chapters 11 and 12. What is happening between verses is just as important in this passage as the verses themselves. All of Scriptures is breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16)--every period, comma, tittle, and iota is his word was breathed out by God and even the gaps, pauses, and half pauses are breathed out by God.
We could read verses 1-4 where God speaks to Abram and then read the rest of the chapter as Abram merely responding to that calling. But you and I know that when God speaks, it is not mere data being exchanged between two beings but rather, something supernatural is going on, for:
Isaiah 55:11 (CSB) so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
When the children of God are called by God to live to God, the moment we believe and trust in him (because our dead hearts could not live and trust in him because we are dead).
Now we are truly alive. Now we live to God.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Abram was elected, chosen, thought of, loved by God before the "foundations of the world" (Ephesians 1), that is, before "in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Because of that great love and affection by God, Abram was born again and born of God.
But before Abram lifted a finger, he believe God and took God at his word and trusted him. Before he took one little step:
Romans 4:1–5 (CSB) What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? **Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.**Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
Now, you might keep reading the Bible, past Genesis, past Romans and come up on a little passage statement from the half-brother and younger Brother of Jesus:
James 2:22–26 (CSB) You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete,and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route?For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Is James contradicting Paul in Romans and being divisive and argumentative and contradictory and putting the Scriptures at odds with one another? Absolutely not! In fact, if the epistles of Paul and James were conversations of the two apostles in the same room, you might go like this:
Paul: **Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.**Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness. (Romans 4:3b-5)
James: But wait! You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route?For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (James 2:24b-26)
Here's the plot twist:
Paul: Oh James, I completely agree! For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8–10 (CSB))
Paul would double down with rest of the Bible: we are not saved by good works but to good works. We are not saved by others to one another. We are only saved by thing along and it is not a thing but a person and that is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Praise be to to God.
6 Abram passed through the land to the site of Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.)
Our Response
Predestined by God: Abram Gets Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever
Because we are born in the iniquity of Adam, and death and sin passed from generation to generation until this day, infecting every man, woman, and child, showing no mercy and grace, devouring and crushing all humankind.
There is one man, who walked this earth, prophesied by certain preachers of old, that would be the Messiah that humanity longed for:
Isaiah 9:6–7 (CSB) For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this.
And since Jesus was not born of Adam, he did not come to add to our sin which filled all of mankind, but he come to save us from it.
Within the history of mankind, in the middle of chaos, death, and confusion, God elects. God predestined. God foreknew each one of us. Again, let me repeat what the Bible makes abundantly clear. That God did not look down the corridors of time, saw that those who were doing good or picked God as their Savior and picked those people to be saved. No! But that God saw all of humanity, foreknew our hearts were cold and and dead, and saw in our weakness, faithless, worthless, sinful selves--he took pity, he gave us grace, mercy, and love--and he did so by sending his precious only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us:
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Abram was effectually, effectively, called-to-the-living, heart-exchanged, spirit-indwelt, righteousness-deposited by God through the simple words:
1 The LORD said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
Jesus, on this earth, had more than a few words to say about Abraham, whom Galatians and Hebrews calls, "the father of our faith". He says:
John 8:56 (CSB) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
Abraham was born again. And now he saw the kingdom of God.
Abraham was brought to life.
If you are saying to yourself, "I did not hear the audible voice of God. Am I saved?" Take heart! Because you have heard the words of God preached over you and you believe and trust and were SAVED!
God does not have to make audibly know by all but God, the perfect communicator, spoke to our dead hearts and cause them to come alive. You and I are born again. We are alive because of Christ.
Go and live!
Genesis 12:7-20 The Gospel Preservation
The Introduction
We are in Genesis 12. Let me set the stage: every word of this Bible is inspired--literally breathed out by God--so every word here holds weight.
When we talk about the Christian faith, teachers will point to certain important passages to speak about the foundations of our faith and religion. We will then talk about covenants or the promises of God. And just to be crystal clear, when God promises anything, it is an unbreakable promise--meaning, God has or will fulfill it because He is unable to break a promise or tell a lie. Because he is holy, right, good and perfect. I would like to say my word is bond. But my word and promises do not dare to compare to the Holy One of God.
When teachers of the word talk about covenant, they will label it by whom the covenant was spoken to. Already, we have read of one covenant:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
This is the good news--the gospel--within the Adamic Covenant. This is the unbreakable promise of God given to Adam.
The next one is the Noahic Covenant we find in:
Genesis 9:8–15 (CSB) Then God said to Noah and his sons with him,“Understand that I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you,and with every living creature that is with you—birds, livestock, and all wildlife of the earth that are with you—all the animals of the earth that came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you that never again will every creature be wiped out by floodwaters; there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations:I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds,I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature.
Last week, we just covered the Abrahamic covenant at the beginning of Genesis 12. God spoke his promise to mankind. When that happens, we should be settled in our hearts that we are good with God and God is for us and God is near and God is good. In other words, you would think that receiving a promise of God that mankind would lean towards not sinning. You would think that.
God promises Adam that he would send a Messiah. He removes our original parents shame and guilt and covers them with his own righteousness. What happens next? One of their sons murders the other son.
God promises Noah that never again would he destroy the living by water. What does Noah do--marked by righteousness of God? He gets drunk and gets buck-naked in front of his grown sons and tries to curse one of his kids for his own drunken and lewd acts.
God promises Abram--some Gentile minding his own business tending to his dad's business and says:
Genesis 12:2-3 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
We are 12 chapters into the Bible where when God makes a promise to mankind, mankind is going to commit a sin.
Do you think it will be different this time around?
The Text
Genesis 12:7-20 (CSB) 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring, I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.
8 From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to the LORD there, and he called on the name of the LORD.
9 Then Abram journeyed by stages to the Negev.
10 There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to stay there for a while because the famine in the land was severe.
11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are.
12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me but let you live.
13 Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.”
14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
15 Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, so the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s household.
16 He treated Abram well because of her, and Abram acquired flocks and herds, male and female donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels.
17 But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife, Sarai.
18 So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?
19 Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!”
20 Then Pharaoh gave his men orders about him, and they sent him away with his wife and all he had.
Spoiler alert: mankind responds by sinning.
Our God
7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring, I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.
8 From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to the LORD there, and he called on the name of the LORD.
Preserved by God: Here is a place to live
Ezekiel 36:24 (CSB) “ ‘For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Acts 17:26 (CSB) From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.
Who determines where you live? Is it your parents? Was it your job? Your income? Your skin color? Your credit score? I know what the world says. I know in America that you determine where you live because you worked hard and pulled yourself up by your own bootstraps. But the reality of it all is that God alone determines where you live--not only the places but the times as well.
It is not by chance or circumstance you live where you live and you are a citizen of a land. It is not by coincidence that you born on the day and year you were born. But why? Why does God forms us in the womb of our mothers at a certain time and place?
Keep reading Acts 17:
Acts 17:27 (CSB) He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
You and I are to seek God, to reach out and find him. And if you and I have found God, then you are commissioned by Christ to tell everybody else the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord. For:
Hebrews 1:1–2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
And
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
You are not your own. You belong to Christ. Christ is your Lord and he will let you know where you are going to live.
Your place and home is not your own because this whole world belongs to Christ and He is the heir of all things. But because we have Christ, we are co-heirs with him--now we have everything.
9 Then Abram journeyed by stages to the Negev.
10 There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to stay there for a while because the famine in the land was severe.
Preserved by God: Here where you must go
Proverbs 16:9 (CSB) A person’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.
Just like Abram had other plans for his life before God met him, we too might have plans for our own lives.
But the kick of it is: some of us want one thing that is not from God and yet want God to bless it. "Well, I want to be a social media influencer." or "I want to be married." Are you sure? Have you asked God? Or are you hoping you are doing the right things so that God will bless you.
I know God gives us new hearts and new desires. But we don't go our own ways to fulfill those desires. We take them to God and let him worry about the details.
He already determined when and where you are living. Now he will determine what you get to do.
11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are.
12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me but let you live.
13 Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.”
Preserved by God: He has not led you into temptation and sin and death and chaos and despair
You might be tempted to read this passage and think, "It kinda sorta looks like God told him 'live here' and 'go here' and 'do this', but it put Abram in a place where he sinned against his wife?"
Yet
James 1:13-14 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
And Christ teaches us to pray:
Matthew 6:13 (CSB) And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
James will go on to say:
James 1:15–18 (CSB) Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Where we live and where we go and our lives are good gifts from God. God does not tempt us into sin. God never tells us to sin.
I cannot imagine what Abram was thinking in his mind. I get that he and Sarai were in the midst of a famine. "But what is your endgame, Abram? Your plan has too many holes Abram!"
Oh, if you are curious of the specific sin that Abram commited against his wife? The street slang is "don't pimp your wife as your sister just to save your own neck." The biblical way of saying:
1 Peter 3:7 (CSB) Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
(You would think and hope, reading this, that this would be the first and last time Abram would do something like this. But how many of us committed a sin just once? That is exactly how you think it is going to go for Abram and Sarai.)
14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
15 Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, so the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s household.
16 He treated Abram well because of her, and Abram acquired flocks and herds, male and female donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels.
Preserved by God: He will provide for you
We know, by all accounts, that Abram was a wealthy man. We can assume that Abram received some wealth from his father. But we see here, in the midst of Abram's folly, God provides more wealth for Abram.
Does that mean we should go and do foolish things in order for God to bless us? There is a whole book of the Bible called Proverbs that preaches against that sort of nonsense. What we must see in this passage is that God alone is our provision.
Christ said himself:
Matthew 6:30-31 (CSB) If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you — you of little faith? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat? ’ or ‘What will we drink? ’ or ‘What will we wear? ’
And
Matthew 5:45b (CSB) For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
God alone is our provision. And I know we make mistakes or we don't make a mistake and we lose our job or a pandemic hits or we can't catch a break. But God always provides for his kids. More often than not, it doesn't always look like the way you want it to but he does.
17 But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife, Sarai.
18 So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?
19 Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!”
20 Then Pharaoh gave his men orders about him, and they sent him away with his wife and all he had.
Preserved by God: He will make all things right standing with himself
Romans 12:19-21 (CSB) Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. But
If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For in so doing
you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
As foolish and sinful as Abram was in response to getting a promise from God, Abram did not tried to make his way right. Whatever is really wrong with this world, God will make all things right with himself. He starts with us. And he started and finished because he sent his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel
Preserved by God: Here is where God lives
Numbers 14:21 (CSB) Yet as I live and as the whole earth is filled with the LORD’s glory,
Exodus 40:34 (CSB) The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3 (CSB) When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests were not able to enter the LORD’s temple because the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the LORD. All the Israelites were watching when the fire descended and the glory of the LORD came on the temple. They bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. They worshiped and praised the LORD:
For he is good,
for his faithful love endures forever.
And yet, because of Christ:
Ephesians 3:17 (CSB) and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,
and
John 14:23 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Titus 3:4-6 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us —not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy — through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior
My friends, the Bible is crystal clear. You have the Triune God who has made His home in you. God lives in you. The whole earth is filled with his glory. And at one time, temples were built so that his glory could rest there. For:
1 Corinthians 3:16 (CSB) Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
And
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB) Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
Because God has sent his Son to die so we might live. But did you know that God sent his Son to live the perfect life so that we can trust and obey his Son. Do you think that Jesus Christ did this on his own by his lonesome?
John 3:34-35 (CSB) For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.
And
John 5:19-21 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom he wants.
If Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is fully God, did not live his life on his own by himself, do you think he would expect you to do the same? The same God who remembers we are from dust? (Psalm 103)
If Christ did only what the Father did by the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, how can we, his own brothers and sisters, do it less than? We need all the help we can get. Fortunately, we worship the Almighty God who will never leave us nor forsake us.
Preserved by God: Here is where God is with us
It stands to reason: if God determines where we live, when we live, and what we will do, gives us his Son and his Spirit to so that we can love him, love others and minister to others to glorify and worship his name, then that means that God is with us!
Matthew 1:21–23 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
Preserved by God: Here is where God was tempted in every way
Hebrews 4:15 (CSB) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Whatever God has called you to do, you do not have to give into sin in order to do his will. He does not give temptation. He gives grace. He gave us his Son who was tempted in every way as we are. He was without sin. Now, we get to be without sin. Don't give in. You don't have to. God is with you.
But you know what is the really good news? You and I will mess up, fail, and be tempted and sin. And God does not lessen his love towards us--he gave us his Son who is from everlasting to everlasting love. He does not give us less grace but instead gives us grace upon grace. He does not withhold his mercies--they are new every morning.
God alone is faithful. God alone is faithful toward us. The very father of our faith, Abraham, started off in his Christian walk by sinning against his wife and ultimately, the God of the Universe.
But how did Christ speak of Abraham?
John 8:56 (CSB) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.
Abraham messed up like any son of Adam--like all of us. But because of Christ, because Abraham was a son of God like you and me, he "rejoiced to see the day of Christ--he saw it and was glad". We join together with every person of faith in this Bible and throughout the history of mankind because we have seen the day of Christ--we get to rejoice and be glad in it.
When God saved you to himself, he gave himself to you and in turn, you have received everything: life, provision, heart, Spirit, Son, Father, the world. You have it all.
One last thing he did: he paved way so that you can come all the way home to him.
Preserved by God: Here is where God has already made everything right with himself
Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (CSB) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
He has paved the road of righteousness. Christ has made all things new--starting with Christ in you and the Spirit bringing you all the way home to him.
Our Response
Dearly beloved, you and I are going to sin. You and I are going to fail. When you do, do not despair or question your salvation. "I thought I was saved--why do I still struggle with sin?"
Because Christ is at work in you. You know who doesn't struggle with sin? Unbelievers. They are not at war within themselves because they do not have God in him.
Paul said it best in Romans 7:
Romans 7:21–24 (CSB) So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me. For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Do you delight in the word of God and the promises of God? Then you are with God and God dwells in you. You are in Christ! You are in Christ!
But having God in you wages war against your mind and your flesh. And if you and I are completely honest, it is torment and anguish and begs your soul to cry out to God, "Who is going to save me from this body of death!
What is the answer? Jesus Christ is his name!
And because Jesus is the Christ and he has done it everything to save you from your sin, guess what? There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus.
I tell you these things so that you joy may be full.
Genesis 13 The Gospel Life
The Introduction
For no other reason other than God in his sovereign grace elects one man out of everybody else and gives this one man a promise:
Genesis 12:1–3 (CSB) The LORD said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
We know Abram believed because the rest of the Bible will state over and over that "Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness of God." For all we know, Abram did not trust nor obey nor worship the Living God. Nonetheless, like we have seen it starting with Adam and with Noah, God is gracious and kind and preaches the gospel to us and we believe. We didn't even earn the right to have the gospel preached nor even believed the gospel. We were once dead in our trespasses and sin. Abram is a son of Adam--he was wicked and depraved. Yet, God saved him.
Why would I say so strongly that Abram was depraved? Remember the latter half of Genesis 12? "Sarai, I need you to pretend to be my sister so I don't die." He dishonored his wife to save his neck. That is sin. But what does God do? Give up? "Oh man, I fumbled that. I gave a blessing and a covenant to the wrong dude." No! His choice of whom He will save actually saves. No sin was going to separate us from the love of God.
Genesis 13 is the new life in Christ. But just like what Romans 7 tells us and if you have been a Christian for longer than five minutes, so that Genesis 12 & 13 shows us our new lives in the gospel.
Genesis 12:1-6 is the Election, Predestination and Calling of God on those whom he has saved. Verse 7-20 is life--guess what--you are going to sin and you can break the promises of God. Not even God can break his own promises--you and I lack a great amount of strength to break something that God has made.
Now that we have leveled it all out. Here is the mundane everyday life in the gospel. The ordinary. The grind. The toil.
The Text
Genesis 13 (CSB)
1 Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him.2 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.
3 He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been,
4 to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram called on the name of the LORD there.
5 Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents.
6 But the land was unable to support them as long as they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they could not stay together,
7 and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.)
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives.
9 Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
10 Lot looked out and saw that the entire plain of the Jordan as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the LORD’s garden and the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
11 So Lot chose the entire plain of the Jordan for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other.
12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities on the plain and set up his tent near Sodom.
13 (Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely against the LORD.)
14 After Lot had separated from him, the LORD said to Abram, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west,
15 for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see.
16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.
17 Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width, for I will give it to you.”
18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
Our God
There are a few things God does for every human that has or will ever live:
1 Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him.
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.
3 He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been,
4 to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram called on the name of the LORD there.
5 Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents.
This Life: God provides every material needs and wants
Matthew 5:43-46 (CSB) “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
In the midst of Christ commanding everyone to love one another--including your enemies--he says a peculiar thing:
For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
God command us to love one another--but he provides our food, shelter, water, and riches. The God who owns a cattle on a thousand hills; the Christ who has inherited the universe provides for both the good and the evil and the righteous and unrighteous. That is what we call Common Grace.
Both believers and unbelievers are provided for. Both get to live this life. Both get to marry, own land, have kids, go to work, get money. That sounds like common sense. But if you ever been hurt by someone else--especially from an unbeliever, you might feel like that is unfair. It is unfair that unbelievers get to do or be rich or healthy or smart or have babies or whatever in this life.
But God only provided for those who trusted and obeyed him, then it would stand to reason that we would worship God mostly because of what He can do for us. Then you would be worshipping a mythical creature called a genie. Is that what you want? God doesn't want that and that is not how we are to worship him. We must worship him in spirit and truth--not in health, wealth, and prosperity.
6 But the land was unable to support them as long as they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they could not stay together,
7 and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.)
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives.
This Life: God provides all intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom
Again, we cannot earn our intelligence--that's from God. Our wisdom certainly comes from God. And God provides the tools to grow in that regard.
Knowledge, science, and technology is no different:
1 Corinthians 3:18-23 (CSB) Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness; and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings of the wise are futile. So let no one boast in human leaders, for everything is yours — whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come — everything is yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
All things come from God and everything is now ours. But with God's common grace, he does provide for all.
So why bother? Why trust God? Why obey God? Why believe in God? Is it to get out of hell for free? Because for many Christians, their lives became more difficult since being saved. I know, in my ways, that was my life.
Why bother?
Because we will not live unless God saves us. And that life doesn't start when we get to heaven but it starts when the Triune God makes his home in you the moment you first believe.
Here is the gospel life.
The Gospel
9 Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
10 Lot looked out and saw that the entire plain of the Jordan as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the LORD’s garden and the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
11 So Lot chose the entire plain of the Jordan for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other.
12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities on the plain and set up his tent near Sodom.
13 (Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely against the LORD.)
This Life: You get to choose God
14 After Lot had separated from him, the LORD said to Abram, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west,
15 for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see.
16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.
17 Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width, for I will give it to you.”
This Life: You get the promises of God
There is a choice before you.
Joshua 24:15 (CSB) But if it doesn’t please you to worship the LORD, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD.”
Granted that this choice is before every son and daughter. Do you choose to go with the world or do you choose God? And it is a choice. But here is the grace and the power of God: in your old estate, you did not have enough life, provision, health, intelligence, knowledge, science, technology nor wisdom to choose God. You and I were not born with that ability because we were all born into sin. And you can all the riches, power, all degrees, discoveries, everything and yet our lives are dew on grass that evaporates in an instance as soon as the sun's rays fall on us.
God provides every thing to everyone--but those just material.
For the spiritual? The absolute reality? That comes from God to those whom He has mercy upon.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Who gets eternal life? Those who believe. How can we believe? God must give his heart and his spirit in order for us to live and believe.
We are always tempted to go back to the world. Oh, I wish I could give a testimony of my short life in Christ was one of linear progression where I just ascended into glory. But that didn't happen. In the time I have known Christ where the darkest times of my life. And I was abused by my parents. And I worked in porn at one point. But it wasn't me never falling. My testimony is about the God who not only saves but he never stops saving because he never stops loving us because he never started. Because He always loved me. He has always loved his people. We are rescued because He sent his Son to come and get us.
18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
This Life: You get to be with God forever
Choose the way of wickedness and the world and you will not dwell with God. Choose God and you get to dwell with God because God dwells in you. Once God has made his home in you, you are in Him forever. His steadfast love never ceases. His love never comes to end.
Our Response
Praise be to God.
Is God good enough? God alone is good. The world is offering us shiny things and a "love" that involves a lot pain and misery. But those of us who have ran to the world to get all that it can offer, we found out all the world offers is dung.
What God has is the only treasure. Because that treasure is Christ.
Choose on this day. Rest in him. You belong to him.
Ruth: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
There is no doubt in anybody's mind that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is God, was born Jewish and is very much Jewish. He was born to Mary and Joseph--which we can tell by the Christ genealogies in both Matthew 1 & Luke 3 that Jesus is double the son of King David. That is, one lineage through Solomon to Joseph and one lineage through Nathan to Mary.
But then take look close at the Matthew's genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1. In the only places where it was significant that Matthew should recall the mother, twice it was out of gross and vile sin (Tamar and Bathsheba) and twice more by Gentile women, Rahab and Ruth.
Why is this so distinctive?
In the mercies and providence of God, he had decided to bring about the salvation of his people through the Jewish people--starting with the father of our faith, Abraham.
Deuteronomy 7:7 (CSB) “The LORD had his heart set on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
He did not choose the Israelites because they were strong but because they were little and weak. Throughout history, God always chooses to display his love and might through the weak and the foolish.
His plan of redemption included the Israelites and through the Israelites but was not entirely exclusive to the Israelites.
In other words, God's plan of salvation always included the non-Jewish--the Gentiles--that is, you and me, if you are not of Jewish descent.
Romans 11:13a;17a (CSB) Now I am speaking to you Gentiles... you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree.
Just to show that this was God's plan all along, we have the story of Ruth. Ruth is young Moabite widow, whose people originated with incest and continued into the demonic worship of the Moabite god, Chemosh, brings her to a figurative fork in the road: one leading back to her old way of life or one leading her into unfamiliar path of salvation.
Her sister, Orpah, made her choice. She went back into familarity and certainity--that is, away from the God of the Israelites. Now, Ruth must make the same.
Join us for the story of Ruth.
The Resources
It Goes Without Say
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries & Books
Calvin's Commentaries.
by John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
Judges and Ruth: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentary)
by Arthur E. Cundall & Leon L. Morris.
IVP Academic. June 1, 1968.
Goodreads
A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God
by John Piper.
Crossway. January 1, 2010.
Goodreads
Esther & Ruth (Reformed Expository Commentary)
by Iain M. Duguid.
P & R Publishing. October 1, 2005.
Goodreads
Judges and Ruth: God in Chaos.
Barry G. Webb.
Crossway. 2015.
Goodreads
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume
by Matthew Henry.
Hendrickson Publishers. 1991.
Goodreads
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary on the Whole Bible
by Robert Jamieson, Alexander Cruden & Andrew Robert Fausset.
Zondervan. 1961.
Goodreads
An Exposition of the Old Testament, Vols. I–VI
by John Gill.
Public Domain.
Goodreads
Ruth 1:1-7 By God's Goodness, He Predestined Us
The Text
Ruth 1:1-7 (CSB)
1 During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land. A man left Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons to stay in the territory of Moab for a while.2 The man’s name was Elimelech (God his King), and his wife’s name was Naomi (pleasant). The names of his two sons were Mahlon (sickness) and Chilion (wasting). They were Ephrathites (Ef-err-thites) from Bethlehem in Judah. They entered the fields of Moab and settled there.
3 Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, died, and she was left with her two sons.
4 Her sons took Moabite women as their wives: one was named Orpah (Ar-pah) (fawn) and the second was named Ruth. After they lived in Moab about ten years,
5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was left without her two children and without her husband.
6 She and her daughters-in-law set out to return from the territory of Moab, because she had heard in Moab that the LORD had paid attention to his people’s need by providing them food.
7 She left the place where she had been living, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, and traveled along the road leading back to the land of Judah.
Some Considerations
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
- Since studying the Christ Key, where have you seen Christ in the Scriptures in where he is not explicitly mentioned? How has that helped you understand the Scriptures?
- Since studying the Christ Key, where have you seen Christ in the Scriptures in where he is not explicitly mentioned? How has that helped you understand the Scriptures?
- Here's a more difficult question to ask yourself and be honest: where have you seen your own sins turned into redemption by God alone?
The Introduction
My intention of this particular Bible Study series is two-fold:
- Help us study the Bible
- See Christ in the book of Ruth
Help us study the Bible - Scriptures interpreting Scripture
I so appreciate and thankful to God and to the grace of the elders for letting me start this Bible while Troy is teaching The Christ Key: Unlocking the Centrality of Christ in the Old Testament because I think it is a fantastic opportunity to put in practice what Dr. Bird is talking about. It is not simply theory but rather, and dare I say it, the primary way of reading Scriptures.
In other words, I am not coming into this church and into this study with a brand new way of studying and explaining the Bible. This way of reading and interpreting the Bible--the hermeneutic--is not only ancient but actually Biblical.
We saw it when declares in Roman 5:14: Adam was a foreshadow of Christ. To that end, Christ is the Second Adam.
Today, this hermeneutic is called Historical Redemptive - we see the redemption of God in Christ throughout the whole Scriptures.
And we do so by relying on not on tradition or teachings that were assumed and then passed on but rather a tenet of our faith. This is where the 16th century Reformers lived and died on the hill of sola Scriptura. That is a fancy Latin phrase that means "according to Scripture alone". To simplify that: letting Scripture to interpret Scripture.
In other words, we would be in the right to interpret passage in light of another passage or through the lens of another passage. Case in point, read 1 John 4:10: In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Keep 1 John 4:10 in mind while reading through Romans 8, for example.
Seeing four things, places, people, gospels, chapters in a book and I can't help but think of:
Romans 8:28-30 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
One, we will see theme of God working together all things in the lives of Naomi and Ruth despite their terrible loss and being a resident alien in each other's land.
When you study the Gospels, you see this Romans 8:30 theme played out. When we read and study Ruth and each of the chapters, and it cannot be coincidence that each of the chapters corresponds with the keys with Romans 8:30:
- Predestined
- Called
- Justified
- Glorified
This is not a stretch. This is the word of God which is divinely inspired--breathed out by God. All of it is profitable for teaching, correction and reproof. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
And there is no stretch of the imagination when Christ called the Scriptures, "the mouth of God".
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
From that end, I want us to ...
See Christ in the book of Ruth
Christ declared that the Scriptures were all about him:
Luke 24:27 (CSB) Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
The Bible is all about Jesus Christ. As it has been said famously before, "Old Testament is Christ concealed while the New Testament is Christ revealed."
In other words, the story of Ruth is about Christ. The story of Ruth is not about how a single girl can get her future husband.
When you read the Bible, ask yourself, "Is this the word of God prescribing something to me--should I move with my mother-in-law back to her country?" Or is this describing a moment of time and is Christ in it?
Example: the book of Acts. I grew up a Charismatic and still consider myself a Charismatic to this day. Where I would boldly disagree with my camp on the book of Acts. It is not how-to guide on how to bring about revival, how to get everybody to speak in times (25% of those filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts did not spoke in tongues) and if we do the right things in the right way, we can heal people with our shadow or handkerchief. To try to do what the Apostles did according to Acts, we would be prescribing. What we should be treating some text in a descriptive manner.
Description of the Acts of the Apostles?
Matthew 16:18-19 (CSB) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.”
Description and prescription will play a crucial role in understanding Ruth.
Since studying the Christ Key, where have you seen Christ in the Scriptures in where he is not explicitly mentioned? How has that helped you understand the Scriptures?
To quote Dr Bird:
Practically speaking, this means that reading Genesis in light of Colossians or Daniel in light of Revelation is not violating a chronological taboo but fully embracing the inspiration of the Scriptures. Yes, of course, we look at each work in its own historical, cultural, and linguistic context, but not to the exclusion of its canonical context.
Bird. The Christ Key. 23.
While it is true that the authors in the OT could not have seen the revealed Christ for he was not revealed as the Messiah yet, you best be sure when Moses wrote Genesis 3:15, he knew and believe the gospel of God. For Christ said:
John 8:56 (CSB) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
And same goes for the author of Ruth. "Hmm, I already see how in the revealed Messiah that God has grafted in the Gentiles into the family of God. And of course, we are not born of the natural seed of Abraham but the spiritual seed that in the revealed Messiah." Of course the authors of the Old Testament could not see it.
But on the day when Christ was finally revealed, Adam rejoice. Noah rejoiced. Abraham rejoiced. Sarah rejoiced. Moses rejoiced. Zipporah rejoiced. Naomi rejoiced. Ruth rejoiced.
Because what they have heard preached in the synagogues and in tents and in throne rooms and around the tabernacle was finally and fully making sense.
They saw him revealed and rejoiced. We see him revealed and we are glad in it.
God
Ruth 1:1-5 (CSB) 1 During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land. A man left Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons to stay in the territory of Moab for a while.
2 The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife’s name was Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They entered the fields of Moab and settled there.
3 Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, died, and she was left with her two sons.
4 Her sons took Moabite women as their wives: one was named Orpah and the second was named Ruth. After they lived in Moab about ten years,
5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was left without her two children and without her husband.
God Predestines: He is Sovereign
Look at the predestination of God:
Judgment
Judges 19-21 The people did what was right in their own eyes; A people without a king (Judges 19:1) and yet they had a King. God saved but God does turn us over to our own understanding. (Romans 1:18-32). That is the sovereignty of God.
Famine
Genesis 41 - The famine that brought the people of God into Egypt to save his people. A few generations later, they are in bondage to slavery. That is the sovereignty of God.
Alien
Genesis 19 - the children of Lot
Moabites were in worship of the demon Chemosh. "Now, wait a second, the people were innocent until proven guilty. There religion is just different than our religion?" The world wants us to be tolerate of other religions--and to extend, we get to do because all of us have been foolish and led astray and worship idols.
And because we have been born of Adam, we fight to do just that like the people of God--always turning back to their sin and God having to rescue them. But God explicitly defines all
Deuteronomy 32:16–17 (CSB) They provoked his jealousy with different gods; they enraged him with detestable practices. They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods they had not known, new gods that had just arrived, which your ancestors did not fear.
Leviticus 17:7 (CSB) They must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat-demons that they have prostituted themselves with. This will be a permanent statute for them throughout their generations.
1 Timothy 4:1 (CSB) Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
1 Corinthians 10:20 (CSB) No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons!
How did the Moabites worship?
2 Kings 3:26-27 (CSB) When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took seven hundred swordsmen with him to try to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not do it. So he took his firstborn son, who was to become king in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. Great wrath was on the Israelites, and they withdrew from him and returned to their land.
In order to provoke and appease their demon-god, their worship was to sit under the preaching of their religion scriptures nor obey their god and do good works unto others or repent for their sins. No. When things are not going their way and they need a change in their immediate circumstances, they have to give something precious to a demon who has no power compared to the Lord our God.
This is land of Moab. This is the demonic religion of Orpah and Ruth. The intermarrying of spouses from different countries was only forbidden bu God, not because God is racist, but rather we cannot marry those who do not worship the only God who is our Father in heaven.
Death
Ruth 1
In God's provision and predestination and leading and directing saves the people of God but then people of God end up in gross sins and wickedness (Judges), sins of slavery (Exodus), sins of incest (Genesis 41), or our deaths (Ruth 1), is God the author of evil?
1689.3.1 Sovereignty of God: God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein;
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Ephesians 1:11 (CSB) In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
James 1:13 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
1 John 1:5 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.
Where have you seen evil done against you that God has turned into good? Can you believe that God allowed that to happen?
These are hard questions and the answers don't come easy. You might have had great evil done against you and you might not yet see how God has redeem you. But be careful and not grieve that moment, try to stuff your feelings and explain it away, "Whelp, God is sovereign." God is sovereign and we live in the post-Genesis 3 world. God is good and entire cosmos is broken.
Is it any wonder then why God has chosen not leave nor forsake us but sent us only begotten Son to live and die for us and to save us from our sins?
Ruth 1:6-7 (CSB) 6 She and her daughters-in-law set out to return from the territory of Moab, because she had heard in Moab that the LORD had paid attention to his people’s need by providing them food.
7 She left the place where she had been living, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, and traveled along the road leading back to the land of Judah.
God Predestines: He is Good
Naomi and her husband fled their hometown of Bethlehem because the mercies of God was not evident. They have seen that God's provision has literally dried up and they must flee or else they would die.
Did God bring about famine as a consequences of the wickedness of the people of God in the times of the judges? Read the book of Judges and yep, that was evident.
Was it God's intent for Naomi and her husband to settle in the land of the child-sacrificing demon and intermarry their sons with wives who worshipped a child-sacrificing demon. Absolutely not.
But out of this great desperation and great mingling of evilness, God will work out all things for our good and his great pleasure. Every single time.
Here's a more difficult question to ask yourself and be honest: where have you seen your own sins turned into redemption by God alone?
I will never forget what one of my pastors said to me: "Christians have a hard time dealing with redemption. What they want is God to go back in the past, erase all of the sins we have committed and the sins committed against others and God like it never happened so that no bad things have ever happened."
In terms of righteous in the eyes of the Lord, that is true. For he has washes away our sin "white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18) and "removed our trespasses as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12).
But we sit here, as the people of God, righteous in his eyes because of Christ and yet, we still feel the effects of sin--even sins that happened to us long ago when we were younger. And we wish that sin never happened.
And God saw all of that. And God knew that. That is why he sent his Son to live and die so that we are a new creation saved unto him forever and ever.
We don't have to have an excuse. We don't have to blameshift. We don't have to hold on to our own bitterness. We get to rest in the presence of God where there is only fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
Ruth 1:16-22 By God's Goodness and Loving-Kindness, He Saved Us
The Text
Ruth 1:16-22 (CSB)
16 But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.
18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped talking to her.
19 The two of them traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival and the local women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
20 “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,” she answered, “for the Almighty has made me very bitter.
21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has opposed me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
22 So Naomi came back from the territory of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Some Considerations
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
- When was that first moment in your own life where your faced towards God and could not turn back? Perhaps that has always been your life because you have always known the love of God. But perhaps you have seen two worlds and had to choose one.
- Who are the people of grace in your life? In times of distress and downcast, who has pointed you back to God? Can we do this life alone? Are we meant to be apart from the people of God?
- Think on the goodness of God.
God
Ruth 1:16 (CSB) But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
God Predestines: God Has Us
Exodus 6:6-8 (CSB) “Therefore tell the Israelites: I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and rescue you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians. I will bring you to the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 26:9-13 (CSB) “I will turn to you, make you fruitful and multiply you, and confirm my covenant with you. You will eat the old grain of the previous year and will clear out the old to make room for the new. I will place my residence among you, and I will not reject you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, so that you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to live in freedom.
Same preaching of the gospel and the same goad-kicking, traumatic, grievous, life events happened to all three women. All three with hurt hearts.
Deuteronomy 29:16–20 (CSB) “Indeed, you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and passed through the nations where you traveled. You saw their abhorrent images and idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold, which were among them. Be sure there is no man, woman, clan, or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Be sure there is no root among you bearing poisonous and bitter fruit. When someone hears the words of this oath, he may consider himself exempt, thinking, ‘I will have peace even though I follow my own stubborn heart.’ This will lead to the destruction of the well-watered land as well as the dry land. The LORD will not be willing to forgive him. Instead, his anger and jealousy will burn against that person, and every curse written in this scroll will descend on him. The LORD will blot out his name under heaven,
Naomi heard the preaching of the word and kept her eyes upon the Lord even by her own confession, "I am very bitter". If the story of Ruth ended in chapter 1, we would see that God has been so kind to her in the midst of her tragedy and loss and bitterness.
Orpah heard the preaching of the word and it was good for a while until life got the best of her. (Matthew 13:21) It wasn't good enough for her to move on to her new life but a return to her old life. The Christian life is so good but what if you lost everything that you once held dear. Christian, none of us are not strong enough to hold on to God. We all live on this side of Genesis 3. God must hold on to us.
Ruth heard the preaching of the full council of God and she clung to it. But we all know the power of God's words and God clung to her.
Look the lives and responses of Ruth and Mary Magdalene
Ruth 1:14–16 (CSB) Again they wept loudly, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law.” But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
John 20:16–17 (CSB) Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.” “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
God had Ruth. Ruth was born again and now she saw the kingdom of God.
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
In other words, you have to be a new creation in Christ. In other words, you have to have a new heart, His Spirit dwelling in you, your mind renewed, your eyes opened, your ears unplugged, and your dead wicked tongue made alive. You may look no different on the outside but the inside, not even the same person.
Ruth 1:17 (CSB) Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.
Ruth did not know what Bethlehem had in store for her. All she knew was that Naomi worshipped the One True Living God. But back home? They did not. Ruth made a choice because she was gripped by the kindness and goodness of the loving God. She, in turn, had nothing for the world because the world had nothing for her.
Luke 14:33 (CSB) In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.
Ruth counted and calculated the cost of what it meant to follow God. But going with her mother-in-law also meant that she did not know what was in store for her and her mother-in-law. But if she went back, perhaps she would die but surely she would perish in the wrath of the Almighty God. Going with Naomi? Meant her chances of dying greatly increased but she would never perish but have everlasting life.
When was that first moment in your own life where your faced towards God and could not turn back? Perhaps that has always been your life because you have always known the love of God. But perhaps you have seen two worlds and had to choose one. Ruth 1:18 (CSB) When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped talking to her.
God Predestines: God Brings Us Home
Iain Duguid, in his commentary on Esther & Ruth, mentioned something that I didn't see the first time and I want to mention them here: 1
We all know Ruth's response to Naomi casting her away and pushing her to go home to her baby-killing god. Ruth's words are so enduring and beautiful. We read them at marriage ceremonies. Heck, I have Ruth 1:16 above my bed. We love them because they are perhaps the most wonderful words of promises one can make to another.
Yet, what was Naomi's response? "I am not going to fight with you. I got nothing for you. Let's go."
Not, "that is so sweet" or "thank you for being a companion on this trip back." Nothing of the sort.
Even worse still, what it exposes is that in the midst of Naomi's grief and bitterness, it seems that she does not care for the souls of her daughters. She sends them back home to their gods. What was missing right in front of Naomi's face was a new daughter that would say yes to the Almighty. Ruth was captured by the love of the Father. Ruth was the gift of grace upon Naomi's life.
I remember when I had lost seemingly everything. When I talk about my previous marriage, I always leave out an equally devastating loss. You see, my mentor and friend, whom I have known since I was saved by God, had asked me and my then wife to stop attending his church which him and his wife planted. They were going in one direction in which I could not follow. (To protect the people of that church, I will only give one context--it was 2016.) I was cut all the way to the heart. But for me, tragedy had not one but two steel-toe boots to kick me in the goads. Shortly thereafter, I found out that my then wife was having an affair and had made plans to take my kids and step-kids from Texas to Kentucky and expected me to follow along. I had lost everything. Like Orpah, I was completely done and yearned to return back to my old gods. Like Naomi, I was stabbed twice in the heart and embittered against God--who has done nothing but good to me for all of my life. But what Naomi had in Ruth was a a daughter, friend, and sister who sought the Lord her God and was captured by his great grace and mercy. Ruth saw the mercy upon Naomi and she wanted that same mercy for herself. Ruth believed God and it was counted to her as righteousness.
What God sent my way in my moment of despair were three Ruths of my own. Three of God's children who were my dearest friends, sat and grieved with me and pointed me to right back to God. Because of God's great mercy, I was embittered for six whole weeks. And by his grace, I turned back to the Lord Jesus Christ. And these three Ruths of mine held me up and set my feet back to God.
And for all of my life, I will thank God for their courage, boldness to stand up to me because they loved me so much.
Who are the people of grace in your life? In times of distress and downcast, who has pointed you back to God?
Can we do this life alone? Are we meant to be apart from the people of God? >Ruth 1:19 (CSB) The two of them traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival and the local women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
God Predestines: God Never Forgets You
Every commentary I read about this one little passage pointed the same thing: notice the response of the town of Bethlehem. Keep in mind that Bethlehem is little. "Po-dunk" as Texans would say. It would make Nonesuch the size of Lexington in comparison. If you know little towns, then everyone knows everyone. So notice their response, "Can this be Naomi?". Notice it was not, "Hey Naomi, welcome back! Who is this young women with you?"
Notice that while Ruth clung to Naomi and to her God, she is literally an alien in a foreign land. Nobody knew her.
1 Chronicles 29:15 (CSB) For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
Yet, God knew Ruth and has not forgotten nor forsaken her. God tells us that we are aliens, exiles, sojourners just like our fathers before us. Hebrews even describes the father of our faith, Abraham, in the same way:
Hebrews 11:9 (CSB) By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise.
It is in the same thought that where we see the cries of Ruth's grandson, David, when he penned and sings psalms like Psalm 31:
Psalm 31:12 (CSB) I am forgotten: gone from memory like a dead person—like broken pottery.
I wondered if Ruth ever told David when she encountered the Lord our God. And how she ended up from Moab to Bethlehem and how she felt when she arrived. Scared, frightened, forgotten--a little bit alone.
And yet:
Psalm 31:14 (CSB) But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
And
Psalm 31:16 (CSB) Make your face shine on your servant; save me by your faithful love.
We know that God had Ruth and Ruth had God.
We might be aliens in a foreign land. And most of the time, it feels that way. But we have God and he smiles on us and delights in us. We know this he is compassionate towards us because he has not only taken care of us and been with us for all of our lives but he sent his Son, a stranger in a strange land. A world that he made but it wasn't like he first created. But Christ lived unto God and in that way, he was separated and holy unto him. And when Christ gave up his life on the cross, it was that moment that the strange land was going to be redeemed. And it isn't the land but his people. He was going to remake us and make his home in us. >Ruth 1:20-21 (CSB) “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,” she answered, “for the Almighty has made me very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has opposed me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
God Predestines: God Holds Us
John Piper, in his book, "Sweet and Bitter Providence", exhorted Naomi and us to remember the story of her forefather, Joseph. Joseph, too, was an alien in a strange land. And how he got there was the worst kind of betrayal: his brothers sold Joseph into slavery and came home to tell their dad and Joseph's full brother, Benjamin, "Yep, he is dead." 2
God called that betrayal and deceit evil.
Yet, what Joseph's brothers meant for evil, God meant it for good.
We all know that passage. But stay present with Naomi. When bad things happened or will happen in our lives, it is so difficult to remember that God means this worst things for his glory and our good. We are going to forget that just like Naomi. We are all prone to forget the goodness of God. That does not make him less good.
And perhaps it goes back to the absolute truth of God's goodness: that God saves us to himself and to each other. That is why we are to love the Lord our God and love each other because he first loved us. God has not forgotten us but knows us. God has not let us go but will bring us through the trials and tribulations. God in his goodness has placed us in the middle of his people--his church. Naomi came back from Moab after losing her husband and sons but gaining not only a daughter but a daughter that fears and loves and worship the Almighty God.
And this Almighty God leads her back from strangers into a community that loves the Lord their God.
It is okay for us to be pricked in the heart. I dare it is okay for us to be mad at God because we don't see everything that is going on. God remembers we are made from dust and he knows that we are frightful. He knows this and loves us and he takes care of us nonetheless. >Ruth 1:22 (CSB) So Naomi came back from the territory of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
God Predestines: God Dwells in You
I want to have us let loose the notion that God does not care about you. He cares for you so deeply that not only he sent his Son to live and die for you, he sent his Spirit to give you life, a new heart, and a renew mind. And not only did he send his Spirit, God Father Almighty has made his home in you with his Son and Spirit.
But let also forget the notion that while God cares deeply for you, he is not to be bothered by the details of your life.
We have read the Bible. We know for a fact that God is not only in the details, he is in the details of your life!
"But, wait a second, if he cares so much about the details of my life, why do I still experience pain and suffering here on earth."
The same Christ who gives us real rest is same Christ who promised suffering if we follow him.
Romans 8:17 (CSB) and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The moment we turned to Christ meant that we turned away from the world. To have our face set towards God who saves is to turn our face against the world.
We are in this world but not of it. And the Father using anything good or evil and using the heavens and earth to conforming you to make you look like his Son will not be painless. Your new birth started with coming from death unto life with his Spirit performing an instant heart and brain transplant.
And we all know the recovery from surgery is long and difficult. No less so for born again Christians how have been crucified with Christ.
But God was there when he made you in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13)
And from birth, he has always been your God (Psalm 22:10)
He alone has determined when you will be born and where you will live so that others might seek him (Psalm 139:8-10; Acts 17:22-34)
God searched you and knows you (Psalm 139:1)
God knows your thoughts (Psalm 139:2)
God is acutely aware of your ways (Psalm 139:3)
Before you speak a word and have it in your heart, God knows it (Psalm 139:4)
But God has always been there with you and protecting you from real danger and threat (Psalm 139:5)
To know that God loves me and cares for me perfectly, intensely, and most intimately, is the greatest relief and peace in the world.
Psalm 139:6 (CSB) This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
Because despite my not-perfect and not-good motives, Christ is my righteousness and my All-in-all. He is enough because he is everything. I cannot repent enough or be sincere enough or have enough faith or be good enough. Christ is my perfect obedience. I know when I do something that the world or even Christians call good, if I dig that source up out of my flesh, it started something bad. But because I have Christ, I know whatever Christ did, it was purely good because he is the source of God.
So whatever sufferings we might face now or will face, we have the glory of Christ:
Romans 8:18 (CSB) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
Think on the goodness of God.
Esther & Ruth (Reformed Expository Commentary) by Iain M. Duguid. P & R Publishing. October 1, 2005. Goodreads 2: A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper. Crossway. January 1, 2010. Goodreads
Ruth 1:8-15 By God's Kindness, He Predestined Us
The Text
Ruth 1:8-15 (CSB)
8 Naomi said to them, “Each of you go back to your mother’s home. May the LORD show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me.9 May the LORD grant each of you rest in the house of a new husband.” She kissed them, and they wept loudly.
10 They said to her, “We insist on returning with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Am I able to have any more sons who could become your husbands?
12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
13 would you be willing to wait for them to grow up? Would you restrain yourselves from remarrying? No, my daughters, my life is much too bitter for you to share, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me.”
14 Again they wept loudly, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law.”
Some Considerations
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
- Think about when God was so kind to you, even in the midst of your anger and bitterness on how life turned out.
- What is the rest you are seeking from the only God that can give?
- What is a theology of glory? What is a theology of the cross?
- Which came first: Noah doing righteous things first then God saved him? Or was Noah wicked just like the rest of world but God gave grace and then made Noah righteous?
- Follow-up: which way sounds like the world and religion and which way sounds more like the gospel of Christ?
- Think about the sweetness and patience of God in your own life--he saved you but you kept trying to choose your own way--even unto figurative death like death of relationships, or careers, or life circumstances.
- When was that first moment in your own life where your faced towards God and could not turn back? Perhaps that has always been your life because you have always known the love of God. But perhaps you have seen two worlds and had to choose one.
- Think on the goodness of God.
God
Ruth 1:8 (CSB) Naomi said to them, “Each of you go back to your mother’s home. May the LORD show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me.
God Predestines: God is Kind
Romans 2:4 (CSB) Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
The bitterness of Naomi is not unlike the lamentations of Job. We don't know what God is doing in the times of distress and persecution or why he would be do certain things. But He alone is the source of good. What he does is good things.
As sons of Adam, we will take God's good gift and corrupt it somehow. That started in the garden, Adam and Eve, took the righteousness of of God and exchanged it for their own righteous. But what we meant for evil, God will always used it for good. (Genesis 50:20)
God provided a way out like he does with with Israel back in Exodus but their hearts turn towards somebody not God but a god that they can fashion and form with their own hands (which God created) and with the treasure received from the Egyptians (which God has graciously provided.)
In Romans 9, we see God hardens the heart of Pharaoh in order to save his people but the people did trust and obey and kept turn back to their slavery days.
Romans 9:6-8 (CSB) Now it is not as though the word of God has failed, because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Neither is it the case that all of Abraham’s children are his descendants. On the contrary, your offspring will be traced through Isaac. That is, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but the children of the promise are considered to be the offspring.
What we see in the actions of the Jews in Exodus through Judges that God saves and his people keep turning away.
We see the hand of God in Naomi's life and we are having a front row seat to her heart. What we would God do?
God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance
Make no mistake, Naomi's bitterness is turn into sin against God. But God is kind to Naomi and kind to us. God gives his heart, his Spirit, the faith to believe and he gives the gift of repentance so that we can always turn back and run into the arms of the Savior who is always waiting for us.
Think about when God was so kind to you, even in the midst of your anger and bitterness on how life turned out.
Ruth 1:9 (CSB) May the LORD grant each of you rest in the house of a new husband.” She kissed them, and they wept loudly.
God Predestines: God Gives Rest
Before we fell from grace, from the start, God intended to give us rest. For him, it was the seventh day of creation. For mankind, it was the first day of our existence.
Genesis 1:31 - 2:3 (CSB) God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day. So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation.
When we fell, God's holy Sabbath didn't decrease in importance but became even more important--crucial to our way of life. Because it is the curse that Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth felt in their broken hearts, aching hands and feet and their empty stomachs is the same pains that we feel in our broken hearts, tired souls, and restless minds. We are tired from getting kicked around by life.
God alone gives that rest we so desperately need now. And in the end, that holy Sabbath will become the final rest for all those who believe and trust in his Son.
There is no mistake that Naomi blessed her daughters with:
"May the LORD grant each of you rest in the house of a new husband"
Revelation 21:2-5 (CSB) I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”
This text in Ruth is a Messianic prophecy. That blessing from Naomi is a foreshadow to the Christ that will give us final rest in God the Father. That temporal blessing did speak of a coming husband for Ruth, to be sure. But more importantly, for the sake of his people, this is the coming Bridegroom coming for his Bride!
It is our now Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, that preaches His great gospel to our weary hearts and tired minds:
Matthew 11:27–30 (CSB) All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
What is the rest you are seeking from the only God that can give?
Ruth 1:10–13 (CSB) They said to her, “We insist on returning with you to your people.” But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Am I able to have any more sons who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, would you be willing to wait for them to grow up? Would you restrain yourselves from remarrying? No, my daughters, my life is much too bitter for you to share, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me.”
God Predestines: God Gives Grace
In our recent sermons, Jeremiah has made mentioned of two things:
- a theology of glory
- a theology of the cross
What is a theology of glory?
What is a theology of the cross?
What exact do those things mean? In the most simplified terms:
- theology of glory - the emphasis on what man does that makes most of a great God.
- theology of the cross - in the broken, jacked-up, messed-up world, God loves us and he has saved us. He sees that we are weak and feeble and cannot save ourselves. We are not good. We are far from him. And we mess up all the time. But he knows. He knows this and does something about it--he sent his Son to save us.
I wanted to be as fair and objective in presenting these two theologies mostly because I grew up with the theology of glory. The theology of "You must be doing something right because look how much God has blessed you" was the mantra for 40+ years of my life.
In attempt to be as fair as possible, I went to AI and see what it had said.
Read ChatGPT's description:
Theology of glory is a way of thinking about God that emphasizes His power and greatness, and the possibility of human beings achieving success, prosperity, and happiness through their own efforts. In this theology, God is seen as rewarding people who are good and successful, and punishing those who are wicked and unsuccessful. The focus is on the visible and tangible aspects of life, such as material possessions, achievements, and social status.
On the other hand, theology of the cross is a way of thinking about God that emphasizes His love and mercy, and the fact that human beings cannot save themselves by their own efforts. In this theology, God is seen as revealing Himself through suffering and weakness, as seen in the life and death of Jesus Christ. The focus is on the invisible and intangible aspects of life, such as faith, hope, and love.
The theology of the cross emphasizes that God's ways are often hidden from us and that we cannot fully understand His ways or His purposes. It calls us to rely on God's grace and mercy, rather than our own achievements or merit. It also invites us to embrace the reality of suffering and weakness in our own lives, recognizing that these can be occasions for experiencing God's love and for growing in faith.
In contrast, the theology of glory tends to encourage a focus on self-promotion and achievement, and can lead to pride, self-reliance, and a lack of compassion for those who are struggling. It can also lead to a shallow understanding of God's ways and a lack of humility before His mysteries.
In Christian theology, the distinction between the theology of glory and the theology of the cross can be traced back to the writings of the German theologian Martin Luther. He argued that the true knowledge of God comes through the experience of the cross, which reveals the depth of God's love and the extent of our need for His grace.
ChatGPT. "Could you explain a 'theology of glory' and a 'theology of the cross"?'. https://chat.openai.com/chat. March 7, 2023 version.
I want to say out of the mouth of babes but even out of the mouth of robots, computers and their programmers may sometimes preach the truth.
In verses 10-13, we see the two theologies at odds here.
Read the passage with eyes of glory: "Wow, Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth must have been wicked unbelievers, struggled with doubt or just made the wrong choices. Look at them. God took their husbands away."
Now, read the passage with eyes of the cross. It is our lives. It is our losses. It is our relationship hurts. When Jeremiah said last Sunday, "The worst hurts I have ever had were relationship hurts." Ooof. I felt that in my bones because it was true to me.
To see which theology you read the Bible through, go and reading Genesis 6 and answer this question:
Which came first: Noah doing righteous things first then God saved him? Or was Noah wicked just like the rest of world but God gave grace and then made Noah righteous?
Then answer this question: which way sounds like the world and which sounds like the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Ruth 1:14-15 (CSB) Again they wept loudly, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law.”
God Predestines: God Gives Life
Psalm 16:11a (CSB) You reveal the path of life to me
Matthew 7:13-14 (CSB) “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
Matthew 13:18-23 (CSB) “So listen to the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. And the one sown on rocky ground — this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. Now the one sown among the thorns — this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground — this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”
Christ explained the kingdom of God:
- Unbelievers cannot understand - we cannot understand the supernatural unless Someone gives us supernatural understanding
- Sometimes, the news is good but does not take root - the gospel is fantastic news but as soon as life comes to dropkick you square in the chest, the good news is not enough anymore
- Believers have had the work of the Spirit in them - the heart has been made good and the Spirit dwells in them in order for them to believe and the gospel takes root and produces fruit.
Right now, in this passage in Ruth, you are seeing this take place. The same life goad-kicking circumstances--in this, the loss of spouses--has happened to all three women. And in the ancient world, when a woman lost her husband and have no family to speak of, always meant certain poverty and almost always, decline and death. Women had no status to speak of, no rights and no help. That is why the law of God was so bent in watching out for the widow--women were always terribly vulnerable and God gave the law in order for us to watch out for them and care for them.
Naomi, Orpah and Ruth had no husband, no work, no wealth, no immediate family (besides each other who were also in the same exact desperate reality) and you have two choices:
- go back to the world you once knew
- go with God
The Bible never said what happened to Orpah even though we know that she heard the good news of God and for a while it was good. This reminded me of the story Nicodemus in John 3.
We read this and the one of Orpah and may have the evangelical thinking of almost in the same twisting of "once saved always saved" in that "once rejected always damned". We might assume because they heard the gospel (I mean, from the mouth of the Living God) and did not believe instantly, they must not never believed. But we know from John 3 that is not how the Holy Spirit works. We know from the Parable of the Sower that is not how Christ works. Christ sows the word and Holy Spirit works the soil in us. And if the Bible is never explicit, (Esau and Jacob), then we cannot assume their destiny.
We don't know what happens to Orpah. But I know that salvation is of God alone for he is the mighty one to save. And remember Nicodemus in John 3, the teacher and ruler who came to Christ under the covering of night?
John 19:39 (CSB) Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes.
Christ personally preached the gospel to Nicodemus. And perhaps it took all of the life of Nicodemus plus a few more years for the Spirit to work in him.
John 19:40 (CSB) They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.
Nicodemus went from not understanding the preaching of Christ to physically carrying out Romans 6.
We don't know what happened to Orpah. But I know God preserves his children--even when they walk back through the valley of shadow death. (Psalm 23:4)
Think about the sweetness and patience of God in your own life--he saved you but you kept trying to choose your own way--even unto figurative death like death of relationships, or careers, or life circumstances.
Ruth 2:1-6 God's Calling for His People
The Text
Ruth 2:1-6 (CSB)
1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz.2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?” Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.”
3 So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.
4 Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied.
5 Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?”
6 The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab.
Some Considerations
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
- How would you describe your life right at this moment? Like the sadness of Naomi, the desperation of Ruth or this stability of Boaz? Or something else entirely?
- Think of a time this week where God has been gracious, kind, and merciful to you. Give him praise for he is good.
- Think of a time this week where God has provided for you. Give him praise for he is good.
- How have you been verbally blessed by others? Has it ever happened outside of church?
- Take the time to trace your life and see how God has been at work so that "you might seek God, and perhaps you might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us."
The Introduction
1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz.
God Has Called Us: Faithful
The author of Ruth has now introduced a new person--a prominent man of noble character that is related to Naomi by the way of her deceased husband.
Up until now, we have taken a notice of Naomi and Ruth. The embittered despair of Naomi along with the desperate faith of Ruth. Here I think we now seen the family of God. Those who are despair, those with just enough faith to leave what's easy and familiar and those who are like Boaz like a solid ground of stability and peace and safety.
It would be King Solomon (the future great-great grandson of Boaz and Ruth) will build two bronze pillars at the entrance of the temple.
1 Kings 7:21 (CSB) He made the two pillars, and he set them in the front of the temple, one on the right and one on the left. He named the one Jachin and the other Boaz.
Jachin means, "God will establish". Boaz means, "In God's strength".
God has called us to be faithful. But dear Christian, know that he has not called us to do anything that he has not already provided for. Naomi and Ruth need provision. Not just any provision--more so than just a place to sleep. They need a home that is more than a building. They need the family of God. They need one another. We need one another.
That is the Christian life. That is what the local church looks like. That is what the family of God looks like. The local church is made up of believers who love and worship God. God has provided in such a way that we get to be a blessing to one another.
This noble and prominent distant relative of Naomi is a picture of provision in our lives. All that God has given Boaz--nobility, prominence, wealth, stability--whatever that might be was never intended to terminate on Boaz but rather for one another.
Some might push back, for whatever reasons, "Wouldn't some people take advantage of that?" To which I would say, "Yes, they would and I hope they do." Don't we take full advantage of God's grace? No. But we do take advantage of it because God is a good God with never-ending goodness, grace, mercies and love for us. He gives generously and without measure so that we can give generously. Our Source is infinite. God provides so we get to give.
Romans 12:8 (CSB) if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:13 (CSB) Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
God is not calling us to have your stuff together so you can be ready to be blessing. Life is hard and we go through hard things. But God has given His Son and His Spirit and each other to get through this life together so he can bring us all the way home.
How would you describe your life right at this moment? Like the sadness of Naomi, the desperation of Ruth or this stability of Boaz? Or something else entirely?
2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?” Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.”
God Has Called Us: Apart
We have made much of the alien status of Ruth because the author of this book makes it distinct by mentioning it five times total. But just like David prayed, "We are sojourners just like our fathers were" (1 Chronicles 29:15), Ruth is already falling in lock step with her father in the faith, Abraham.
Genesis 12:1–3 (CSB) The LORD said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
The nation of Israel came from Abraham but for all intents and purposes, Abraham was a Gentile just like you and me and Ruth.
But beyond our natural origin, God has called all the elect to leave their old selves and follow his son. For:
John 1:12-13 (CSB) Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
More distinctly, we are brand new creatures in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Your old self is dead. That means that the world has nothing for you. Trust in the Lord and he will guide you.
Romans 8:5-6 (CSB) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
One of the attributes we see of Ruth is the lack of presumptuous or rather, her humility. The author makes it a point to let us know that she is a foreigner. And Ruth knows it better than anybody else. A stranger in a strange land. Yet, even with the law of God on her side, she is not quick to take advantage. For:
Leviticus 19:9-10 (CSB) When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not pick your vineyard bare or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.
And
Deuteronomy 24:19 (CSB) When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, you must not go back to get it. You must leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Here is the even a scarier thought, look at the prayerful request of Ruth. She asked her mother-in-law:
Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?
Do we all know that the laws of the land, even when based on Judeo-Christian principles, do not ensure born-again believers? The people of God lived in a theocracy--that is the Law of God was the law of the land. But that did not ensure that Ruth would not run into a harsh and wicked landowner who would set out to make her life a living hell while she was trying to provide enough for her and her mother-in-law to survive to the next day. She needed not only the law of God on her side but she needed the favor and the grace of the landowner and his workers just to survive.
Yet, we know that all of creation ultimately belongs to the Creator. For:
Psalm 24:1 (CSB) The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD;
And
Psalm 50:10–12 (CSB) for every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is mine.
What makes this so incredible is that all riches and power and wealth belong God but there is no possibility that God would be mean or cruel or selfish or unmerciful. God is kind. God is good. God is generous. God is merciful.
There are going to be times where we will be so desperate for God and yet God not for one second is going to without not one drop of his grace, goodness, loving-kindness, and mercy for his children.
Think of a time this week where God has been gracious, kind, and merciful to you. Give him praise for he is good.
3 So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.
God Has Called Us: Diligent
1 Timothy 1:12 (CSB) I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—
1 Corinthians 15:58 (CSB) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Colossians 3:23 (CSB) Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,
In no way shape and form that we can work to earn God's salvation or favor. But since he has saved us and called us his own, we get to go and do. We are called apart from the world whose seemingly sole desire is to do as little as possible. God's people work. The balance is work diligently but take that rest that God himself did on the seventh day of creation. We don't have to burn the candle at both ends or grind day and night. Put in a honest day's work and get a honest day's wage and rest well.
So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters
We see this in the life of Ruth. Ruth could work so she did. Each of us here can work and we do. Our jobs and paychecks come God himself. We do these things because we love our Lord.
That said, it ain't always easy. The curse of sin is real:
Genesis 3:17–19 (CSB) And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.”
God gives us science and technology. Praise be to God our work is not as hard as it could be. But computers work against you. Spreadsheets work against you. At work, I am trying to automate all the things and all that did is work to automate the little things so that I have time to do the big things. Praise be to God that he gives us more grace for the work that he has set out for us to do.
She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.
But work is just part of God's provision. Don't we all know this? The right job at the right company can make all the difference. And I know some people here--myself included--pray for such jobs. Here we see that Ruth "so happened" to work in the field belonging to someone in her father-in-law's family. That is not chance. That is God.
Think of a time this week where God has provided for you. Give him praise for he is good.
4 Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied.
God Has Called Us: A Blessing
Numbers 6:24–26 (CSB) “May the LORD bless you and protect you; may the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD look with favor on you and give you peace.” ’
God blesses us. We are to bless the Lord. And we are called to bless one another. Never to curse even when others mean you harm, we are to bless them.
Luke 6:27-28 (CSB) “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
1 Peter 3:8–9 (CSB) Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
To bless one another to pray for God's favor on them. I am struck by this verse. On the one hand, we know the power of a blessing from one person to another. Jacob literally schemed, lied and deceived for his father's blessing (Genesis 27). Every Sunday, we receive the Lord's blessing in every benediction. And often, with distant associates that I might not know so well, I have blessed others in messaging. But face to face? I am pretty sure I have not blessed my wife or my children or my friends or co-workers. I am not sure why it isn't in our vernacular.
I think often when we can't say with our hearts, "I love you", we can say to someone we don't know well, "May the Creator God of the heavens and earth bless you and keep you for all of your days."
May we bless one another as we love one another and pray for one another.
And here in this text, the power of an employer blessing his workers and the workers blessing their employer.
Of all the passages concerning our employment, I am first reminded of Philemon. Read the short letter of Philemon. Paul makes the appeal to Philemon not only to not punish the runaway slave, Onesimus, but to receive him as a brother and to receive him as he would Paul. Paul is asking Philemon to bless Onesimus--despite the fact Onesimus owes him a great amount of debt and working to pay that debt off. Paul is exhorting Philemon to bless his employee.
How have you been verbally blessed by others? Has it ever happened outside of church?
5-6 Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?” The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab.
God Has Called Us: Boundaries
Acts 17:24–26 (CSB) The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.
Notice that Boaz didn't ask, "Who is this?" but "Who does this young woman belong to?" We could only speculate what was going through his mind. But Ruth did not work for Boaz. But he did know that she was poor and she was a hard worker. (I cannot tell you of Moabites looked like so it might be that obvious that she was a foreigner. More on that later)
The servant answered fully: "She the Moabite that came back with Naomi." In other words, God has brought Ruth here. This was not an accident but the will of God.
For each other us, we are exactly where God puts us. We were born at a certain time and date. He has placed us in this city and that town and that country by his will. We do not ever have to worry or fret whether or not this big move or taking this job is in the will of God because guess what--it is the will of God. For:
Acts 17:27 (CSB) He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
I was born in 1975. End of the Vietnam War. Those two historical moments in America has had a profound impact on my life. The Vietnam War is because my dad would be shipped off to Vietnam got into a drunk driving accident and the Army, instead, shipped him off to Korea where he met my mother.
Both of them got married and moved to the States. They had me and my brother. Then my parents got divorced when I was 5 and I haven't seen my mom since then. My dad only gotten more wicked since his drinking and driving days was unfit to raise me and my brother. So we got to be raised by my dad's mom--my grandmother in Haltom City, Texas, where she faithfully attended Bethesda Community Church. And all of that, the good and the evil, was the will of God in my life. And every decision I made, good and evil, was the will of God in my life.
Take the time to trace your life and see how God has been at work so that "you might seek God, and perhaps you might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us."
Ruth 2:14-23 God's Abundant Grace for His People
The Text
Ruth 2:14-23 (CSB)
14 At mealtime Boaz told her, “Come over here and have some bread and dip it in the vinegar sauce.” So she sat beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied and had some left over.15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her even gather grain among the bundles, and don’t humiliate her.
16 Pull out some stalks from the bundles for her and leave them for her to gather. Don’t rebuke her.”
17 So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. She beat out what she had gathered, and it was about twenty-six quarts of barley.
18 She picked up the grain and went into the town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She brought out what she had left over from her meal and gave it to her.
19 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you gather barley today, and where did you work? May the LORD bless the man who noticed you.” Ruth told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with and said, “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz.”
20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the LORD bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our family redeemers.”
21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also told me, ‘Stay with my young men until they have finished all of my harvest.’ ”
22 So Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “My daughter, it is good for you to work with his female servants, so that nothing will happen to you in another field.”
23 Ruth stayed close to Boaz’s female servants and gathered grain until the barley and the wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
Some Considerations
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
- Remember your place with God. Know that you have the Spirit of God and the heart of the God. Know that you have endless of grace. All because you have Christ our Lord.
- Remember the times where the words of God, however they came to you, gave you strength and hope in your times of need and despair. Or even added more joy on your joy. Or even convicted you of sin and then God granted you grace so that you could repent.
- Remember the word of God and the love of God for you.
God
Ruth 2:14–17 (CSB) At mealtime Boaz told her, “Come over here and have some bread and dip it in the vinegar sauce.” So she sat beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied and had some left over. When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her even gather grain among the bundles, and don’t humiliate her. Pull out some stalks from the bundles for her and leave them for her to gather. Don’t rebuke her.” So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. She beat out what she had gathered, and it was about twenty-six quarts of barley.
God Has Called Us: God has provided
At mealtime Boaz told her, “Come over here and have some bread and dip it in the vinegar sauce.” So she sat beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied and had some left over.
God has provided a seat at his table
Like David:
2 Samuel 9:5-8 (CSB) So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth! ” “I am your servant,” he replied. “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.” Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me? ”
Like Christ:
Luke 14:21-24 (CSB) “So the servant came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’ “ ‘Master,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’ “Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will enjoy my banquet.’ ”
God has provided the heart to fully obey his law
She ate and was satisfied and had some left over. When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her even gather grain among the bundles, and don’t humiliate her. Pull out some stalks from the bundles for her and leave them for her to gather. Don’t rebuke her.”
For:
2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (CSB) Such is the confidence we have through Christ before God. It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
And:
Romans 2:29 (CSB) On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.
Boaz, according to the law of God, could have done the bare minimum. But he chose to go above and beyond. One could argue that "Boaz was in love with Ruth." Sure. But what are we all called to do despite not being in love with the people we are called to serve?
The law of God represents the standard bearer of not what we can obtain on our own strength but rather, what we have failed to do because we were apart from God.
Christ gave us the law--the standard of sacrifices in the Pentateuch but the blood of bulls and goats cannot and will not cleansed us from our sins. God gave us the law and had to fulfill that law in order to save us from our sins.
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake, which that he might discharge he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have borne and suffered, being made sin and a curse for us
1689.8.4
It is Christ that set the standard. But even we think we are obeying the law, our heart was not fully into it. Boaz' example was a little example of having that full heart. Christ, in his coming into our world to take on flesh and to live for us and to die for us, was the ultimate example of doing the Spirit of the law--with the fullness of the heart, and not just the letter of the law.
Again, I say this over and over again--take joy: God knew we would fall short. He knows that we would not obey him with him with a full heart. That is why he sent his Son. Christ came to do that for us so that we will live unto him forever.
God has provided grace upon grace to do his will
So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. She beat out what she had gathered, and it was about twenty-six quarts of barley.
For:
Titus 2:11–15 (CSB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works. Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Whatever God has asked of you, he has given you a place alongside him, he has given you his Spirit and his heart, and he has given you the grace to do his will. All of these things are only found in Jesus Christ our Lord!
> >18-19 She picked up the grain and went into the town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She brought out what she had left over from her meal and gave it to her. Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you gather barley today, and where did you work? May the LORD bless the man who noticed you.” Ruth told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with and said, “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz.”Remember your place with God. Know that you have the Spirit of God and the heart of the God. Know that you have endless of grace. All because you have Christ our Lord.
The Gospel
God Has Called Us: By the name of Christ
Ruth names her seemingly new boss. Apparently, she feels, and rightfully so, that she is now gainfully employed by this man. And Ruth calls out his name. His name is Boaz.
This is not unlike the name of Christ. For:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
And:
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
One of the things that people struggle with the doctrine of the Old Testament being about Christ (Luke 24:27) is that, at first glance, it seems like a stretch. Right off the bat: take your Bible search, look up Jesus or Christ and you don't see that until you get to:
Matthew 1:1 (CSB) An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
But it is the first line of the New Testament, right off the bat, every time God promised something, made a covenant with someone, it was always, always, always about his Son and was always going to be fulfilled by his Son. The Son is the Word with God and the Word was God. (John 1:1-2) Until the Son took on flesh, you would call him properly by his name:
- Jehovah
- God
- I Am
- Messiah
Wherever you see the name of God in the Old Testament, you can see the Son of God. For:
John 8:58 (CSB) Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”
And
John 10:30 (CSB) The Father and I are one.”
And
John 12:41 (CSB) Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke about him.
When God the Son took on flesh, he was given the name, Jesus, by his mother and father, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21) Our Bible search engines are not going to reveal the names, "Jesus" or "Christ" in the Old Testament. You have to change your search index. You have to then search for the names of God. And it is there you will see the Son of God.
> >20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the LORD bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our family redeemers.”God Has Called Us: To redeem us from our sins
Unknown to Ruth at the time, she has just met her kinsmen redeemer. That is, a relative, who can respond to her and Naomi's plight in times of need or danger.
If you ever seen this poster, hunt it down on the Internet. It lists out all 66 books of the Bible. Alongside each book name, it summarizes the book in one title of Christ. When you get to the book of Ruth, it will declare, "Christ is our Kinsmen Redeemer."
He is the relative that can respond to our plight and our need. Boaz responds with compassion, generosity, kindness, and speedily. As soon as Boaz realized who she was, he immediately responded to her need and her mother-in-law's need.
That's the thing. God is infinitely gracious, kind, generous to us. But he knew our plight and our danger before we were even born. And he responded to our sin before he even created the heavens and the earth. For:
1 Peter 1:18–20 (CSB) For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.
And:
Ephesians 1:3–5 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
And:
Luke 18:6-8 (CSB) Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? ”
God always known how desperate we are without him. God was so quick that he made a covenant before Genesis 1:1 so that you could be a part of his family forever. Christ is our Kinsmen Redeemer.
> >21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also told me, ‘Stay with my young men until they have finished all of my harvest.’ ”God Has Called Us: From his own mouth
Look at Boaz here. He is not content for his overseers to give his commands. He gives the edict directly from his mouth to the ears of Ruth. This is the same way that God calls us to himself. He does not call us through a preacher or a Christian or a church. He calls us directly to himself.
There is the calling of preaching of the text that brings about faith:
Romans 10:17 (CSB) So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
2 Timothy 4:1–2 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
And:
Mark 16:15 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
But these are the commands of mere mortal men even if they are reciting on the words of the page. These would be reciting words on a page if the text was not inspired by God. But they are:
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Or to sum up:
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
When a preacher preaches, when we exhort and encourage one another, we are not speaking our own words. We are speaking the words of God to us and over us. This is why we are not to despise prophesies, that is, words of encouragement and exhortation, but to test them and receive them with joy because they are the words of God for your heart and mind and soul and strength.
This simple passage of Ruth remembering that Boaz spoke to her directly had huge implications for her life and in turn, gave Naomi hope.
Remember the times where the words of God, however they came to you, gave you strength and hope in your times of need and despair. Or even added more joy on your joy. Or even convicted you of sin and then God granted you grace so that you could repent.
Our Response
22-23 So Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “My daughter, it is good for you to work with his female servants, so that nothing will happen to you in another field.” Ruth stayed close to Boaz’s female servants and gathered grain until the barley and the wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
God Has Called Us: all the way home
Boaz's instructions, "Do not go to another field" ensures the safety and welfare of both not only Ruth and Naomi as well. Ruth and Naomi are a packaged deal. Ruth and Naomi are bonded together for life. Not just because they are in-laws by marriage but by love and devotion to one another. Whatever happens to one will happen to the other. Naomi wants to live. Naomi does not want to perish but to live. Naomi, in her feeble old age, trusts her daughter and friend will do what she can so that they will both live.
That is a foreshadow of the people of God and when we say, the people of God, we are always talking about the church of the God and the Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those are all synonymous. People of God is the Church of God.
We are connected to one another. And I know, in today's present age, when we can be so easily offended or something doesn't meet our expectation or to our liking, we can just leave our church body and go down the church in search of the next new thing. Even in the messiness of the local church, we were meant to be together with one another because of all that Christ did to save us to him and to one another. Even still, in the end, we will be together with him forever.
And that instruction for Ruth to the benefit of both Ruth and Naomi is a small micro picture of the word of God is for his people. This is meant for our safety and welfare and to keep us from going to the left and the right. And the people of God want to do the right things--but, we sometimes often do. We will end up in a ditch somewhere, spiritually, emotionally or maybe physically. I hope not. But it will happen. But no worries: Christ is our redeemer. He is the Good Shepherd that will leave the 99 to come after us because he loves us so much.
Remember the word of God and the love of God for you.
Ruth 2:7-13 God's Prepared Good Works for His People
The Introduction
Ephesians 2:8-10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
The Text
Ruth 2:7-13 (CSB)
7 She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?’ She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except that she rested a little in the shelter.”8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go and gather grain in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female servants.
9 See which field they are harvesting, and follow them. Haven’t I ordered the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”
10 She fell facedown, bowed to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor with you, so that you notice me, although I am a foreigner?”
11 Boaz answered her, “Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me: how you left your father and mother and your native land, and how you came to a people you didn’t previously know.
12 May the LORD reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
13 “My lord,” she said, “I have found favor with you, for you have comforted and encouraged your servant, although I am not like one of your female servants.”
Some Considerations
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
- What do you want to do when it comes to loving one another? Is it when the opportunity presents itself or is it maybe ongoing for a season or for a lifetime?
- Remember the times where you have been blessed by being a blessing to others? Give thanks to him. He did all of that.
- Ever thought about riskier good works?
God
6-7 The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab. She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?’ She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except that she rested a little in the shelter.”
Prepared Good Works: What do you want to do?
In our church, we have made much of the "prepared good works of God" (Ephesians 2:10) and rightfully so. Like the Reformers, we have doubled down on the free gift of grace and faith in salvation by God to us (Ephesians 2:8-9), that since God is not served by human hands (Acts 17:25), he does not need our good works. So what are these good works for? As Christ as said:
Matthew 22:39 (CSB) The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Those good works are intended for your neighbor. (Reminder: Christ's parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 would suggest everybody is our neighbor)
Some of us, especially those who were brought up in Christian traditions that struggled with the will of God or just the proclivity of our personality might then ask, "What is mine to do?"
My response to you is, "What do you want to do?" Consider your passions and desires. Consider you wants. Consider your heart towards others. Also, consider your will. For:
Psalms 37:4 (CSB) Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Some of us might read this and get a little spooked because Jeremiah says:
Jeremiah 17:9 (CSB) The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable — who can understand it?
And you are correct. Yet, here is the sweet gospel of Christ:
Ezekiel 36:26 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Beloved, you have been given a new heart. That means you have new desires for God and to please him.
Romans 7:22 (CSB) For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,
And furthermore, since you have been saved, you have the Triune God dwelling you: the Spirit leading you, Christ in your heart, and the Father has made his home in you.
So you tell me, what do you want to do? Just go and do that. Don't spend time overthinking it. Just take the first step.
Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?
Ruth asked this in humility and without presumption.
Luke 11:11-13 (CSB) What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
Matthew 7:7–8 (CSB) “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Hebrews 4:15-16 (CSB) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
Let me be on the edge of controversial: in Christ, we get to be presumptuous. We get to be audacious. We get to be bold to come to God to ask God for God to get God because why? You have God and you are in God and he is in you. You've sin? Go to God boldly, audaciously, presumptuously.
You want to do something? Pray and ask and do.
What do you want to do when it comes to loving one another? Is it when the opportunity presents itself or is it maybe ongoing for a season or for a lifetime?
8-9 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go and gather grain in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female servants. See which field they are harvesting, and follow them. Haven’t I ordered the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”
Prepared Good Works: Neither to the left nor to the right
Deuteronomy 28:13-14 (CSB) The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward if you listen to the LORD your God’s commands I am giving you today and are careful to follow them. Do not turn aside to the right or the left from all the things I am commanding you today, and do not follow other gods to worship them.
In what God has called you to do in Christ, come to him, love him and love others, he has not called you to sin. In whatever you want to do and desire to do, just some basic common sense that we don't have to sin against God.
In everything else is fair game.
Remember what Jeremiah preached a few weeks ago: we hear from God because we have his precious word which Christ called "the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) Remember the three uses of the law? Mirror of ourselves, civil use, and the last use: guide by God to love others. In whatever you do to please God and love others does not violate the law of God. We don't have to scheme, cheat, no manipulate. I make no accusations here--I have just seen ministers in the past trying to make their little kingdoms of sand and will either start to lax on the ethics and the law of God to a point where they are sinning against God and others--all under the believe that they are doing great works unto the Lord.
Don't fall for it. Just as Boaz gave clear instructions and boundaries to Ruth in her work, so, too, has our God done the same for us.
The Gospel
10 She fell facedown, bowed to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor with you, so that you notice me, although I am a foreigner?”
Prepared Good Works: Give thanks
1 Chronicles 16:8-11 (CSB) Give thanks to the LORD; call on his name;
proclaim his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him; sing praise to him;
tell about all his wondrous works!
Boast in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
So you have his tender heart, his almighty Spirit, his only begotten Son, his precious word and good works to do? Give thanks to God for he is good and his steadfast love endures forever.
Remember the times where you have been blessed by being a blessing to others? Give thanks to him. He did all of that.
11 Boaz answered her, “Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me: how you left your father and mother and your native land, and how you came to a people you didn’t previously know.
Prepared Good Works: For Christ has brought you in
Christ did preach for each of us to consider the cost of discipleship--to count the cost of what it will take to follow him. What sins you are going to give up (all), what lifestyles are left to die, what addictions you must submit, how to have your mind renew by him. All the things.
But none of us--especially those of us saved later in life--had no clue what God had in store for us. And that include the good and the bad and the easy and the difficult.
Boaz sees into Ruth's response to her mother-in-law and to that end, her faithfulness to her God. To follow Christ, it is a risk. It calls for the narrow path. Zig when you and the world wants you to zag. In Christ, you might be a stranger and foreigner to the world but to God and to his people, you are seen and known and loved and cared for and protected and provided for.
12 May the LORD reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
Prepared Good Works: And Christ will protect you
Psalms 91:4 (CSB) He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.
There is the risk of the following Christ. You might lose it all. You might lose your livelihood. And back to answering the question, "What do you want to do?", there is risk of doing good works.
You might get hurt. You might get rejected. You might get mocked. You might get persecuted. You might get killed.
We are immortal until our work on earth is done.
George Whitefield. 1714-1770.
For those of us who might called to risker good works, works that put us in danger or harm's way, or those works that call us to give up careers and even family, this is the reminder that God has you. He has you. You cannot depart from him. Even in your most deepest despair. Even if you think you have made the wrong decision. Even if you did something intentionally good but you now face the end, God has you. He has you. He has you and will always have you.
God has first called you to be his child. You are now under his great protection. That doesn't mean we are not prudent and wise. But it doesn't mean your body nor heart is bulletproof. This life is never guaranteed to be easy--we live in most Genesis 3. But Christ alone redeemed everything from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22. And he will protect you because he saved you.
Ever thought about riskier good works?
Our Response
13 “My lord,” she said, “I have found favor with you, for you have comforted and encouraged your servant, although I am not like one of your female servants.”
Prepared Good Works: Because Christ has given you grace upon grace
John 1:16 (CSB) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
I don't think Ruth is alluding to her foreigner status but her work status among Boaz' working staff. She asked before "How have I found favor in your sight?" Boaz answers her directly, "You cling to Naomi and to our people and to her God."
Deuteronomy 23:3-6 (CSB) No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the LORD’s assembly; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, may ever enter the LORD’s assembly. This is because they did not meet you with food and water on the journey after you came out of Egypt, and because Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim was hired to curse you. Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, but he turned the curse into a blessing for you because the LORD your God loves you. Never pursue their welfare or prosperity as long as you live.
By the law of God, Boaz would be well within his rights and within the righteousness and law of God to not even speak to Ruth not grant her any type of favor.
2 Corinthians 3:6 (CSB) He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
But from the appearance of Boaz, what makes Boaz actually virtuous, prominent, and noble wasn't status nor his wealth but his delight in the law of God and his kindness and gentleness towards everybody.
The law of God is the bare minimum of what we should do and avoid doing. Nothing in the law of God calls for a sincere, heartfelt compassion for the foreigner. But God tells us treat them with this minimum amount of respect--just in case your heart is not turned towards them, his heart is turned to them.
And we are the foreigners. His heart is turned to us because we were once lost. We are like the widow who has lost her husband because we were the adulterous bride who left her husband and like the orphan with no father.
God is turned towards us and he has deepest heartfelt compassion and mercy towards us. But all of his steadfast love and grace didn't just end there--he did something about it. He called us. He rescued us. He adopted us. He brought us home.
The letter of the law states the bare minimum of what we should do. But remember the fruit of the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22–23 (CSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
We failed to do the bare minimum of what God has commanded us to do. But he was kind and gentle towards us. Just as we will about to see Boaz, in a way, save Ruth and Naomi, God saved sent his most prominent, most noble, and most virtuous Son to come and save us.
John 3:16–17 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
For all the power and might that Christ has, he didn't come to condemn us. He didn't come to judge us. He didn't come to punish us. He came to save us. Just as in the mercies of God not to destroy Adam, Eve, and the world at the first sign of everything going wrong, it is same mercies that he sent his Son to come not to condemn us but to save us.
Ruth 3:1-9 God's Redeeming Work for His People
The Text
Ruth 3:1-9 (CSB)
1 Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find rest for you, so that you will be taken care of?2 Now isn’t Boaz our relative? Haven’t you been working with his female servants? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.
3 Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 When he lies down, notice the place where he’s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do.”
5 So Ruth said to her, “I will do everything you say.”
6 She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had charged her to do.
7 After Boaz ate, drank, and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the pile of barley, and she came secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8 At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman!
9 So he asked, “Who are you?” “I am Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Take me under your wing, for you are a family redeemer.”
Some Considerations
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
Consider the Redemption of Christ
- Christ is Our Final Rest
- Christ Does The Work For Us
- Christ Covers Us
- Christ Gave Us Faith
- Christ Promised Us
- Christ is the Only One
God
1 Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find rest for you, so that you will be taken care of?
- Continuous work not sustainable
- Why God ended his work on the Sabbath
- Why did Adam begin his life on the Sabbath
- Consider physical fitness - lift all weights in the world but without rest, it was as though you never lifted--the work doesn't count
God's Redeeming Work: Christ is Our Final Rest
Matthew 11:28 (CSB) Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
> >2-3 Now isn’t Boaz our relative? Haven’t you been working with his female servants? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.Psalms 16:11 (CSB) You reveal the path of life to me;
in your presence is abundant joy;
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
God's Redeeming Work: Christ Does The Work For Us
This is not unlike:
Revelation 19:7-8 (CSB) Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.
She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
But how does this work when the bride's righteous deeds are like filthy rags in the sight of God? (Isaiah 64:6)
Christ is the one who gives grace for our preparation. Consider the parable of the Prodigal Son:
Luke 15:22 (CSB) “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
- He does the work
- He dresses you in his righteousness
- He anoints you with oil
But where we are commanded by God to do this and yet cannot, he sent his Son to come do this for us so that we might live!
Matthew 5:17-18 (CSB) “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us —not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy — through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
- Hyper/Fake Calvinism (Determinism) - whatever happens happens while I sit and do nothing
- Real Calvinism (Sovereignty) - I do all that I have been given grace to do and he is the beginning, means, and ends of his will.
Make no mistake--we are not to be idle. And yet, we do not have live in fear or anxiety of getting it right so that God is pleased with us. Christ did it perfectly and the Father was pleased with us.
> >4 When he lies down, notice the place where he’s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do.”For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.C.L. Bancroft. Before The Throne of God. 1863.
God's Redeeming Work: Christ Covers Us
Ezekiel 16:8 (CSB) “ ‘Then I passed by you and saw you, and you were indeed at the age for love. So I spread the edge of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged myself to you, entered into a covenant with you—this is the declaration of the Lord GOD—and you became mine.
How does he do this? Consider the 23rd Psalm:
Psalms 23:1-3 (CSB) The LORD is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life;
he leads me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
- Adopts you into the fold of God
- Provides your needs
- Gives you rest
- Cleanses you--gives water for your thirst
- Restores your soul
- Makes your righteous
- To glorify his name
There was a blog post circulating around called the Anti-23rd Psalm. Frighteningly, you can imagine as it starts off with, "The Lord is not my Shepherd--I am never satisfied." And as haunting as that is, the Bible has its own Anti-23rd Psalm and "coincidentally", it's in Matthew 23:
Matthew 23:37-39 (CSB) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’! ”
One famous quote, "All paths in life and death lead to God. Only one way is under the protection of Christ the Almighty."
For Christ to cover us: redemption from our sins.
For Christ not to cover us: desolation because of our sins.
The Gospel
5-6 So Ruth said to her, “I will do everything you say.” She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had charged her to do.
God's Redeeming Work: Christ Gave Us Faith
I am going to super stretch this into the gift of faith of God. So hang with me:
Romans 1:17 (CSB) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
So, consider:
The shrewdness of the two widows
- Christ preaches the persistent widow (Luke 18--God will answer speedily)
- Christ preaches the shrewdness of the dishonest manager
Luke 16:8-11 (CSB) “The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings. Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with what is genuine?
Therein lies the tension between Romans 4 & James 2
Righteousness before God
Romans 4:3-4 (CSB) For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed.
Paul right there quotes the Old Testament, Genesis 15:6.
Righteousness before men
Seemingly, James wants to counter it?
James 2:21–24 (CSB) Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Our works are not for our right-standing before the Father but for the love of our neighbor.
For:
Matthew 5:16 (CSB) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
So where am I going with this?
7-9 After Boaz ate, drank, and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the pile of barley, and she came secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! So he asked, “Who are you?” “I am Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Take me under your wing, for you are a family redeemer.”
God's Redeeming Work: Christ Promised Us
In every hero story--comic book, movies, epic tales, myths, fables--the hero always rises up in response and reaction to something that has already happened. That is just being human--we are restrict to time. We cannot respond to something until that something happens. When it occurs, the hero rises up to the occasion.
In that thought and considering the shrewdness of two widows who themselves planning and scheming to stay alive and Boaz, the supposed hero of this passage, simply doing the right thing when the opportunity presented itself?
Look at God:
God's Redeeming Work: Christ is the Only One
This is the shrewdness of God: he alone knows the ends from the beginning. Christ's death on the cross was not a reaction to the sin that already happened. He knew that his creation was going to break. But instead of uncreating, wiping, starting over fresh or just undoing everything, Christ chose to redeem his creation. He chose to redeem us. For:
- not surprised by our works of sin
- expected you not to come
- he has sent his Son to save us, to cover us, and bring us into the family
Ephesians 1:4-6 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The sin still occurs. Christ makes us right-standing with the Father. That is redemption. And that is a hard concept to grasp. For the pain and misery we have endure and the sin we have done, we wish we could all go back in time and undo it. Go back and stop ourselves from sinning. Go back and protects us from being hurt.
But we can't. But the Triune God was in eternity past--the Father and Son with the Spirit--made a covenant between two beings that cannot never break a promise to save us from our sins. Adam failed. The Second Adam redeems and makes whole.
Naomi and Ruth conspired together a bold, risky, and shrewd plan to hopefully fix what was wrong. Even still, God's law provided a way for a man to redeem his brother's widow to save her and her children from certain poverty and death. But the law was not enough in this case because we will soon find out that there was a closer relative than Boaz. Naomi contrived a plan that risky and the implications were great and it counted on Ruth to do her part and for Boaz to be man of valor to do his part.
But God's plan? The Father, Son, and Spirit, perfect in their selves and with each other, would perfectly execute and fulfill the promise of redemption that they set out to do before Genesis 1:1
The Closing
Psalm 32 (CSB)
Of David. A Maskil.1 How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
2 How joyful is a person whom the LORD does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel.
9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you.
10 Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the LORD will have faithful love surrounding him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Ruth 3:10-18 God's Justifying Work for His People
The Text
Ruth 3:10-18 (CSB)
10 Then he said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor.11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.
12 Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am.
13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, that’s good. Let him redeem you. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay down at his feet until morning but got up while it was still dark. Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”
15 And he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she went into the town.
16 She went to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who asked her, “What happened, my daughter?” Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her.
17 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, because he said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
18 Naomi said, “My daughter, wait until you find out how things go, for he won’t rest unless he resolves this today.”
Some Considerations
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
- What has God given us when he has given us Christ especially in regards to justification?
- What comparisons can you see between what Boaz has done for Ruth and Naomi and what Christ has done for us?
God
10 Then he said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor.
God Justified Us: Christ is our sight
In every humanly instinct, she would have been in the right to have her eyes set on younger men. What is her end goal, we wonder? With Boaz, we judge that Ruth wanted children. It would have made more sense for her want someone closer to her age.
Both Naomi and Ruth are counting on Boaz doing the right thing. But in the same way, for the sake of not just herself but Naomi as well, Ruth also wanted to do the right thing: to be redeem by the kin of her deceased husband.
This is not unlike doing what feels right versus doing what is right. And I don't think this is "look at the world does" because the only people I hear doing what feels right is often enough, Christians. Why? Despite having the word--the mouth of God speaking to us--we still want to do what we want to do. In the midst of stress or despair or grief or sin against us or us in sin, we often don't run straight to God but rather go this way or that way.
Proverbs 4:27 (CSB) Don’t turn to the right or to the left;keep your feet away from evil.
Listen, let me give you comfort now: you cannot out-sin the snatch grips of the Father and the Son. You cannot wiggle out underneath the Almighty seal of the Holy Spirit. But we are also commanded and called to come straight to God when things are bad or things are good or when we are trying to figure things out. > >11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.
God Justified Us: Christ is our character
Here's a fascinating tidbit: in the Hebrew bible, Proverbs is right before Ruth. So look at the last verse of Proverbs right before you turn to the page to Ruth:
Proverbs 31:31 (CSB) Give her the reward of her labor,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
This is the story of Ruth, a widow from the land of Moab, whom God saved. She was a hard working woman who the people testify that she is of noble character.
What is Boaz known for? And what is Ruth known for? I have no dating nor relationship pro tips for anybody but save for one. Maturity attracts maturity. Drama attracts drama. Healthiness attracts healthiness. Spiritual maturity attracts spiritual maturity. Emotional immaturity will always attract emotional immaturity.
That seems to be common sense. But the opposite is true as well. Drama repels calm. Unhealthiness rejects healthiness. Spiritual immaturity will always reject spiritual maturity. Emotional maturity will always reject emotional immaturity.
I am going to leave that for you to discuss and discern on your own.
To that end, how does one become mature in the faith?
Hebrews 6:1-3 (CSB) Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits.
Remember, maturity, growth, sanctification is on God alone. We are to be faithful and obedient. We are to be diligent and disciplined. But it is God who grows us. It is God who sanctifies us. It is God who matures us. > >12 Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am.
God Justified Us: Christ is our kinsmen redeemer
Ruth 3:12 is the crux, the focal point and the climax of the entire story of Ruth.
Ruth had to look outside of herself in ordered to be redeemed and rescued. She couldn't do it. Her mother-in-law couldn't do it. Some stranger couldn't do it. She had to look to her kinsmen redeemer. > >13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, that’s good. Let him redeem you. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie down until morning.”
God Justified Us: Christ is closest to us
In the same way, our original father failed and could not redeem us. That is why we are saved not by the family we are born in, the church we were brought up in, by our pastor or our parents or our friends or our spouse or our children. We are saved completely and perfectly by the Second Adam--that is, Jesus Christ our Lord.
As to the one who is closer that can redeem?
Hosea 2:14 (CSB) Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.
Of the God, whose glory fills every square inch of his creation and yet, who walks with us as a friend. He is our Father in heaven, not our great-great-great grandfather. He is our Eldest Brother, not third cousin twice removed. He is the Spirit who stays with us in the shadow of the valley of death. He does not yell, nor scream, nor sternly speaks to us, yet whispers and speaks tenderly to us.
Who is closer to us than our God? > >14 So she lay down at his feet until morning but got up while it was still dark. Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”
God Justified Us: Christ is our rest and our protector
There are infinite number of ways to get to God. That is very much true. In the end, all roads lead to God. But only one way protects you from the wrath of God and that is under the protection of the Almighty Savior Jesus Christ.
Christ is our final rest and our ultimate security. Be in Christ and you will be saved--not just right now but forever and ever. Even if you don't do this perfectly, you are saved by faith in the only God who can save you.
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Notice the text: not our good works or "righteousness" or if you accept God with a whole heart or you got baptized or you had the right theology (Calvinists!) or anything you have done or think or feel but rather by the God who saves.
15-17 And he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she went into the town. She went to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who asked her, “What happened, my daughter?” Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her. She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, because he said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
God Justified Us: Christ is our portion and our lot
Psalm 16:5–6 (CSB) LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Whatever rendition we have of Ruth, it is null and void unless she looks like a strongwoman or powerlifter. Six measures of barley is 80 pounds--put into a shawl, sling it on her back and walk it back to her mother-in-law. But I digress
In his commentary, Ian Duguid mentioned one peculiar thing about this passage that I wanted to share. In it, it is interesting that Boaz gave Ruth six measures of barley. Why six? In the Bible, the number six is often a reference to incompletion as oppose to seven which is sometimes referred to completion. We don't have to make hard and fast numeral references but take creation for example. God did create the world in six days but was he done? No. He rested on the seventh day and then he was done. Think about that. The human mind thinks that the work is complete when there is no work to be done. Not so in the kingdom of God. The work is complete not when we have finished the work but when have rested--just like God.
And in this way, Boaz gave her six measures of barley. Maybe six measures is Ruth's personal record in the strongwoman carry. But maybe this was also a sign from Boaz to both Ruth and Naomi (don't go back empty-handed): "I am not done yet and I will not rest until I have redeemed you." > >18 Naomi said, “My daughter, wait until you find out how things go, for he won’t rest unless he resolves this today.”
God Justified Us: Christ did not rest until he had redeemed us
The similarities between Boaz and Christ are so numerous, without a shadow of doubt, we can declare that Boaz is a foreshadow or type of Christ to come.
The Jewish people read the book of Ruth to celebrate the receiving of the Ten Commandments. Remember what Paul said to the Jews in the book of Romans?
Romans 3:1-2 (CSB) So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.
But to read the Book of Ruth and not see the life and death of Christ fulfills what Paul says:
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (CSB) But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Examine the similarities between Boaz and Christ:
Christ did not stop until he went to the cross to die for his people
John 12:20-26 (CSB) Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Christ did not abdicate his duty as our kinsmen redeemer
John 12:27-33 (CSB) “Now my soul is troubled. What should I say — Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
Christ gave his life so that we would live
Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for me, but for you. Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
Ruth 4:1-10 God Redeems Us Forever, Part 1
The Text
Ruth 4:1-10 (CSB)
1 Boaz went to the gate of the town and sat down there. Soon the family redeemer Boaz had spoken about came by. Boaz said, “Come over here and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.2 Then Boaz took ten men of the town’s elders and said, “Sit here.” And they sat down.
3 He said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the territory of Moab, is selling the portion of the field that belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4 I thought I should inform you: Buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do it. But if you do not want to redeem it, tell me so that I will know, because there isn’t anyone other than you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” “I want to redeem it,” he answered.
5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you will acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man’s name on his property.”
6 The redeemer replied, “I can’t redeem it myself, or I will ruin my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I can’t redeem it.”
7 At an earlier period in Israel, a man removed his sandal and gave it to the other party in order to make any matter legally binding concerning the right of redemption or the exchange of property. This was the method of legally binding a transaction in Israel.
8 So the redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy back the property yourself.”
9 Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.
10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man’s name on his property, so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his hometown. You are witnesses today.”
The First Redeemer: The Closer Kinsmen
God Does: God accomplishes his purposes
1-2 Boaz went to the gate of the town and sat down there. Soon the family redeemer Boaz had spoken about came by. Boaz said, “Come over here and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. Then Boaz took ten men of the town’s elders and said, “Sit here.” And they sat down.
- The Covenant of Redemption to the cross of Christ
- No means is can it be reduced to like a business matter or a legal transaction
- But make no mistake: God took action, step-by-step, in the background, foreground and through mankind, in order to accomplish his purposes
God Does: God wants to not because it was the easiest path
3-4 He said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the territory of Moab, is selling the portion of the field that belonged to our brother Elimelech. I thought I should inform you: Buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do it. But if you do not want to redeem it, tell me so that I will know, because there isn’t anyone other than you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” “I want to redeem it,” he answered.
- not necessarily the bad guy
- shrewd, wise
- considered the cost
- safe bet
- the deal on paper made total sense
- determining the will of God especially when it comes to ministering to others
- Read the Scriptures
- seek godly counsel
- exercise wisdom and prudence
- Reading of missionaries and biographies of Christians who have gone before us: so risky so bold so dangerous--but Christians before us read the Scriptures, sought counsel, exercised wisdom and prudence, counted the cost, and then went out and did it
God Does: God wants to do what is necessary because he loves us
5-6 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you will acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man’s name on his property.” The redeemer replied, “I can’t redeem it myself, or I will ruin my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I can’t redeem it.”
- redeemer marries widow
- yet their son will inherit his deceased dad's property
Deuteronomy 25:5-6 (CSB) When brothers live on the same property and one of them dies without a son, the wife of the dead man may not marry a stranger outside the family. Her brother-in-law is to take her as his wife, have sexual relations with her, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law for her. The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so his name will not be blotted out from Israel.
The Second Redeemer: Boaz, Part 1
God Does: Legally saves us
7-9 At an earlier period in Israel, a man removed his sandal and gave it to the other party in order to make any matter legally binding concerning the right of redemption or the exchange of property. This was the method of legally binding a transaction in Israel. So the redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy back the property yourself.” Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.
Again, not to reduce the work of God down to a business or legal matter but the analogies do work.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB) Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
Colossians 2:14 (CSB) He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
1 Peter 1:18-19 (CSB) For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.
We have been redeemed and justified by Christ. Because of our sins, we needed to be saved and only Christ, our Kinsmen Redeemer could do it, was willing to do it, had the power to do it and actually did it.
We often use the analogy of redemption and justification in legal terms. We do so because of our sake, there was a trial.
Matthew 27:20-22 (CSB) The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you? ”
“Barabbas! ” they answered.
Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ? ”
They all answered, “Crucify him! ”
Barabbas is us and Christ is Christ!
God Does: God will never forget us nor forsake us
10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man’s name on his property, so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his hometown. You are witnesses today.”
- this was so that the name of the dead would not be forgotten nor blotted out
- The grace of God in his law
- The law of God is good and holy and righteous
- The law of God does not save us
- The law of God is a reflection of the character of God
- The law represents our condemnation, his holiness, and his grace
- Boaz: obeyed the law of God so that Mahlon's name would not be blotted out from existence
- The gospel of God so that our names are in the book of life
Luke 10:20 (CSB) However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Ruth 4:11-22 God Redeems Us, Part 2
The Text
Ruth 4:11-22 (CSB)
11 All the people who were at the city gate, including the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is entering your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and your name well known in Bethlehem.12 May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”
13 Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the LORD granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son.
14 The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel.
15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
16 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a mother to him.
17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 Now these are the family records of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron,
19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab,
20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon,
21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed,
22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
The Word
Romans 4:21 (CSB) because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.
The Second Redeemer: Boaz, Part 2
God Does: God is in every part of your life
11 All the people who were at the city gate, including the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is entering your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and your name well known in Bethlehem. May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”
- the blessing of the Lord from the people
- the odd comparison between Tamar and Ruth
- Tamar's deception in order to have a child
- Ruth's humility in order to have a child
- make no mistake: Judah grievously sin against Tamar and his family by sleeping with temple prostitute
- yet both instances, God blessed the family line
- despite our best efforts, God redeems and glorifies
God Does: God is at the forefront of our lives
13 Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the LORD granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son.
- provision is always 20/20
- God withheld conception from Ruth and Mahlon during their 10 years of marriage
- God granted conception to Ruth and Boaz
It is any wonder why David writes:
Psalms 139:13-14 (CSB) For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.
God Does: God redeems
14-15 The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
The Third Redeemer: Grandfather of David
God Does: God is our joy
16-17 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a mother to him. The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Naomi's life redeemed. She did not perish but the joy of the Lord was her strength. She was emptied and embittered against God. But despite her bitterness, God was still at work. God had tender mercies on her and did not forget her, forsake her but redeem her.
I tell you time and time again, I identify will nobody in this story other than Naomi. I am Naomi but times a million. I have sinned mightily against God. Because of my sin, I have stepped into the deepest darkest despair. But my God did not forget me nor forsake me. He knew I was a wicked man and when he knew me before the foundation of the world, he knew that I was dead in my trespasses and sins. But it was there, before the beginning, he made a covenant with the Son that he will not let me see corruption nor dwell in hell but save us to himself forever.
The Fourth Redeemer: The Son of David
And you believe and trust in Christ, the same goes for you! The Father made the unbreakable promise with his Son that Christ will redeem his people from their sins. And because Christ died upon the cross, Christ alone has fulfilled that covenant.
God Does: Christ is our one true Redeemer
In the midst of chaos (Judges), when our world seems to be at our bleakest darkest moment, God is telling us that he is still at work. He is the not the divine watchmaker who wound up the universe like a watch and then left it to run on its own. Likewise, despite the idiom, the devil is not in the details. We see over and over again that God is in the details.
18 Now these are the family records of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron,
19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab,
20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon,
21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed,
22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
Matthew 1:5-6 (CSB) Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab,
Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse,
and Jesse fathered King David.
We know that Boaz is a godly man who was raised up in a godly way. We know that he heard the law of God and strived not to simply obey the letter but the spirit of the law. Think about this: who taught him that.
Look at his mother, Rahab. Boaz' mother, at one time, was an outsider Gentile like Ruth. Unlike Ruth who is woman of godly character (Proverbs 31), Rahab started her life the complete opposite--she was a prostitute and a Canaanite. But in a moment that change not only the life of Rahab but for the people of Israel, Rahab believed in God, it was counted to her as righteousness, and she acted upon that faith.
Boaz was a direct result of the people of God being obedient to God to protect and redeem Rahab and her family from harm. The God's judgment was on Jericho. That was not going to be deterred. But the redemption of salvation on Rahab and her household was not going to be thwarted either.
Boaz grew up the compassion of God to him. Boaz and his family were sinners saved by the grace of God whose mercies are fresh every morning. The story of Ruth is all about God's love for us. But in the smallest details, I have always wondered if Boaz loved Ruth because her story reminded him of his mom's story.
Matthew 1:16 (CSB) and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Our story is just like Ruth's. Instead of being the middle of the book of Judges, we are in the middle of Genesis 3. In the middle of this story, God has sent us the Redeemer--his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, the Son of David, the Son of Jesse, the Son of Obed, the Son of Ruth and Boaz.
While Ruth and Naomi did not know how their lives were going to end up, they put all of their hope in the God that saves. For us who believe in God, we know how the story ends: the new heavens and the new earth and Christ glorified us his people.
Revelation 21:3-4 (CSB) Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God because Jesus Christ is our Lord.
We all want the end like Ruth 4. But I am telling you will receive something way way more beautiful and glorious: we get to dwell with the Triune God forever because the Triune God dwells in us now!
But from where we are at now to Revelation 22, how do we get there? That, my beloved, is the Christian life. I am not sure what we are all going through--in our hearts and souls, what is really really going on. But I assume you by the promises of God, you are preserved and healed and made whole and made new in his Son. God's promises is that he alone will bring us all the way home.
1 Samuel: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
Psalm 16 (CSB) A Miktam of David.
1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you.
2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.”
3 As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones. All my delight is in them.
4 The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips.
5 LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I will bless the LORD who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
8 I always let the LORD guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely.
10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Finishing our first series, Apostles' Creed, in the Bible Study with my son, Yusef, he asked if we could do a study on the life of David.
The only thing I can say is, "There's nothing to it but to do it."
The Recommendations
Study Bibles
CSB Study Bible
Holmon Bible Publishers. 2017.
Goodreads
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
ESV Study Bible.
ESV Text Edition: 2016.
Crossway. 2008.
Goodreads
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries
Judges
Judges: Such a Great Salvation.
Dale Ralph Davis.
Christian Focus. 2015.
Goodreads
Judges and Ruth: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentary)
by Arthur E. Cundall & Leon L. Morris.
IVP Academic. June 1, 1968.
Goodreads
Right in Their Own Eyes: The Gospel According to Judges (Gospel According to the Old Testament).
George M. Schwab.
P&R Publishing. 2011.
Goodreads
A Commentary on Judges and Ruth.
Robert B. Chisholm Jr..
Kregel Academic. 2013.
Goodreads
Judges and Ruth: God in Chaos.
Barry G. Webb.
Crossway. 2015.
Goodreads
Ruth
Judges and Ruth: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentary)
by Arthur E. Cundall & Leon L. Morris.
IVP Academic. June 1, 1968.
Goodreads
A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God
by John Piper.
Crossway. January 1, 2010.
Goodreads
Esther & Ruth (Reformed Expository Commentary)
by Iain M. Duguid.
P & R Publishing. October 1, 2005.
Goodreads
Judges and Ruth: God in Chaos.
Barry G. Webb.
Crossway. 2015.
Goodreads
Samuel
1 & 2 Samuel (Reformed Expository Commentary).
Richard D. Phillips.
P & R Publishing. 2012.
Goodreads
A Son to Me: A Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel.
Peter J. Leithart.
Canon Press. 2003.
Goodreads
After God's Own Heart: The Gospel According to David.
Mark J. Boda.
P & R Publishing. June 29,2007.
Goodreads
1 Samuel: Looking on the Heart.
Mark J. Boda.
Christian Focus. July 20, 2010.
Goodreads
1 Samuel-2 Chronicles (ESV Expository Commentary).
Iain M. Duguid,
James M. Hamilton Jr., Jay Sklar (Editors).
John L. Mackay (Author).
Crossway. October 3, 2019.
Goodreads
1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles (OT Volume 5) (Reformation Commentary on Scripture).
Derek Cooper & Martin J. Lohrmann (Editors).
IVP Academic. 2016.
Goodreads
General Commentaries
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, & Mark W. Chavalas.
IVP Academic. 2000.
Goodreads
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament.
Craig S. Keener.
IVP Academic. 2014.
Goodreads
Calvin's Commentaries.
John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume
by Matthew Henry.
Hendrickson Publishers. 1991.
Goodreads
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary on the Whole Bible
by Robert Jamieson, Alexander Cruden & Andrew Robert Fausset.
Zondervan. 1961.
Goodreads
An Exposition of the Old Testament, Vols. I–VI
by John Gill.
Public Domain.
Goodreads
Poor Man's Commentary.
Robert Hawker.
Delmarva Publications. 2013.
Goodreads
Theology
The Cross of Christ.
John R.W. Stott. 2006.
Goodreads
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
John Owen.
Banner of Truth. 2007.
Goodreads
No Condemnation in Christ Jesus: As Unfolded in the Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
Octavius Winslow.
Banner of Trust. 1991.
Goodreads
On the Incarnation.
Athanasius of Alexandria.
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. 1977.
Goodreads
All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism.
James E. Dolezal.
Reformation Heritage Books. 2017.
Goodreads
Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition.
John Calvin. Robert White (Translator).
Banner of Truth. 2014.
Goodreads
Reformed Dogmatics.
Herman Bavinck, John Bolt (Editor), John Vriend (Translator).
Baker Academic. 2003.
Goodreads
The Wonderful Works of God.
Herman Bavinck.
Westminster Seminary Press. 2019.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Louis Berkhof.
Eerdmans. 1996.
Goodreads
God is Love.
Gerald L. Bray.
Crossway. 2012.
Goodreads
The Existence and Attributes of God, Volume 1-2.
Stephen Charnock, Mark Jones (Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Charles Hodge.
Hendrickson Academic. 1999.
Goodreads
The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way.
Michael S. Horton.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
The Complete Works.
John Owen, Lee Gatiss (Series Editor), Shawn D. Wright (Series Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Knowing God.
J.I. Packer.
Crossway. 2023.
Goodreads
The Works of John Wesley.
John Wesley.
Beacon Hill Press. 1978.
Goodreads
1 Samuel: The Time Before The King
The Word
Matthew 11:12 (CSB) From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.
The Study
The Fighting Has Only Just Begun
Moses had handed over the leadership of Israel to Joshua. Joshua led the Israelites to possess the land.
Judges 1:1-3 (CSB) After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to fight for us against the Canaanites? ” The LORD answered, “Judah is to go. I have handed the land over to him.”Judah said to his brother Simeon, “Come with me to my allotted territory, and let’s fight against the Canaanites. I will also go with you to your allotted territory.” So Simeon went with him.
The generation that possess and conquered the land that was promised to them only knew war.
What did Christ say about Israel?
Matthew 11:12 (CSB) From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.
What did Christ say about his coming?
Matthew 10:34–36 (CSB) Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
What did all of this violence ultimately brought?
Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Keep this in mind when more giants trying to come into the land after Goliath is defeated.
The War Waged in the Heart
Judges 2:1-5 (CSB) The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land I had promised to your ancestors. I also said: I will never break my covenant with you. You are not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land. You are to tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed me. What have you done? Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a trap for you.” When the angel of the LORD had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. So they named that place Bochim and offered sacrifices there to the LORD.
People did good when they thought God was near
Judges 2:7 (CSB) The people worshiped the LORD throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had seen all the LORD’s great works he had done for Israel.
People did evil when they thought God was far
Judges 2:8-13 (CSB) Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110. They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the LORD or the works he had done for Israel. The Israelites did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. They worshiped the Baals and abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed other gods from the surrounding peoples and bowed down to them. They angered the LORD, for they abandoned him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.
Fun fact about Baal and Ashtoreth: Baal is the god of fertility and Ashtoreth is the goddess of fertility. The worship of these gods involved sexual immorality. The worship of these gods also involved child sacrifice.
What did Christ say about the heart?
Matthew 5:21-22 (CSB) “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool! ’ will be subject to hellfire.
Matthew 5:27-28 (CSB) “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Just because the people did right when they thought God was near doesn't make it right. It has always been about the heart.
God knew that. That is why he sent his Son.
Matthew 5:17-20 (CSB) “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Yet the Triune God dwells in us
Christ is the way.
How are we to possesses a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees?
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Ezekiel 36:24–28 (CSB) “ ‘For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB) Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
John 14:23 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
There was no king in Israel
Judges 17:6 (CSB) In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.
Judges 21:25 (ESV) In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
God will bring a king over Israel
Ruth 1:1 (CSB) During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land. A man left Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons to stay in the territory of Moab for a while.
But Christ is the King of kings
1 Timothy 6:13-16 (CSB) In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
The Word
The Study
The Psalm
Psalm 51 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.1 Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.
2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.
5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.
10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.
18 In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
1 Samuel: The Sovereignty That Raises The King
The Word
Daniel 2:19–23 (CSB)
19 The mystery was then revealed to Daniel in a vision at night, and Daniel praised the God of the heavens20 and declared: May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him.
21
He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.22 He reveals the deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.
23 I offer thanks and praise to you, God of my ancestors, because you have given me wisdom and power. And now you have let me know what we asked of you, for you have let us know the king’s mystery.
The Study
Only In His Sovereignty: Moved a little family from their home to a heathen, demon-worshipping land
Ruth 1:1 (CSB) During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land. A man left Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons to stay in the territory of Moab for a while.
In this foreign land, the men died.
Ruth 1:3-5 (CSB) Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, died, and she was left with her two sons. Her sons took Moabite women as their wives: one was named Orpah and the second was named Ruth. After they lived in Moab about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was left without her two children and without her husband.
Wages of sin is death--that is the effects of Genesis 3.
Yet, also, God determines the number of days of our lives:
Job 14:5 (CSB) Since a person’s days are determined and the number of his months depends on you, and since you have set limits he cannot pass,
God has placed us where he wants us. No promises of a Christian nation.
Acts 17:24–27 (CSB)
24 The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands.25 Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.
26 From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.
27 He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
God has determined how long we are to live on this earth. No promises of a long life but a promise of eternal life.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Since we are here in this world, what are we to do?
Since Christ is not of this world:
John 8:21-24 (CSB) Then he said to them again, “I’m going away; you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I’m going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill himself, will he, since he says, ‘Where I’m going, you cannot come’? ” “You are from below,” he told them, “I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”
And his kingdom is not of this world:
John 18:36 (CSB) “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
Neither are we of this world:
John 15:18-20 (CSB) “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
What is ours to do?
Mark 16:15-16 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Only In His Sovereignty: Brought this little family all the way home
Ruth 1:6 (CSB) She and her daughters-in-law set out to return from the territory of Moab, because she had heard in Moab that the LORD had paid attention to his people’s need by providing them food.
Only In His Sovereignty: Brings people together
Ruth 2:3 (CSB) So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.
How people meet is by God alone, that is to be sure. But don't just hyper-focus on meeting your future spouse--which is a good thing--and miss the relationships you have now and will have in the future. That is the sovereignty of God bring you together with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
We are saved to one another.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (CSB) The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, since all of us share the one bread.
2 Corinthians 8:4 (CSB) they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints,
Philippians 3:10 (CSB) My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,
Heck, even in studying the Bible, we are not by ourselves:
Acts 17:11 (CSB) The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Only In His Sovereignty: Provides for his people
Ruth 3:15 (CSB) And he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she went into the town.
Pay attention to the little details here.
- moving people and families
- bring people together
- providing for their needs
All for what? To carry his exact purpose for his glory alone. And everything that happened prior to the birth of Christ was to bring about the birth of Christ.
Because Christ alone is our portion and our lot:
John 6:32-35 (CSB) Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.
Only In His Sovereignty: is a child born
Ruth 4:13 (CSB) Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the LORD granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son.
God alone puts us together while we were in our mother's womb:
Psalm 139:13-14 (CSB) For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.
And only in his sovereignty can a king be raised up:
Ruth 4:18–22 (CSB)
18 Now these are the family records of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron,19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab,
20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon,
21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed,
22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
And only in his sovereignty can a Redeemer be raised up:
Matthew 1:1 (CSB) An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Only in his sovereignty can a Savior be given to save his people from their sins:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
The Psalm
Psalm 22 (CSB)
For the choir director: according to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A psalm of David.1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning?
2 My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, by night, yet I have no rest.
3 But you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you; they trusted, and you rescued them.
5 They cried to you and were set free; they trusted in you and were not disgraced.
6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me; they sneer and shake their heads:
8 “He relies on the LORD; let him save him; let the LORD rescue him, since he takes pleasure in him.”
9 It was you who brought me out of the womb, making me secure at my mother’s breast.
10 I was given over to you at birth; you have been my God from my mother’s womb.
11 Don’t be far from me, because distress is near and there’s no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me; strong ones of Bashan encircle me.
13 They open their mouths against me— lions, mauling and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax, melting within me.
15 My strength is dried up like baked clay; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You put me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me.
18 They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.
19 But you, LORD, don’t be far away. My strength, come quickly to help me.
20 Rescue my life from the sword, my only life from the power of these dogs.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth, from the horns of wild oxen. You answered me!
22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will praise you in the assembly.
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! All you descendants of Israel, revere him!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred the torment of the oppressed. He did not hide his face from him but listened when he cried to him for help.
25 I will give praise in the great assembly because of you; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear you.
26 The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him. May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before you,
28 for kingship belongs to the LORD; he rules the nations.
29 All who prosper on earth will eat and bow down; all those who go down to the dust will kneel before him— even the one who cannot preserve his life.
30 Their descendants will serve him; the next generation will be told about the Lord.
31 They will come and declare his righteousness; to a people yet to be born they will declare what he has done.
1 Samuel 1:1-18 The Work That Is Done For A King
The Word
Luke 22:42 (CSB) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me — nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
The Study
1 Samuel 1:1–18 (CSB)
1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.2 He had two wives, the first named Hannah and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.
3 This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Armies at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the LORD’s priests.
4 Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters.
5 But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the LORD had kept her from conceiving.
6 Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the LORD had kept Hannah from conceiving.
7 Year after year, when she went up to the LORD’s house, her rival taunted her in this way. Hannah would weep and would not eat.
8 “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband, Elkanah, would ask. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 On one occasion, Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple.
10 Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears.
11 Making a vow, she pleaded, “LORD of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”
12 While she continued praying in the LORD’s presence, Eli watched her mouth.
13 Hannah was praying silently, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk
14 and said to her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the LORD.
16 Don’t think of me as a wicked woman; I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.”
17 Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you’ve made of him.”
18 “May your servant find favor with you,” she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer looked despondent.
1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2 He had two wives, the first named Hannah and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.
3 This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Armies at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the LORD’s priests.
The Work of the Lord: People Still Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes
Deuteronomy 12:8 (CSB) “You are not to do as we are doing here today; everyone is doing whatever seems right in his own sight.
Genesis 2:24 (CSB) This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.
Exodus 20:14 (CSB) Do not commit adultery.
4 Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters.
5 But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the LORD had kept her from conceiving.
6 Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the LORD had kept Hannah from conceiving.
7 Year after year, when she went up to the LORD’s house, her rival taunted her in this way. Hannah would weep and would not eat.
The Work of the Lord: People Wanted to Go Through the Motions with God
Doing the bare minimum.
What does God say?
Hosea 6:6 (CSB) For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
What does God want from us?
Our hearts.
In other words, he wants our hearts of stone so that he can give us his soft, tender heart of flesh:
Ezekiel 36:26 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
8 “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband, Elkanah, would ask. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 On one occasion, Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple.
10 Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears.
The Work of the Lord: Yet The Lord Hears Our Cries
Luke 18:7-8 (CSB) Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? ”
11 Making a vow, she pleaded, “LORD of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”
12 While she continued praying in the LORD’s presence, Eli watched her mouth.
13 Hannah was praying silently, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk
14 and said to her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the LORD.
16 Don’t think of me as a wicked woman; I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.”
The Work of the Lord: Not Our Will, But His
Prayer is not submitting wishes to God like he is some cosmic genie but rather, in prayer, we submit our will to the will of God.
People are dying to know the will of God. But why? If I know the hearts of the sons of Adam, I suggest to you we only want to know the will of God so that we can elect not do it and instead, go another way.
How do I know? I have read the Bible and way, way more often than not, when God reveals his will to man, man goes the opposite way. (See Jonah.) Sometimes I wonder, if the will of God is another answer on a multiple choice quiz for our lives. Like, what God wants is a choice I get to make.
Here's the kicker: any choice other than the will of God is sin.
There is one man, only one person who knew the will of God and bought into it and did his will from birth:
Luke 22:42 (CSB) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me — nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
And he didn't do that half-heartedly, not going through the motions of going to cross and saving his people from their sins like it was routine. No! He did it with joy!
Hebrews 12:1-2 (CSB) Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Where does that leave us? You think I am going to tell you, "Give your whole heart to God!" We already know that. It is the first and greatest commandment.
How many times have we failed to do that? All the time.
So why I telling you to do something we fail at all the time? What? Try harder? Like that is going to get us to God any closer?
None of that. Christ is our righteousness, obedience and joy. He is the gap between us and the Father. He obeyed God with his whole heart so that for those who trust in the Son, we have believed and loved God with our whole heart.
This is why God sent his Son--exchange our hearts and exchange our actions for his heart and actions.
So, if we fail to love God with our whole heart, why pray? Certainly we cannot pray good enough. Our prayers will always be tainted with sin. But God knew that too. So, what bulletproof plan does God have for us in prayer?
How about the Holy Spirit and Christ?
Romans 8:26-27 (CSB) In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
And
Romans 8:31-34 (CSB) What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised;
he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
As it has been said:
If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.
Robert Murray M'Cheyne.
We are to pray because Christ has done it all and God is our Father. We are little kids. Just like kids to their parents, they may not ask the right way but they ask. Christ instructed us to pray but we were never alone in our prayers. The Spirit and the Christ pray for us and with us perfectly and continuously.
17 Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you’ve made of him.”
18 “May your servant find favor with you,” she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer looked despondent.
The Work of the Lord: The Lord Will Bless You and Keep You Because You Are in Christ
Numbers 6:24-26 (CSB) May the LORD bless you and protect you; may the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD look with favor on you and give you peace.
The Psalm
Psalm 116 (CSB)
1 I love the LORD because he has heard my appeal for mercy.2 Because he has turned his ear to me, I will call out to him as long as I live.
3 The ropes of death were wrapped around me, and the torments of Sheol overcame me; I encountered trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “LORD, save me!”
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.
6 The LORD guards the inexperienced; I was helpless, and he saved me.
7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
8 For you, LORD, rescued me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I believed, even when I said, “I am severely oppressed.”
11 In my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”
12 How can I repay the LORD for all the good he has done for me?
13 I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 The death of his faithful ones is valuable in the LORD’s sight.
16 LORD, I am indeed your servant; I am your servant, the son of your female servant. You have loosened my bonds.
17 I will offer you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the LORD’s house— within you, Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
1 Samuel 1:19-2:11 The Preparation For The King
The Word
Matthew 1:18–25 (CSB)
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her
25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
The Study
1 Samuel 1:19–2:11 (CSB)
19 The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to worship before the LORD. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.20 After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she said, “I requested him from the LORD.”
21 When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice and his vow offering to the LORD,
22 Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the LORD’s presence and to stay there permanently.”
23 Her husband, Elkanah, replied, “Do what you think is best, and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the LORD confirm your word.” So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull, half a bushel of flour, and a clay jar of wine. Though the boy was still young, she took him to the LORD’s house at Shiloh.
25 Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.
26 “Please, my lord,” she said, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.
27 I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD gave me what I asked him for,
28 I now give the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is given to the LORD.” Then he worshiped the LORD there.
1 Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is lifted up by the LORD. My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
2 There is no one holy like the LORD. There is no one besides you! And there is no rock like our God.
3 Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him.
4 The bows of the warriors are broken, but the feeble are clothed with strength.
5 Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving hunger no more. The woman who is childless gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons pines away.
6 The LORD brings death and gives life; he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up.
7 The LORD brings poverty and gives wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; he has set the world on them.
9 He guards the steps of his faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness, for a person does not prevail by his own strength.
10 Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered; he will thunder in the heavens against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. He will give power to his king; he will lift up the horn of his anointed.
11 Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy served the LORD in the presence of the priest Eli.
Because God Promised: A Child Was Born
19 The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to worship before the LORD. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.
20 After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she said, “I requested him from the LORD.”
Make no mistake, because God had promised to Hannah, all of his promises are yes and amen.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
But look at 1 Samuel 1. Did God ever spoke to Hannah and say, "Yes I will do this?" Could we contend that because of what Hannah had done (make a vow), God honored that vow?
We have to interpret Scripture in light of Scripture. What was only a little bit revealed to the saints in the Old Testament, including Hannah, is was the good news that God would save his people.
It was not until Christ had come that we now know that before the creation of time, space, heavens, earth, creatures, and man, the Father and the Son made a covenant to save a people for themselves.
Ephesians 1:3–5 (CSB)
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.
5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Hannah's pregnancy was ordained by God and blessed by God to do his will. Hannah's pregnancy was not a result of her vow, but a result of God's promise to save his people.
Because God Promised: A Sacrifice Had to be Made
21 When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice and his vow offering to the LORD,
22 Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the LORD’s presence and to stay there permanently.”
23 Her husband, Elkanah, replied, “Do what you think is best, and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the LORD confirm your word.” So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull, half a bushel of flour, and a clay jar of wine. Though the boy was still young, she took him to the LORD’s house at Shiloh.
25 Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.
Leviticus 1:5 (CSB) He is to slaughter the bull before the LORD; Aaron’s sons the priests are to present the blood and splatter it on all sides of the altar that is at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
Leviticus 2:1-2 (CSB) “When anyone presents a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, it is to consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it, and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest will take a handful of fine flour and oil from it, along with all its frankincense, and will burn this memorial portion of it on the altar, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Numbers 15:5 (CSB) Prepare a quart of wine as a drink offering with the burnt offering or sacrifice of each lamb.
And yet:
Matthew 5:17-20 (CSB) “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Because:
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 10:4-7 (CSB) For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said:
You did not desire sacrifice and offering,
but you prepared a body for me.
You did not delight
in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.
Then I said, “See —
it is written about me
in the scroll —
I have come to do your will, God.”
Because God Promised: A Son Was Given
26 “Please, my lord,” she said, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.
27 I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD gave me what I asked him for,
28 I now give the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is given to the LORD.” Then he worshiped the LORD there.
Isaiah 9:6–7 (CSB) For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 4:9–10 (CSB) God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
The Psalm
1 Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is lifted up by the LORD. My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
2 There is no one holy like the LORD. There is no one besides you! And there is no rock like our God.
3 Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him.
4 The bows of the warriors are broken, but the feeble are clothed with strength.
5 Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving hunger no more. The woman who is childless gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons pines away.
6 The LORD brings death and gives life; he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up.
7 The LORD brings poverty and gives wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; he has set the world on them.
9 He guards the steps of his faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness, for a person does not prevail by his own strength.
10 Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered; he will thunder in the heavens against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. He will give power to his king; he will lift up the horn of his anointed.
11 Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy served the LORD in the presence of the priest Eli.
1 Samuel 2:12-39 The Judgment of God's Anointed
The Word
Psalms 105:15 (CSB) “Do not touch my anointed ones,
or harm my prophets.”
The Study
1 Samuel 2:12–36 (CSB)
12 Eli’s sons were wicked men; they did not respect the LORD13 or the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling
14 and plunge it into the container, kettle, cauldron, or cooking pot. The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh.
15 Even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you—only raw.”
16 If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,” the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!”
17 So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the LORD, because the men treated the LORD’s offering with contempt.
18 Samuel served in the LORD’s presence—this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod.
19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.
20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife: “May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she has given to the LORD.” Then they would go home.
21 The LORD paid attention to Hannah’s need, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
22 Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
23 He said to them, “Why are you doing these things? I have heard about your evil actions from all these people.
24 No, my sons, the news I hear the LORD’s people spreading is not good.
25 If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to kill them.
26 By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people.
27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Didn’t I reveal myself to your forefather’s family when they were in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace?
28 Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your house to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your forefather’s family all the Israelite food offerings.
29 Why, then, do all of you despise my sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship? You have honored your sons more than me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of my people Israel.’
30 “Therefore, this is the declaration of the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever. But now,’ this is the LORD’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disgraced.
31 Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s family, so that none in your family will reach old age.
32 You will see distress in the place of worship, in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age.
33 Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.
34 This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: both of them will die on the same day.
35 “ ‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.
36 Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’ ”
Not everyone should be a priest
James 3:1 (CSB) Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.
Matthew 18:6 (CSB) “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away — it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
Read Matthew 23
God Judges His Anointed
2 Peter 2:1-5 (CSB) There were indeed false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved ways, and the way of truth will be maligned because of them. They will exploit you in their greed with made-up stories. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.
For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment; and if he didn’t spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others, when he brought the flood on the world of the ungodly;
Jude 1:11-16 (ESV) Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
God Removes and Replaces His Anointed
Jeremiah 23:1-4 (CSB) “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! ” This is the LORD’s declaration. “Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, banished them, and have not attended to them. I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts” — this is the LORD’s declaration. “I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous. I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them. They will no longer be afraid or discouraged, nor will any be missing.” This is the LORD’s declaration.
God Will Stop At Nothing to Care for His Little Ones
Matthew 18:10 (CSB) “See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, because I tell you that in heaven their angels continually view the face of my Father in heaven.
Matthew 18:14 (CSB) In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
Because God Loves Us So Much
Matthew 18:12-14 (CSB) What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
John 21:15-17 (CSB) When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? ”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”
“Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”
“Shepherd my sheep,” he told him.
He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ”
Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me? ” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
“Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
If all of that is true, what is ours to do?
Do we pile on more and more rules and laws that we have made up or twisted scriptures to put more weight on the people?
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Do we get to preach however we want while talking about everything not God and giving our hot takes and opinions?
2 Timothy 3:16–4:5 (CSB)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:
2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
5 But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The Psalm
Psalm 105 (CSB)
1 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples.2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell about all his wondrous works!
3 Boast in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
5 Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced,
6 you offspring of Abraham his servant, Jacob’s descendants—his chosen ones.
7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments govern the whole earth.
8 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he ordained for a thousand generations—
9 the covenant he made with Abraham, swore to Isaac,
10 and confirmed to Jacob as a decree and to Israel as a permanent covenant:
11 “I will give the land of Canaan to you as your inherited portion.”
12 When they were few in number, very few indeed, and resident aliens in Canaan,
13 wandering from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another,
14 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their behalf:
15 “Do not touch my anointed ones, or harm my prophets.”
16 He called down famine against the land and destroyed the entire food supply.
17 He had sent a man ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They hurt his feet with shackles; his neck was put in an iron collar.
19 Until the time his prediction came true, the word of the LORD tested him.
20 The king sent for him and released him; the ruler of peoples set him free.
21 He made him master of his household, ruler over all his possessions—
22 binding his officials at will and instructing his elders.
23 Then Israel went to Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.
24 The LORD made his people very fruitful; he made them more numerous than their foes,
25 whose hearts he turned to hate his people and to deal deceptively with his servants.
26 He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed his miraculous signs among them and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and it became dark— for did they not defy his commands?
29 He turned their water into blood and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land was overrun with frogs, even in their royal chambers.
31 He spoke, and insects came— gnats throughout their country.
32 He gave them hail for rain, and lightning throughout their land.
33 He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their territory.
34 He spoke, and locusts came— young locusts without number.
35 They devoured all the vegetation in their land and consumed the produce of their land.
36 He struck all the firstborn in their land, all their first progeny.
37 Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold, and no one among his tribes stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they left, for the dread of Israel had fallen on them.
39 He spread a cloud as a covering and gave a fire to light up the night.
40 They asked, and he brought quail and satisfied them with bread from heaven.
41 He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a stream in the desert.
42 For he remembered his holy promise to Abraham his servant.
43 He brought his people out with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy.
44 He gave them the lands of the nations, and they inherited what other peoples had worked for.
45 All this happened so that they might keep his statutes and obey his instructions. Hallelujah!
1 Samuel 3 The Calling of God's Anointed
The Word
John 11:43 (CSB) After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out! ”
The Study
1 Samuel 3 (CSB)
1 The boy Samuel served the LORD in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the LORD was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.2 One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place.
3 Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.
4 Then the LORD called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”
5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
6 Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Go back and lie down.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 Once again, for the third time, the LORD called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy.
9 He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The LORD came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
11 The LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel that will cause everyone who hears about it to shudder.
12 On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family, from beginning to end.
13 I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are cursing God, and he has not stopped them.
14 Therefore, I have sworn to Eli’s family: The iniquity of Eli’s family will never be wiped out by either sacrifice or offering.”
15 Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the LORD’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,
16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” answered Samuel.
17 “What was the message he gave you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that he told you.”
18 So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him. Eli responded, “He is the LORD. Let him do what he thinks is good.”
19 Samuel grew. The LORD was with him, and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied.
20 All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the LORD.
21 The LORD continued to appear in Shiloh, because there he revealed himself to Samuel by his word.
1 Samuel 3:1–5 (CSB) The boy Samuel served the LORD in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the LORD was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread. One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place. Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located. Then the LORD called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
The Calling of God: God calls upon us
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
6 Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Go back and lie down.”
The Calling of God: God knows us intimately
Matthew 10:29–31 (CSB) Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Psalm 139:1–6 (CSB) LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, LORD. You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
The Calling of God: God reveals his word to us
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Romans 10:14-15 (CSB) How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
8 Once again, for the third time, the LORD called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy.
9 He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The Calling of God: God dwells in us so that we might hear his voice
Ezekiel 36:24–28 (CSB) “ ‘For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
John 14:16–17 (CSB) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.
Mark 7:31–37 (CSB) Again, leaving the region of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had difficulty speaking and begged Jesus to lay his hand on him. So he took him away from the crowd in private. After putting his fingers in the man’s ears and spitting, he touched his tongue. Looking up to heaven, he sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”). Immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly. He ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more they proclaimed it. They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
10 The LORD came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
The Calling of God: We Get to Call Upon Him
Psalm 50:15 (CSB) Call on me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”
Psalm 91:15 (CSB) When he calls out to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.
Matthew 7:7–8 (CSB) “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 The LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel that will cause everyone who hears about it to shudder.
12 On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family, from beginning to end.
13 I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are cursing God, and he has not stopped them.
14 Therefore, I have sworn to Eli’s family: The iniquity of Eli’s family will never be wiped out by either sacrifice or offering.”
The Calling of God: God is slow
2 Peter 3:8–9 (CSB) Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Psalm 86:15 (CSB) But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.
Exodus 34:6 (CSB) The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth,
Psalm 103:8-14 (CSB) The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love. He will not always accuse us or be angry forever. He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
Romans 2:4 (CSB) Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
15 Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the LORD’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,
16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” answered Samuel.
17 “What was the message he gave you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that he told you.”
The Calling of God: We must preach the word of God
2 Timothy 3:16–4:5 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
18 So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him. Eli responded, “He is the LORD. Let him do what he thinks is good.”
The Calling of God: God is just
Psalm 89:14 (CSB) Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; faithful love and truth go before you.
Psalm 97:2 (CSB) Clouds and total darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Psalm 99:4 (CSB) The mighty King loves justice. You have established fairness; you have administered justice and righteousness in Jacob.
19 Samuel grew. The LORD was with him, and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied.
20 All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the LORD.
21 The LORD continued to appear in Shiloh, because there he revealed himself to Samuel by his word.
The Calling of God: God has revealed himself
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
The Psalm
Psalm 99 (CSB)
1 The LORD reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He is enthroned between the cherubim. Let the earth quake.2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted above all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awe-inspiring name. He is holy.
4 The mighty King loves justice. You have established fairness; you have administered justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the LORD our God; bow in worship at his footstool. He is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests; Samuel also was among those calling on his name. They called to the LORD and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees and the statutes he gave them.
8 LORD our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their sinful actions.
9 Exalt the LORD our God; bow in worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.
1 Samuel 4 The Execution of God's Anointed
The Word
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
The Passage
1 Samuel 4 (CSB)
1 And Samuel’s words came to all Israel. Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek.2 The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.
3 When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the LORD defeat us today before the Philistines? Let’s bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it will go with us and save us from our enemies.”
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a loud shout that the ground shook.
6 The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, “What’s this loud shout in the Hebrews’ camp?” When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp,
7 they panicked. “A god has entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before.
8 Woe to us! Who will rescue us from these magnificent gods? These are the gods that slaughtered the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
9 Show some courage and be men, Philistines! Otherwise, you’ll serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe—thirty thousand of the Israelite foot soldiers fell.
11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12 That same day, a Benjaminite man ran from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and there was dirt on his head.
13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair beside the road waiting, because he was anxious about the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the entire city cried out.
14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” The man quickly came and reported to Eli.
15 At that time Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes didn’t move because he couldn’t see.
16 The man said to Eli, “I’m the one who came from the battle. I fled from there today.” “What happened, my son?” Eli asked.
17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled from the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate, and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel forty years.
19 Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news about the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth because her labor pains came on her.
20 As she was dying, the women taking care of her said, “Don’t be afraid. You’ve given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay attention.
21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” referring to the capture of the ark of God and to the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.
22 “The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “because the ark of God has been captured.”
The Study
1 And Samuel’s words came to all Israel. Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek.
2 The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.
The Execution of God: Our Lives Are In His Hands
Job 14:5 (CSB) Since a person’s days are determined and the number of his months depends on you, and since you have set limits he cannot pass,
Psalms 39:4-5 (CSB) “LORD, make me aware of my end
and the number of my days
so that I will know how short-lived I am.
In fact, you have made my days just inches long,
and my life span is as nothing to you.
Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor. Selah
3 When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the LORD defeat us today before the Philistines? Let’s bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it will go with us and save us from our enemies.”
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a loud shout that the ground shook.
6 The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, “What’s this loud shout in the Hebrews’ camp?” When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp,
7 they panicked. “A god has entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before.
8 Woe to us! Who will rescue us from these magnificent gods? These are the gods that slaughtered the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
9 Show some courage and be men, Philistines! Otherwise, you’ll serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe—thirty thousand of the Israelite foot soldiers fell.
11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
The Execution of God: We Cannot Manipulate God
Philippians 2:12-13 (CSB) Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
We cannot thwart the will of the Almighty God.
Yet, the church is flirting with the notion that we can somehow coerce or manipulate God into doing our will. Like "if you do the right things, God will bless you." Or as if if you do the right things, God somehow owes you something.
Romans 4:2-5 (CSB) If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about — but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
In a way, this is the gospel. God Almighty demands sheer perfection--that our good deeds (declared good by him alone) must be done with the absolute perfect motive. And that is where we fall short. We cannot do anything that would please him. We half-hearted do a bunch of good things like not-sin and then we sit around and act like, "Okay, God, give me what I want. Where are you?" God is in the heavens and ruling over all creation. He does everything for his glory and good pleasure.
Here's the thing. He looked upon us, saw that the intentions of our minds and hearts were continuously evil. What does God the Father ends up doing for us wicked and perverted people?
He gave us everything!
How do I know this? Because he gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ! And to seal the deal once and for all, he gave his Holy Spirit!
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 1:7-10 (CSB) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time — to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
Who is like our God and who dares to compare to him?
Whatever you and I have in this life--a little or a lot-- we have it all because we have the Christ!
Who can stand against us? We have the Christ!
Who can condemn us? We have the Christ!
Who can separate us from the love of God? We have the Christ!
Philippians 4:19 (CSB) And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
In Christ, you have given me so much that heaven can give me no more.
Valley of Vision. "Christ Alone"
12 That same day, a Benjaminite man ran from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and there was dirt on his head.
13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair beside the road waiting, because he was anxious about the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the entire city cried out.
14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” The man quickly came and reported to Eli.
15 At that time Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes didn’t move because he couldn’t see.
16 The man said to Eli, “I’m the one who came from the battle. I fled from there today.” “What happened, my son?” Eli asked.
17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled from the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate, and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel forty years.
The Execution of God: God Raises Kings and God Removes Kings
The books of Samuel are to declare one thing. Judges may come and go. Prophets may come and go. Priests and Kings may come and go but Christ is our Prophet, Priest, and King forever. By his perfect life, death, and resurrection, he will come again to judge the living and dead. And Jesus Christ alone is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
19 Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news about the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth because her labor pains came on her.
20 As she was dying, the women taking care of her said, “Don’t be afraid. You’ve given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay attention.
21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” referring to the capture of the ark of God and to the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.
22 “The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “because the ark of God has been captured.”
The Execution of God: We Are Not Of The World
John 17:14-16 (CSB) I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Romans 8:17 (CSB) and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and coheirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
We are co-heirs with the Son who is heir of all things.
We have it all. We have his glory. But we also have his sufferings.
And yet, we have his blessed assurance that the Father and the Son will never let us go and we are in the family of God the Father forever and ever.
Sin has broken this world and our hearts, souls and mind. But Christ was given to us to make all things new.
Who can stand against us? We have the Christ.
The Psalm
Psalm 115 (CSB)
1 Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your faithful love, because of your truth.2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.
5 They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot make a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them.
9 Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the LORD— small and great alike.
14 May the LORD add to your numbers, both yours and your children’s.
15 May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
16 The heavens are the LORD’s, but the earth he has given to the human race.
17 It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any of those descending into the silence of death.
18 But we will bless the LORD, both now and forever. Hallelujah!
1 Samuel 5 There Are No Other Gods
The Word
Isaiah 45:4-7 (CSB) I call you by your name,
for the sake of my servant Jacob
and Israel my chosen one.
I give a name to you,
though you do not know me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other;
there is no God but me.
I will strengthen you,
though you do not know me,
so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting
that there is no one but me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
I form light and create darkness,
I make success and create disaster;
I am the LORD, who does all these things.
The Passage
1 Samuel 5 (CSB)
1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,2 brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it next to his statue.
3 When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.
4 But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. This time, Dagon’s head and both of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso remained.
5 That is why, still today, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon’s threshold.
6 The LORD’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod. He terrified the people of Ashdod and its territory and afflicted them with tumors.
7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of Israel’s God must not stay here with us, because his hand is strongly against us and our god Dagon.”
8 So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, “What should we do with the ark of Israel’s God?” “The ark of Israel’s God should be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they moved the ark of Israel’s God.
9 After they had moved it, the LORD’s hand was against the city of Gath, causing a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, from the youngest to the oldest, with an outbreak of tumors.
10 The people of Gath then sent the ark of God to Ekron, but when it got there, the Ekronites cried out, “They’ve moved the ark of Israel’s God to us to kill us and our people!”
11 The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together. They said, “Send the ark of Israel’s God away. Let it return to its place so it won’t kill us and our people!” For the fear of death pervaded the city; God’s hand was oppressing them.
12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
The Study
1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,
2 brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it next to his statue.
There Are No Other Gods: The Head of Every Other Religion is a Demon
Exodus 20:2 (CSB) I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
1 Corinthians 10:20 (CSB) No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons!
Deuteronomy 32:16-17 (CSB) They provoked his jealousy with different gods;
they enraged him with detestable practices.
They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods they had not known,
new gods that had just arrived,
which your ancestors did not fear.
3 When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.
4 But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. This time, Dagon’s head and both of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso remained.
5 That is why, still today, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon’s threshold.
There Are No Other Gods: The Demons Know Who God Is
Exodus 20:3 (CSB) Do not have other gods besides me.
Luke 8:27-33 (CSB) When he got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said in a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me! ” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places. “What is your name? ” Jesus asked him. “Legion,” he said, because many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to banish them to the abyss. A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged him to permit them to enter the pigs, and he gave them permission. The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
James 2:19 (CSB) You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe — and they shudder.
6 The LORD’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod. He terrified the people of Ashdod and its territory and afflicted them with tumors.
7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of Israel’s God must not stay here with us, because his hand is strongly against us and our god Dagon.”
There Are No Other Gods: The Wages of Our Idolatry is Death
Exodus 20:4 (CSB) Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 10:21-22 (CSB) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
8 So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, “What should we do with the ark of Israel’s God?” “The ark of Israel’s God should be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they moved the ark of Israel’s God.
9 After they had moved it, the LORD’s hand was against the city of Gath, causing a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, from the youngest to the oldest, with an outbreak of tumors.
10 The people of Gath then sent the ark of God to Ekron, but when it got there, the Ekronites cried out, “They’ve moved the ark of Israel’s God to us to kill us and our people!”
11 The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together. They said, “Send the ark of Israel’s God away. Let it return to its place so it won’t kill us and our people!” For the fear of death pervaded the city; God’s hand was oppressing them.
There Are No Other Gods: We Cannot Worship Any Other Gods
Exodus 20:5 (CSB) Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me,
1 Corinthians 10:14 (CSB) Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
Psalms 97:9-10 (CSB) For you, LORD,
are the Most High over the whole earth;
you are exalted above all the gods.
You who love the LORD, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his faithful ones;
he rescues them from the power of the wicked.
John 6:66-69 (CSB) From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you? ” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
There Are No Other Gods: The Lord God is Holy and Steadfast Love For His People
Exodus 20:6-7 (CSB) but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands. Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
The Song
Isaiah 42:5–9 (CSB)
5 This is what God, the LORD, says— who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it—6 “I am the LORD. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,
7 in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house.
8 I am the LORD. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.
9 The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.”
1 Samuel 6 You Shall Worship No Other Gods
The Word
Luke 4:5-8 (CSB) So [Satan] took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to him, “I will give you their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. If you, then, will worship me, all will be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written:
Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. ”
The Passage
1 Samuel 6 (CSB)
1 When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory for seven months,2 the Philistines summoned the priests and the diviners and pleaded, “What should we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we can send it back to its place.”
3 They replied, “If you send the ark of Israel’s God away, do not send it without an offering. Send back a guilt offering to him, and you will be healed. Then the reason his hand hasn’t been removed from you will be revealed.”
4 They asked, “What guilt offering should we send back to him?” And they answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice corresponding to the number of Philistine rulers, since there was one plague for both you and your rulers.
5 Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel’s God, and perhaps he will stop oppressing you, your gods, and your land.
6 Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When he afflicted them, didn’t they send Israel away, and Israel left?
7 “Now then, prepare one new cart and two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.
8 Take the ark of the LORD, place it on the cart, and put the gold objects that you’re sending him as a guilt offering in a box beside the ark. Send it off and let it go its way.
9 Then watch: If it goes up the road to its homeland toward Beth-shemesh, it is the LORD who has made this terrible trouble for us. However, if it doesn’t, we will know that it was not his hand that punished us—it was just something that happened to us by chance.”
10 The men did this: They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and confined their calves in the pen.
11 Then they put the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the box containing the gold mice and the images of their tumors.
12 The cows went straight up the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on that one highway, lowing as they went; they never strayed to the right or to the left. The Philistine rulers were walking behind them to the territory of Beth-shemesh.
13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it.
14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people of the city chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.
15 The Levites removed the ark of the LORD, along with the box containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. That day the people of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD.
16 When the five Philistine rulers observed this, they returned to Ekron that same day.
17 As a guilt offering to the LORD, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
18 The number of gold mice also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock on which the ark of the LORD was placed is still in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh today.
19 God struck down the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy persons. The people mourned because the LORD struck them with a great slaughter.
20 The people of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD this holy God? To whom should the ark go from here?”
21 They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and get it.”
The Study
1 When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory for seven months,
2 the Philistines summoned the priests and the diviners and pleaded, “What should we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we can send it back to its place.”
No Other Gods: We Cannot Worship Other Gods and the God of Gods
3 They replied, “If you send the ark of Israel’s God away, do not send it without an offering. Send back a guilt offering to him, and you will be healed. Then the reason his hand hasn’t been removed from you will be revealed.”
4 They asked, “What guilt offering should we send back to him?” And they answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice corresponding to the number of Philistine rulers, since there was one plague for both you and your rulers.
5 Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel’s God, and perhaps he will stop oppressing you, your gods, and your land.
No Other Gods: We Have All Exchanged God For Other Gods
Romans 1:21-25 (CSB) For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
6 Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When he afflicted them, didn’t they send Israel away, and Israel left?
No Other Gods:
7 “Now then, prepare one new cart and two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.
8 Take the ark of the LORD, place it on the cart, and put the gold objects that you’re sending him as a guilt offering in a box beside the ark. Send it off and let it go its way.
9 Then watch: If it goes up the road to its homeland toward Beth-shemesh, it is the LORD who has made this terrible trouble for us. However, if it doesn’t, we will know that it was not his hand that punished us—it was just something that happened to us by chance.”
10 The men did this: They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and confined their calves in the pen.
11 Then they put the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the box containing the gold mice and the images of their tumors.
12 The cows went straight up the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on that one highway, lowing as they went; they never strayed to the right or to the left. The Philistine rulers were walking behind them to the territory of Beth-shemesh.
13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it.
14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people of the city chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.
15 The Levites removed the ark of the LORD, along with the box containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. That day the people of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD.
No Other Gods: God is the Only God That Gives to Us
Matthew 1:21–23 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
16 When the five Philistine rulers observed this, they returned to Ekron that same day.
17 As a guilt offering to the LORD, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
18 The number of gold mice also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock on which the ark of the LORD was placed is still in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh today.
No Other Gods: Worshiping God at Our Convenience Will Not Save Us
Matthew 7:21–23 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
For the moment vs. for all of eternity
19 God struck down the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy persons. The people mourned because the LORD struck them with a great slaughter.
No Other Gods: God is Holy
Isaiah 6:1–5 (CSB) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies.
20 The people of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD this holy God? To whom should the ark go from here?”
21 They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and get it.”
No Other Gods: God is the Only One Who Can Save Us from His Wrath
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
The Psalm
Psalm 97:9–12 (CSB)
9 For you, LORD, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods.10 You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful ones; he rescues them from the power of the wicked.
11 Light dawns for the righteous, gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones, and give thanks to his holy name.
1 Samuel 7 Salvation Belongs to the Lord
The Word
Jonah 2:8-9 (CSB) Those who cherish worthless idols
abandon their faithful love,
but as for me, I will sacrifice to you
with a voice of thanksgiving.
I will fulfill what I have vowed.
Salvation belongs to the LORD.
The Passage
1 Samuel 7 (CSB)
1 So the people of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it to Abinadab’s house on the hill. They consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of it.2 Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for the LORD.
3 Samuel told them, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the LORD, and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”
4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths and only worshiped the LORD.
5 Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”
6 When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the LORD’s presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
8 The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, so that he will save us from the Philistines.”
9 Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.
10 Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. The LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.
11 Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car.
12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “The LORD has helped us to this point.”
13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israel’s territory again. The LORD’s hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life.
14 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel judged Israel throughout his life.
16 Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations.
17 Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he built an altar to the LORD there.
The Study
The Psalm
Psalm 3 (CSB)
A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.1 LORD, how my foes increase! There are many who attack me.
2 Many say about me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah
3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4 I cry aloud to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not be afraid of thousands of people who have taken their stand against me on every side.
7 Rise up, LORD! Save me, my God! You strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD; may your blessing be on your people. Selah
1 Samuel 8 God Alone is Mighty to Save
The Word
Isaiah 63:1–6 (CSB)
1 Who is this coming from Edom in crimson-stained garments from Bozrah— this one who is splendid in his apparel, striding in his formidable might?It is I, proclaiming vindication, powerful to save. 2 Why are your clothes red, and your garments like one who treads a winepress?
3 I trampled the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with me. I trampled them in my anger and ground them underfoot in my fury; their blood spattered my garments, and all my clothes were stained.
4 For I planned the day of vengeance, and the year of my redemption came.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help, and I was amazed that no one assisted; so my arm accomplished victory for me, and my wrath assisted me.
6 I crushed nations in my anger; I made them drunk with my wrath and poured out their blood on the ground.
The Passage
1 Samuel 8 (CSB)
1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.2 His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.
3 However, his sons did not walk in his ways—they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.
5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”
6 When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the LORD.
7 But the LORD told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.
8 They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods.
9 Listen to them, but solemnly warn them and tell them about the customary rights of the king who will reign over them.”
10 Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who were asking him for a king.
11 He said, “These are the rights of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots.
12 He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties, to plow his ground and reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.
13 He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14 He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants.
15 He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and servants.
16 He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best cattle, and your donkeys and use them for his work.
17 He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants.
18 When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you’ve chosen for yourselves, but the LORD won’t answer you on that day.”
19 The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
20 Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.”
21 Samuel listened to all the people’s words and then repeated them to the LORD.
22 “Listen to them,” the LORD told Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Each of you, go back to your city.”
The Study
The Psalm
Psalm 4 (CSB)
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.1 Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
2 How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted? How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie? Selah
3 Know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
4 Be angry and do not sin; reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent. Selah
5 Offer sacrifices in righteousness and trust in the LORD.
6 Many are asking, “Who can show us anything good?” Let the light of your face shine on us, LORD.
7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, LORD, make me live in safety.
2nd Samuel: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
The Recommendations
Study Bibles
CSB Study Bible
Holmon Bible Publishers. 2017.
Goodreads
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
ESV Study Bible.
ESV Text Edition: 2016.
Crossway. 2008.
Goodreads
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries
General Commentaries
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, & Mark W. Chavalas.
IVP Academic. 2000.
Goodreads
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament.
Craig S. Keener.
IVP Academic. 2014.
Goodreads
Calvin's Commentaries.
John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume
by Matthew Henry.
Hendrickson Publishers. 1991.
Goodreads
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary on the Whole Bible
by Robert Jamieson, Alexander Cruden & Andrew Robert Fausset.
Zondervan. 1961.
Goodreads
An Exposition of the Old Testament, Vols. I–VI
by John Gill.
Public Domain.
Goodreads
Poor Man's Commentary.
Robert Hawker.
Delmarva Publications. 2013.
Goodreads
Samuel
1 & 2 Samuel (Reformed Expository Commentary).
Richard D. Phillips.
P & R Publishing. 2012.
Goodreads
A Son to Me: A Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel.
Peter J. Leithart.
Canon Press. 2003.
Goodreads
After God's Own Heart: The Gospel According to David.
Mark J. Boda.
P & R Publishing. June 29,2007.
Goodreads
1 Samuel: Looking on the Heart.
Mark J. Boda.
Christian Focus. July 20, 2010.
Goodreads
1 Samuel-2 Chronicles (ESV Expository Commentary).
Iain M. Duguid,
James M. Hamilton Jr., Jay Sklar (Editors).
John L. Mackay (Author).
Crossway. October 3, 2019.
Goodreads
1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles (OT Volume 5) (Reformation Commentary on Scripture).
Derek Cooper & Martin J. Lohrmann (Editors).
IVP Academic. 2016.
Goodreads
Theology
The Cross of Christ.
John R.W. Stott. 2006.
Goodreads
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
John Owen.
Banner of Truth. 2007.
Goodreads
No Condemnation in Christ Jesus: As Unfolded in the Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
Octavius Winslow.
Banner of Trust. 1991.
Goodreads
On the Incarnation.
Athanasius of Alexandria.
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. 1977.
Goodreads
All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism.
James E. Dolezal.
Reformation Heritage Books. 2017.
Goodreads
Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition.
John Calvin. Robert White (Translator).
Banner of Truth. 2014.
Goodreads
Reformed Dogmatics.
Herman Bavinck, John Bolt (Editor), John Vriend (Translator).
Baker Academic. 2003.
Goodreads
The Wonderful Works of God.
Herman Bavinck.
Westminster Seminary Press. 2019.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Louis Berkhof.
Eerdmans. 1996.
Goodreads
God is Love.
Gerald L. Bray.
Crossway. 2012.
Goodreads
The Existence and Attributes of God, Volume 1-2.
Stephen Charnock, Mark Jones (Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Charles Hodge.
Hendrickson Academic. 1999.
Goodreads
The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way.
Michael S. Horton.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
The Complete Works.
John Owen, Lee Gatiss (Series Editor), Shawn D. Wright (Series Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Knowing God.
J.I. Packer.
Crossway. 2023.
Goodreads
The Works of John Wesley.
John Wesley.
Beacon Hill Press. 1978.
Goodreads
Praying Through Psalms, An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
I hope to write a commentary on the Psalms. In the meantime, I will pray through them.
The Resources
It Goes Without Say
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries & Books
Calvin's Commentaries.
by John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
The Treasury of David (Volumes 1-3)
Charles Spurgeon.
MacDonald Publishing.
Goodreads
Psalms (EBTC) (Volumes 1 & 2)
James M. Hamilton Jr.
Lexham Academic. December 15, 2021.
Goodreads
Praying Through: Psalm 1
The Psalm
Psalm 1 (CSB)
1 How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!2 Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
4 The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
The Prayer
Like a child, I have fallen and all of my strength has left me. As my precious Father, put me back up on my feet and hold my hands so I can learn to run to you.
Give me your strength and might. Give me your word and your promises.
Oh, how you give to me. You give me your love and you see to it that I make it back to you.
By only You will I be able to grow, mature and stand with you in your presence.
I distinctly remember my life before Your life. I remember disease, destruction, slavery, and death.
My little heart and feeble mind wants to give up and turn my face back towards death.
Then I would leave Life. I would step out of the fullness of joy. I would then settle for lesser pleasures. I would not have You.
God, I am still weak like a little child. Give me your strength and love. Turn my heart towards you. Run towards me and pick me up once more.
Praying Through: Psalm 2
The Psalm
Psalm 2 (CSB)
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?2 The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the LORD and his Anointed One:
3 “Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.”
4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.
5 Then he speaks to them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath:
6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will declare the LORD’s decree. He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron scepter; you will shatter them like pottery.”
10 So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling.
12 Pay homage to the Son or he will be angry and you will perish in your rebellion, for his anger may ignite at any moment. All who take refuge in him are happy.
The Prayer
I am set apart, this is true. But set apart by you to you.
I reach out to the world, plead to the world, and with the Spirit, invite the world to come into Your loving embrace.
Few do. Many do not.
How can I respond?
You are my Lord above. You are my King on high. All things, both spiritual and material, are yours. All truth and all philosophies are under your sovereign hand. All lives and minds are under your rightful rulership.
You have set me apart not because of my own goodness but because of the goodness you have given me. You have set me apart and now I am in your safe arms forever. I finally see that you have set me apart in order to keep me safe from your wrath.
Be glorious in my life. Give me courage to proclaim your sweet name. Move me to be more of your of sweet aroma to those being saved and to those perishing.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 3
The Psalm
Psalm 3 (CSB)
A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.1 LORD, how my foes increase! There are many who attack me.
2 Many say about me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah
3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4 I cry aloud to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not be afraid of thousands of people who have taken their stand against me on every side.
7 Rise up, LORD! Save me, my God! You strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD; may your blessing be on your people. Selah
The Prayer
In my finite perception, my circumstances would seem to say I am in despair. I feel that. I feel that onslaught. I feel that pressure. Many would say, ”Ah, your God has failed. Your God is not good. Your God does not deliver. Your God does not save.”
They would be wrong on all accounts.
When I turn away from all of my oppressors and turn towards you, I see the loveliness of your face. It is because of your presence, my soul is now at rest.
Your Son took all of my affliction and wrath and absorbed all the violence that can ever be dealt to me. I will see no punishment from you. I will see no anger from you. I will see no rejection from you. You will not forsake me. You will not forget me.
Salvation belongs to you, O Lord, for you are the mighty one to save.
Be with me, Lord. I have no one else to turn to. You alone have the words to eternal life. By Your Son's beautiful name,
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 4
The Psalm
Psalm 4 (CSB)
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.1 Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
2 How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted? How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie? Selah
3 Know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
4 Be angry and do not sin; reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent. Selah
5 Offer sacrifices in righteousness and trust in the LORD.
6 Many are asking, “Who can show us anything good?” Let the light of your face shine on us, LORD.
7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, LORD, make me live in safety.
The Prayer
Help!
You have helped me in the past and this time I still need you.
I have dismissed all the lies around me.
I still need you. I still need your love. I still need your mercy. I still need your grace.
Give me your hand. I need to feel your embrace. I need to feel your warmth. I know you are always with me.
Right now, I will lay in peace.
Because you are with me.
Selah.
Praying Through: Psalm 5
The Psalm
Psalm 5 (CSB)
For the choir director: with the flutes. A psalm of David.1 Listen to my words, LORD; consider my sighing.
2 Pay attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to you.
3 In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil cannot dwell with you.
5 The boastful cannot stand in your sight; you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors violent and treacherous people.
7 But I enter your house by the abundance of your faithful love; I bow down toward your holy temple in reverential awe of you.
8 LORD, lead me in your righteousness because of my adversaries; make your way straight before me.
9 For there is nothing reliable in what they say; destruction is within them; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongues.
10 Punish them, God; let them fall by their own schemes. Drive them out because of their many crimes, for they rebel against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May you shelter them, and may those who love your name boast about you.
12 For you, LORD, bless the righteous one; you surround him with favor like a shield.
The Prayer
My heart grieves. My soul groans. I am in need of your Spirit.
My own pride has kept me far from you. My own arrogance has caused you to look away. Yet, I am in need of your holiness—the very thing that keeps me far is the very thing that keeps me close.
Clean my lips. Give me your heart. Remove this poison from my throat. Smooth the rawness and ease the pain.
Let me speak life into everyone and everything around me. I don’t want my tongue to be a filthy dagger. I want it to be a tool that lifts the lowly to godly; sin to righteous; and hopelessness to joy everlasting.
Oh Lord, teach me your songs. Let me learn the songs you sing over me. I will gladly sing them over your people.
Cover me. Protect me. Keep me in your hands.
In your Son’s mighty name I pray, Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 6
The Psalm
Psalm 6 (CSB)
For the choir director: with stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A psalm of David.1 LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am weak; heal me, LORD, for my bones are shaking;
3 my whole being is shaken with terror. And you, LORD—how long?
4 Turn, LORD! Rescue me; save me because of your faithful love.
5 For there is no remembrance of you in death; who can thank you in Sheol?
6 I am weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my bed and drench my couch every night.
7 My eyes are swollen from grief; they grow old because of all my enemies.
8 Depart from me, all evildoers, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my plea for help; the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror; they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.
The Prayer
My deeds have warranted not your affections but your attentions—attention to correct my path. However , it is not simply that, it is more serious, more deadly than that.
I continuously want death. I continuously want counterfeit. I continuously want less.
You, my Father, don’t want that for me. You want life for me. You want truth for me. You want the most for me.
I rebel. You correct. I run. You pursue. I deserve every bit of wrath. Your justice has me in your crosshairs. Surely, I would perish.
But your Son, the Infinite Bridge between God and Mankind, steps in the way and takes in all of your wrath for my sin, once, forevermore. You have no wrath left over for me. Just as Christ’s body was drained of blood and water, not one drop of your righteous wrath was left for me.
I shall not fear. I shall be corrected. As your kid, I will receive correction. You love me perfectly so and more so than I love my kids. I desire correction for my children. You desire correction so that I will be with you in the likeness of your Son forevermore.
God, hear my wailing. Hear my cries. Hear my pleas. Hear my prayers.
I ask for you and you cannot say no.
I love you.
In your Son's incredibly beautiful name, Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 7
The Psalm
Psalm 7 (CSB)
A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.1 LORD my God, I seek refuge in you; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
2 or they will tear me like a lion, ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.
3 LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice on my hands,
4 if I have done harm to one at peace with me or have plundered my adversary without cause,
5 may an enemy pursue and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
6 Rise up, LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my adversaries; awake for me; you have ordained a judgment.
7 Let the assembly of peoples gather around you; take your seat on high over it.
8 The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
9 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. The one who examines the thoughts and emotions is a righteous God.
10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge and a God who shows his wrath every day.
12 If anyone does not repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has strung his bow and made it ready.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons; he tips his arrows with fire.
14 See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil, conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit.
15 He dug a pit and hollowed it out but fell into the hole he had made.
16 His trouble comes back on his own head; his own violence comes down on top of his head.
17 I will thank the LORD for his righteousness; I will sing about the name of the LORD Most High.
The Prayer
It might feel like the world is against me. I might feel like I am a being persecuted. But the real battle is not the world versus me but rather, my own sin and my own iniquities versus the spirit inside of me.
Dear God, my very best works and all of my good deeds before you are nothing more than used menstrual rags and bags of crap. I got nothing else in my hands—this is the best I can do.
My sin is my own and no one else’s.
My iniquities belong to me and no one else is to blame. And yet, you called out to me—you called out to me in your sweet love, in your perfect kindness, in your never-ending mercies, and unchanging grace. You called to me! Where else can I turn to? If I go away from you, then I am far from you. Far from my desires from my new heart—the new heart that you gave me. Clearly, that is not the answer.
Or if I turn to other things of the world, even good and great things from you, they fail time and time again to fill the hole in my heart.
What other direction can I turn other than to you?
Yes, in your direction, your wrath is terrible, your punishment is swift, and your just is perfect.
But in your direction, is my only salvation because you alone have saved me.
God, do you want you must to save me to you and keep me to you. Here is my trust: not in what I have done but in what you have done. I have nothing but you, God. Keep me.
In your Son’s name, I pray. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 8
The Psalm
Psalm 8 (CSB)
For the choir director: on the Gittith. A psalm of David.1 LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth! You have covered the heavens with your majesty.
2 From the mouths of infants and nursing babies, you have established a stronghold on account of your adversaries in order to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you set in place,
4 what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him?
5 You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:
7 all the sheep and oxen, as well as the animals in the wild,
8 the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea that pass through the currents of the seas.
9 LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!
The Prayer
Your name is known throughout all the earth. Your fame knows no bounds. Your glory will not be given to another. Your love is simply unmatched.
And who you are and what you do is not determined and defined by the world around me. You are defined by your thoughts, your mind, your heart, and upon your revelation alone. I ask not for you to reveal more than what you have already reveal for my mind and soul and heart can barely comprehend your fullness now.
I can barely hold on to the grace that you have given me. But even in that holding on is grace upon grace. For that, I thank you.
You are God of the heavens, space, galaxies, and solar systems. You rule above it all. You are King and Lord over all kings and lords.
But you know me. Not just of me, but you know me. You know me and you love me.
You loved me enough to leave your throne, to leave your heavenly home, away from the Father, Spirit, and the heavenly hosts to come and get me. You rescued me from the uttermost depths of the oceans. You have retrieved me from the lips of the mouth of hell. You have saved me from death. You have loved me to bring me to you. God, I love you. For all of my life and all of eternity, I will forever proclaim your glorious name. I love you. Thank you.
In your name, I pray. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 9
The Psalm
Psalm 9 (CSB)
For the choir director: according to Muth-labben. A psalm of David.1 I will thank the LORD with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous works.
2 I will rejoice and boast about you; I will sing about your name, Most High.
3 When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before you.
4 For you have upheld my just cause; you are seated on your throne as a righteous judge.
5 You have rebuked the nations: You have destroyed the wicked; you have erased their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy has come to eternal ruin; you have uprooted the cities, and the very memory of them has perished.
7 But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for judgment.
8 And he judges the world with righteousness; he executes judgment on the nations with fairness.
9 The LORD is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, LORD.
11 Sing to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; proclaim his deeds among the nations.
12 For the one who seeks an accounting for bloodshed remembers them; he does not forget the cry of the oppressed.
13 Be gracious to me, LORD; consider my affliction at the hands of those who hate me. Lift me up from the gates of death,
14 so that I may declare all your praises. I will rejoice in your salvation within the gates of Daughter Zion.
15 The nations have fallen into the pit they made; their foot is caught in the net they have concealed.
16 The LORD has made himself known; he has executed justice, snaring the wicked by the work of their hands. Higgaion. Selah
17 The wicked will return to Sheol— all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy will not always be forgotten; the hope of the oppressed will not perish forever.
19 Rise up, LORD! Do not let mere humans prevail; let the nations be judged in your presence.
20 Put terror in them, LORD; let the nations know they are only humans. Selah
The Prayer
I will not and cannot list what I think you have not done for me. That is preposterous! What you have done for me, in me, and through me is too great to even list. But I thank you so much. I thank you for you are absolutely good, absolutely merciful, absolutely gracious, and absolutely love. These I know of you and know you well.
God, you are high and exalted far above all creation, including any little thing I might create with my mind and my hands. I thank you for those many gifts that you have given me. I thank you for the life that you have given me. I thank you for the loves that you have given me. I thank you all.
God, I thank you for the security of your word. I thank you that you cannot break your promises to me. And those promises apply to me because I am your son, of whom you said you are well-pleased. Your Spirit also bears witness with my spirit that I am your child. Your Son intercedes for me on my behalf. I know you will not reject me but you have saved me to yourself for your everlasting glory and the fullness of my joy.
God, I thank you for your heart that you have given to me. So now, with my voice, my lungs, my mouth, and my heart, I sing. I sing to you, about you, and for you. I sing loudly. I sing because I want you to hear me. I sing because I want you to hear how much I love you. And you hear my song. And you always hear my song.
May my words be a sweet and lovely sound for your ears.
I love you.
I adore you.
Thank you.
In your Son’s incredible name I pray. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 10
The Psalm
Psalm 10 (CSB)
1 LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide in times of trouble?2 In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims; let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.
3 For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings; the one who is greedy curses and despises the LORD.
4 In all his scheming, the wicked person arrogantly thinks, “There’s no accountability, since there’s no God.”
5 His ways are always secure; your lofty judgments have no effect on him; he scoffs at all his adversaries.
6 He says to himself, “I will never be moved— from generation to generation I will be without calamity.”
7 Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
8 He waits in ambush near settlements; he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;
9 he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket. He lurks in order to seize a victim; he seizes a victim and drags him in his net.
10 So he is oppressed and beaten down; helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength.
11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; he hides his face and will never see.”
12 Rise up, LORD God! Lift up your hand. Do not forget the oppressed.
13 Why has the wicked person despised God? He says to himself, “You will not demand an account.”
14 But you yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into your hands. The helpless one entrusts himself to you; you are a helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked, evil person, until you look for his wickedness, but it can’t be found.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
17 LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully,
18 doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more.
The Prayer
My sin wakes me up from my slumber.
At my weakest, my iniquities flood my mind.
- My mind is not sharp.
- My soul is asleep.
- In the pitch blackness of the night, I cannot see.
Sin is like a ravenous,
- rabid dog who sits upon my chest,
- waiting to devour me.
- I can smell it’s breath.
- I can taste the poison stench.
- My eardrums break from the deafening bark.
My birth and my life before haunts me.
But you, O Lord, are my Shepherd.
- You are my protector.
- You are my defender.
- You are my avenger.
- You are my slayer.
You,
- who was once slain for my sin,
- have already gloriously,
- majestically,
- violently,
- powerfully,
- and mercilessly
- slay all of my sin.
My King,
- my wits are lost.
- My soul is dormant.
- My heart is nearly still.
- I do not have the wisdom to ask for help.
- I do not have the presence of mind to call on you.
My God,
- be my faithful protector—
- continuously
- and forevermore.
Every waking moment and every minute of sleep, there is not a time when I don’t need you.
I need you, God.
- Don’t leave me.
- Stay with me.
- Help me.
- Love me.
- Care for me.
I love you.
In the incredible name of Your Son, I pray.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 11
The Psalm
Psalm 11 (CSB)
For the choir director. Of David.1 I have taken refuge in the LORD. How can you say to me, “Escape to the mountains like a bird!
2 For look, the wicked string bows; they put their arrows on bowstrings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD—his throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; his gaze examines everyone.
5 The LORD examines the righteous, but he hates the wicked and those who love violence.
6 Let him rain burning coals and sulfur on the wicked; let a scorching wind be the portion in their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds. The upright will see his face.
The Prayer
I have seen the volley of artillery rain down all around me and You, O Lord, my precious shield, have absorbed their attacks. Yet, the enemy’s sharpshooters have taken careful aim at my heart. Their fiery bullets have pierced my chest. Their lies have penetrated my mind. Their blasphemous words have laid weight upon my soul.
It hurts me so.
But You, O God, are endlessly faithful:
-
Faithful to save.
-
Faithful to heal.
-
Faithful to restore.
-
Faithful to equip.
-
Faithful to send.
My Commander of Hosts, help me in my moment of despair.
- My feet, which are strapped with Your gospel of peace,
- have been firmly planted into the Rock of Ages.
- I will and cannot retreat. I shall not be moved.
You see, your victory is complete.
Your finished work continues to grow in ranks by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit,
- the swelling of our hearts and the changing of our minds.
Your kingdom presses against the gates of hell.
I can now hear the rivets popping from the weight of your awesome glory.
May I continue to herald your great works and your great name for the rest of my days.
In your name, I pray.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 12
The Psalm
Psalm 12 (CSB)
For the choir director: according to Sheminith. A psalm of David.1 Help, LORD, for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race.
2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks boastfully.
4 They say, “Through our tongues we have power; our lips are our own—who can be our master?”
5 “Because of the devastation of the needy and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up,” says the LORD. “I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.”
6 The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.
7 You, LORD, will guard us; you will protect us from this generation forever.
8 The wicked prowl all around, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.
The Prayer
My legacy has already passed through my lips. I have nothing but strongest bitterness and the most potent venom to come out of my mouth.
I have lied. I have manipulated. I have cheated.
With my snake tongue, I have tried to get others to do my bidding, believing the lie that I am the one that needs to control them in order for my soul to be at peace.
However, what if I get my way? My soul still knows no peace. I am not at ease. I am not better now than before I started telling lies.
Where is the source of this poison and bitterness? Ah, I know it is my heart. My heart is nothing but a stone vial of venom to harm others and to keep others away from me.
My God, dump the poison out. Swap my heart out with a soft, tender heart. Give me a heart that hurts when I try to fill it with poison. Give me a heart that aches in pain when I try to keep You at a distance.
God, do this through the intercession and broken body of Your Son, all by the power of your great and Holy Spirit.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of heart will forever bring you sweet pleasure to your ears.
I love you, Lord. Thank you for saving me to You.
In your Son’s precious and beautiful name, I pray.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 13
The Psalm
Psalm 13 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David.1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?
3 Consider me and answer, LORD my God. Restore brightness to my eyes; otherwise, I will sleep in death.
4 My enemy will say, “I have triumphed over him,” and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.
6 I will sing to the LORD because he has treated me generously.
The Prayer
You have not forgotten me. You have not hidden your lovely face from me. Your comfort and wisdom warm my soul. Your joy and hope fill my heart all the day long.
You are mindful of me and when I call out your name, you answer me. You have answered me by saving me. You saved me by giving Yourself to me.
One day, I might stare down Death, but when I do, I will only see a crownless king with a broken scepter who has been stripped of power where there is little left to wield.
My Lord and God, all of my trust is in you alone for you alone have the words for eternal life.
Because of You, I sing and dance with complete gladness.
Thank you for You.
In Your Son’s incredible and mighty name, I pray. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 14
The Psalm
Psalm 14 (CSB)
For the choir director. Of David.1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.
3 All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Will evildoers never understand? They consume my people as they consume bread; they do not call on the LORD.
5 Then they will be filled with dread, for God is with those who are righteous.
6 You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the LORD is his refuge.
7 Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
The Prayer
I would say to you, “I have not forgotten you.” But what about those times I succumb to the wickedness of my heart, to the depravity of the world, or to the lies of Satan? What about those times?
What about those times when I am devoid of strength and I do not turn to the one who has my infinite strength?
What about those times when I rely on my rational thought process, the very good gift that you have given me, instead being depended and led by that very Giver, the Spirit of God, by which I am declared to be your beloved son?
What if I want to do good things that seem to glorify you but in deepest heart, only meagerly fulfill my desire for worship when it is you, O Lord, who has set eternity into my heart so that I would be left desolated when I tried to fulfill that hole with anything else other than the Infinite God?
But you know me. You have known me before you created time. You have known me and in your knowledge of all my pain, my heartaches, my troubles, my sin, my depravity, my iniquities, you loved me. You loved me with all of your infinite being. You loved me and you created me. You take joy in me, you watch over me, and you sing over me. One day, you will come and get me so I can be with you for all of eternity.
And you have sent your Son to live when I could not live, to die when I should have died, to be buried when my sins would have soon crushed me, and to be raised to life because I have none.
And you have given me your Spirit to give me strength because I am so mortal; to give me hope when there is none in this life that is hopeful; to be conformed to look like your Son so that you can logically, reasonably, and justly declare me to be your own; and to give me not just life but the fullness of life.
You have spoken to me. You called out to me. You have said these things and so many more things so that my joy may be full,
For your great glory forevermore.
God, thank you. Thank you for loving me.
I love you.
In your Son’s awesome name, I pray this. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 15
The Psalm
Psalm 15 (CSB)
A psalm of David.1 LORD, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?
2 The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart—
3 who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,
4 who despises the one rejected by the LORD but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his word whatever the cost,
5 who does not lend his silver at interest or take a bribe against the innocent— the one who does these things will never be shaken.
The Prayer
How could I possibly worship you? I am not worthy to commune with you and be with you. I sin even now. My heart strays. My soul wanders.
Yet, you, O God, are not far from me. When I am in the wilderness, you are closer than a whisper. When I have fallen, you set me back up on solid ground and you rejoice over me with singing. When I ran away from you, you sent your Son to live the life I could not live and die in my place for my sins.
Worthiness is not a feeling. Worthiness is an absolute truth.
You have justified me because I trust your Son. You have given me your Son’s righteousness because He received my sin. You have declared me to be holy because You alone are holy. You have marked me as worthy because of the infinite worth of your Son.
I am my Beloved’s and He is mine. Forevermore.
Let me worship you. Let my life be marked in praise to Your holy name. Let my very breath be a sweet sound in your ears.
I love you, God.
In name of Your mighty Son, I pray. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 16
The Psalm
Psalm 16 (CSB)
A Miktam of David.1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you.
2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.”
3 As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones. All my delight is in them.
4 The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips.
5 LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I will bless the LORD who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
8 I always let the LORD guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely.
10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
The Prayer
I have gone everywhere. I have not found any good apart from you.
When I turn away from you or try to find not You, my sorrow and grief run deep. It crushes my hearts and buries my soul.
When I try to give life to my idols, they give nothing back because there are no other gods. And I die.
When will I realize that you alone are my All-in-all? When will I realize that you are the only One I ever need? When will I realize you are my infinite inheritance?
Oh, when I turn to you and when I peer into your lovely face, my soul awakens and my fills with gladness and joy.
You have not ignored me. You give me wisdom. You have not stripped me. You give me strength. You have not given me over to my iniquities. You have given me your soft, tender, and healthy heart. You have not left me to drown in my sorrows. You have given me your Rock to stand upon. You did not cast me into hell. You hold me in your heart. You did not give me over to sin. You have cleansed me from all unrighteousness. You have not left me for dead. You have given me true life. You have not abandoned me to sadness and grief. When I’m with you, my heart is constantly, consistently, perfectly filled joy.
I am no longer in pain. You have wiped away all my tears. You place my hand into your hand. At that moment, I will have unlimited access to your constant, consistent, perfect bliss forevermore.
I love you, Lord and all that is in me I will bless your holy name forever.
In your Son’s perfect name I pray, Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 17
The Psalm
Psalm 17 (CSB)
A prayer of David.1 LORD, hear a just cause; pay attention to my cry; listen to my prayer— from lips free of deceit.
2 Let my vindication come from you, for you see what is right.
3 You have tested my heart; you have examined me at night. You have tried me and found nothing evil; I have determined that my mouth will not sin.
4 Concerning what people do: by the words from your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps are on your paths; my feet have not slipped.
6 I call on you, God, because you will answer me; listen closely to me; hear what I say.
7 Display the wonders of your faithful love, Savior of all who seek refuge from those who rebel against your right hand.
8 Protect me as the pupil of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the wicked who treat me violently, my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They are uncaring; their mouths speak arrogantly.
11 They advance against me; now they surround me. They are determined to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion eager to tear, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Rise up, LORD! Confront him; bring him down. With your sword, save me from the wicked.
14 With your hand, LORD, save me from men, from men of the world whose portion is in this life: You fill their bellies with what you have in store; their sons are satisfied, and they leave their surplus to their children.
15 But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
The Prayer
You are God of the Universe. Holy, righteous, just. High above my idols. High above my sins. High above my faults. High above the twisted wickedness of my own heart. In no way could I have ever approach you.
But you, O Lord, abundant in mercy and rich in grace, made the way. You sent your Son to come get me. Now I am yours.
I am your son. You are my Father. You attention is quick. Your ear inclines to my voice. You heard me the first time. You know what I need. You wait for me to speak to you. You commune with me. You are unified with me. And I am with you forever.
I am your darling. I am your love.
I was once wicked. I was once violently opposed your glorious name. But you spoke to me, called to me and made me your friend.
Although your enemies try to turn against me, your Son has delivered the killing blow to sin, tragically crippled Satan and his demons, and struck the death-knell unto Death. My enemies are mortally weak. My enemies lack power. My enemies are soundly defeated.
Now, I carry out your great commission. I go forward with the command to love you and love others. By your strength, I will run this race well. One day, you will come and get me or bring me home. On that day, my heart will now finally be filled. I will be fully satisfied because I will have held my Savior’s face and kiss His face with ten thousand kisses.
I love you.
In your Son’s beautiful name, I pray. Amen.
Psalm 18 (CSB)
For the choir director. Of the servant of the LORD, David, who spoke the words of this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from the grasp of all his enemies and from the power of Saul. He said:
1 I love you, LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.
4 The ropes of death were wrapped around me; the torrents of destruction terrified me.
5 The ropes of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
6 I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
7 Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the mountains trembled; they shook because he burned with anger.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils, and consuming fire came from his mouth; coals were set ablaze by it.
9 He bent the heavens and came down, total darkness beneath his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his hiding place, dark storm clouds his canopy around him.
12 From the radiance of his presence, his clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the Most High made his voice heard.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered them; he hurled lightning bolts and routed them.
15 The depths of the sea became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed, at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he pulled me out of deep water.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out to a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; he repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not turned from my God to wickedness.
22 Indeed, I let all his ordinances guide me and have not disregarded his statutes.
23 I was blameless toward him and kept myself from my iniquity.
24 So the LORD repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 With the faithful you prove yourself faithful, with the blameless you prove yourself blameless,
26 with the pure you prove yourself pure, but with the crooked you prove yourself shrewd.
27 For you rescue an oppressed people, but you humble those with haughty eyes.
28 LORD, you light my lamp; my God illuminates my darkness.
29 With you I can attack a barricade, and with my God I can leap over a wall.
30 God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is a rock? Only our God.
32 God—he clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me securely on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation; your right hand upholds me, and your humility exalts me.
36 You make a spacious place beneath me for my steps, and my ankles do not give way.
37 I pursue my enemies and overtake them; I do not turn back until they are wiped out.
38 I crush them, and they cannot get up; they fall beneath my feet.
39 You have clothed me with strength for battle; you subdue my adversaries beneath me.
40 You have made my enemies retreat before me; I annihilate those who hate me.
41 They cry for help, but there is no one to save them— they cry to the LORD, but he does not answer them.
42 I pulverize them like dust before the wind; I trample them like mud in the streets.
43 You have freed me from the feuds among the people; you have appointed me the head of nations; a people I had not known serve me.
44 Foreigners submit to me cringing; as soon as they hear they obey me.
45 Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their fortifications.
46 The LORD lives—blessed be my rock! The God of my salvation is exalted.
47 God—he grants me vengeance and subdues peoples under me.
48 He frees me from my enemies. You exalt me above my adversaries; you rescue me from violent men.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to you among the nations, LORD; I will sing praises about your name.
50 He gives great victories to his king; he shows loyalty to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.
Praying Through: Psalm 18:1-15
The Psalm
Psalm 18:1–15 (CSB)
1 I love you, LORD, my strength.2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.
4 The ropes of death were wrapped around me; the torrents of destruction terrified me.
5 The ropes of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
6 I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
7 Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the mountains trembled; they shook because he burned with anger.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils, and consuming fire came from his mouth; coals were set ablaze by it.
9 He bent the heavens and came down, total darkness beneath his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his hiding place, dark storm clouds his canopy around him.
12 From the radiance of his presence, his clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the Most High made his voice heard.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered them; he hurled lightning bolts and routed them.
15 The depths of the sea became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed, at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
The Prayer
You are my All-in-all.
Beyond my Provider, it is by your very thought that you hold me together. By your will, I am pointed in your direction. By your great Spirit, I have strength.
You give unlimited might for this very weak man.
You put an immovable foundation beneath my weary feet.
You are my home where I can peacefully lay to rest. You are my rescuer and it is in your arms, I know I am coming home. You are my shield and my enemies’ fiery arrows lay to waste around me. You are my command and the flame around my heart burns with desire for you. You are my salvation and it is now that I am abundantly alive. You are peace and you have removed all sin in me and around me.
Now, I sing to you—I sing love songs of joy for your sweet name. I sing love songs of peace for your incredible name. I sing long songs of hope for your awesome name.
Hell has no hold on me. Sin has no clutches on me. Satan has no claim on me. Demons have no touch for me. Death has no sting for me.
O Lord, my great God, you have moved heaven, earth, and hell just to come rescue me. Only you could turn the Infinite into the finite, the spirit into flesh, the invisible visible, righteousness for sin, holiness for filth, justice for corruption, love for my sake, and Word incarnate.
You rescued me because You loved me. I have done nothing to deserve your love or not even your glance. But before the mountains were formed, you saw me when I was at my worst. You saw me when I lusted after women. You saw me when I craved apathy and laziness. You saw me when I lied. You saw me when I stole. You saw me when I cursed your name. You saw me. You saw me in my sin and you knew me. You knew me and you loved me. You loved me and you chose me. You chose me and you called me. When you called out to me, you saved me.
I love you, Lord and it is in Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 18:16-27
The Psalm
Psalm 18:16–27 (CSB)
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he pulled me out of deep water.17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out to a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; he repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not turned from my God to wickedness.
22 Indeed, I let all his ordinances guide me and have not disregarded his statutes.
23 I was blameless toward him and kept myself from my iniquity.
24 So the LORD repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 With the faithful you prove yourself faithful, with the blameless you prove yourself blameless,
26 with the pure you prove yourself pure, but with the crooked you prove yourself shrewd.
27 For you rescue an oppressed people, but you humble those with haughty eyes.
The Prayer
My hands are not clean. My hands are washed in my own sin. They stink of feces and dung. If you judge me according to what I have done, then surely I am damned!
What hope do I have in myself and the works that I have done? I have nothing to give you, God.
But you knew. You knew and you came to be born as a man like me. But unlike me, you lived the perfect spot less life. Why, so that you would live? No, you lived the perfect life so that you might die so that I may live.
You alone have kept your ways of perfection and goodness. You alone abided by your rules. You alone kept your statutes. You alone are blameless. You alone are free from guilt. You perfectly followed the laws of holiness because every single law speaks of you. You alone are the righteousness. You alone are the source of righteousness. Therefore, you are my righteousness.
Where else can I go? You alone have the words of eternal life.
Thank you for you saving me.
I love you.
In your great name, I pray. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 18:28-30
The Psalm
Psalm 18:28–30 (CSB)
28 LORD, you light my lamp; my God illuminates my darkness.29 With you I can attack a barricade, and with my God I can leap over a wall.
30 God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
The Prayer
You are my Way,
I am a man with little mercy. My life is filled with shame. My heart is ridden with cancerous sin. My will longs for the wide path well-traveled.
I cannot think I am better than a prideful man because I am that prideful man.
But you, O my Abba, have cleared one singular particular definite path to you and that is through your precious Son, my Christ my Savior and King.
If I am not humble, then please humble my soul. If my heart is hard, then take mine and give me yours. If sin crouches, then remove it from me and give me your Son’s righteousness.
To you, there is but one way. To life, fullness of joy, and pleasures evermore, there is only one way. To complete satisfaction, there is only one way and His name is Jesus Christ.
I run to you. Protect me.
God help me.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 18:31–45
The Psalm
Psalm 18:31–45 (CSB)
31 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is a rock? Only our God.32 God—he clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me securely on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation; your right hand upholds me, and your humility exalts me.
36 You make a spacious place beneath me for my steps, and my ankles do not give way.
37 I pursue my enemies and overtake them; I do not turn back until they are wiped out.
38 I crush them, and they cannot get up; they fall beneath my feet.
39 You have clothed me with strength for battle; you subdue my adversaries beneath me.
40 You have made my enemies retreat before me; I annihilate those who hate me.
41 They cry for help, but there is no one to save them— they cry to the LORD, but he does not answer them.
42 I pulverize them like dust before the wind; I trample them like mud in the streets.
43 You have freed me from the feuds among the people; you have appointed me the head of nations; a people I had not known serve me.
44 Foreigners submit to me cringing; as soon as they hear they obey me.
45 Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their fortifications.
The Prayer
Who is like you, my Lord?
Who is like my God?
The one who has saved me and never abandoned me. The one who is my shield when fiery arrows have scorched the skies. The one who has called me righteous and equips me according to his own righteousness?
The one who has given me the speed to run to him in times of trouble? The one who has set me upon the mountaintop to see his awesome glory?
I have been trained but not by my own doing but by the teacher who will see my training till the end. I stand tall but not by my own strength but by the strength of your mighty hand. I have been made great but not my own pithy efforts but made great by your sweet gentle love, grace, and mercy.
My enemies, they have nothing on me. Their greatest numbers amass in vain. Their weapons cannot take my life. They battle without purpose because my King has soundly, completely, definitely, perfectly conquered them when He went to the cross and gave his life up so that I might live.
My foot presses against Death’s neck as I can hear his skull grind into the dirt beneath him. He waves at me but he has no power because he rules nothing.
You have given me this power. You alone have given me life.
I love you, Lord.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 18:46–50
The Psalm
Psalm 18:46–50 (CSB)
46 The LORD lives—blessed be my rock! The God of my salvation is exalted.47 God—he grants me vengeance and subdues peoples under me.
48 He frees me from my enemies. You exalt me above my adversaries; you rescue me from violent men.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to you among the nations, LORD; I will sing praises about your name.
50 He gives great victories to his king; he shows loyalty to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.
The Prayer
I was once so far from you. I was once lost. I was once your sworn enemy. Instead of casting me out, you sought me out. Instead of leaving me lost, you found me. Instead of leaving me to die, you found me and gave me life. Instead being at war with me, you call me friend.
You are my only hope. You are my life. You are my salvation. You alone hold the words of eternal life.
Now my enemies are not whom I see but whom I do not see. And you have handled my enemies. You slew them and you conquered them—once and for all.
You are the champion. You are the conqueror.
Now I walk firmly in your freedom.
Now I am free to see you, hear you, be with you, talk with you, love you and worship you all the days of my life.
All of this was made possible from your sovereign grace by the power of Your Spirit through Your Son whom poured his life out for us.
My God, I love you. My Spirit, I love you. My Lord, I love you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 19
The Psalm
Psalm 19 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David.1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.
3 There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
4 Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming from his home; it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
6 It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
11 In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13 Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
The Prayer
Yet, you transported from the spiritual to the material. You cut across space and time. You personally opened my eyes, gave words for my throat, opened my eyes, filled my heart, and gave me understanding so that I may know you. You gave me rest for my soul, removed the curse from my tongue, made me your son and you glorified me.
You called out to me so that I might have life. You spoke to me because I am your friend. You whisper to me because you are always near to me.
Your words are without comparison. There is no other word that actually raised me from the dead. There is no other name by which I am saved. There is no other for you alone have the words to eternal life.
My Lord and God. My Savior. My Redeemer. My Father. My Christ. My Spirit.
My words still fall short. My heart is still so weak. But what little life I have and with what few words I can say, let them be my worship to you.
I love you, Lord. With all that I am, I will forever bless your holy name.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 20
The Psalm
Psalm 20 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David.1 May the LORD answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.
3 May he remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. Selah
4 May he give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.
5 Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God. May the LORD fulfill all your requests.
6 Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories from his right hand.
7 Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm.
9 LORD, give victory to the king! May he answer us on the day that we call.
The Prayer
If I cry out for you, will you answer me?
If you alone made the provisions and the sacrifices, will you save me?
Even if I don’t understand you, will you reach for me?
I need you, Lord. I don’t even have the wisdom to reach my hands up to you.
I want you, God, and my heart is still filled with sin and wickedness.
I have you, my Lord and my God, because I have your Spirit within me all because of what Your Son has done for me.
Help me, God, help me.
Save me.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 21
The Psalm
Psalm 21 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David.1 LORD, the king finds joy in your strength. How greatly he rejoices in your victory!
2 You have given him his heart’s desire and have not denied the request of his lips. Selah
3 For you meet him with rich blessings; you place a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days forever and ever.
5 His glory is great through your victory; you confer majesty and splendor on him.
6 You give him blessings forever; you cheer him with joy in your presence.
7 For the king relies on the LORD; through the faithful love of the Most High he is not shaken.
8 Your hand will capture all your enemies; your right hand will seize those who hate you.
9 You will make them burn like a fiery furnace when you appear; the LORD will engulf them in his wrath, and fire will devour them.
10 You will wipe their progeny from the earth and their offspring from the human race.
11 Though they intend to harm you and devise a wicked plan, they will not prevail.
12 Instead, you will put them to flight when you ready your bowstrings to shoot at them.
13 Be exalted, LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.
The Prayer
My Lord and My God,
My focus is far from you, the one who sets up Kings and puts them down. I have been distracted by the choosing of kings rather to place my focus on the King of kings.
It is in you, O Lord, where my strength resides
my salvation is present
my heart's desire
my soul's fulfillment.
Be my provision. Be my grace. Be my mercy. Be my life. Be my zeal. Be my might. Be my glory.
Bless me, O Lord.
Smile upon me.
Help me to trust in you, your faithfulness, and your steadfast love.
Hold me in your hands.
Protect me from the enemy of my soul.
My life is yours, O God. I love you with all of my heart.
Amen.
Psalm 22
For the choir director: according to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A psalm of David.
1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning?
2 My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, by night, yet I have no rest.
3 But you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you; they trusted, and you rescued them.
5 They cried to you and were set free; they trusted in you and were not disgraced.
6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me; they sneer and shake their heads:
8 “He relies on the LORD; let him save him; let the LORD rescue him, since he takes pleasure in him.”
9 It was you who brought me out of the womb, making me secure at my mother’s breast.
10 I was given over to you at birth; you have been my God from my mother’s womb.
11 Don’t be far from me, because distress is near and there’s no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me; strong ones of Bashan encircle me.
13 They open their mouths against me— lions, mauling and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax, melting within me.
15 My strength is dried up like baked clay; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You put me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me.
18 They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.
19 But you, LORD, don’t be far away. My strength, come quickly to help me.
20 Rescue my life from the sword, my only life from the power of these dogs.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth, from the horns of wild oxen. You answered me!
22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will praise you in the assembly.
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! All you descendants of Israel, revere him!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred the torment of the oppressed. He did not hide his face from him but listened when he cried to him for help.
25 I will give praise in the great assembly because of you; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear you.
26 The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him. May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before you,
28 for kingship belongs to the LORD; he rules the nations.
29 All who prosper on earth will eat and bow down; all those who go down to the dust will kneel before him— even the one who cannot preserve his life.
30 Their descendants will serve him; the next generation will be told about the Lord.
31 They will come and declare his righteousness; to a people yet to be born they will declare what he has done.
Praying Through: Psalm 22:1-5
The Psalm
Psalm 22:1–5 (CSB)
1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning?2 My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, by night, yet I have no rest.
3 But you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you; they trusted, and you rescued them.
5 They cried to you and were set free; they trusted in you and were not disgraced.
The Prayer
Where are you?
I am in trouble!
Sin and wickedness have surrounded me.
- Everything goes dark and cold.
- Satan and his minions
- look upon my flesh with lust and hunger.
Temptations are too much.
- I cannot do battle.
- My muscles are weak, small, and frail.
I cry and scream: HELP ME, O GOD!
But you are my powerful Champion.
- You are the people’s Savior.
- You are invincible.
- You are forever strong.
I have praised you in the past
- and my lips shall sing of your praises
- for as long as I draw breath and beyond.
Your people before me
- trusted you
- and I trust you now.
- You have never failed me.
- Even when there have been moments
- when I didn’t know your goodness,
- you were always good.
You have rescued my grandmother and my dad.
Now rescue me!
Save me, O God.
My life is in your hands.
Praying Through: Psalm 22:12-18
The Psalm
Psalm 22:12–18 (CSB)
12 Many bulls surround me; strong ones of Bashan encircle me.13 They open their mouths against me— lions, mauling and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax, melting within me.
15 My strength is dried up like baked clay; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You put me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me.
18 They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.
The Prayer
My enemies are on all sides
- and their attacks are relentless,
- you are my protector.
When lions clamp down on my guts,
- you are the teeth-breaker and my healer.
When I am buried,
- you call me out of the ground.
When I was dead in my sins,
- you lived, died, and rose alive
- so that I might live.
You have never left me.
You have always been with me
- even when I did not know nor loved you.
You have always been there.
And I will forever worship you, my God.
Praying Through: Psalm 22:19-21
The Psalm
Psalm 22:19–21 (CSB)
19 But you, LORD, don’t be far away. My strength, come quickly to help me.20 Rescue my life from the sword, my only life from the power of these dogs.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth, from the horns of wild oxen. You answered me!
The Prayer
Who are you,
- my Lord,
- whose glory fills the entire earth?
- Whether I am in the heavens or make my bed in hell,
- you are there with me.
- If I ascend the mountain of your glory
- or wander in the desert of the wilderness,
- you are face to face and closer than a whisper.
My God,
- you are never far!
- You are with me!
- Always.
- While I might feel
- desperate
- or despair
- sadness
- or anger
- or happiness,
- you are with me
- and within me.
You are at work in my soul and heart.
Because you are at work,
- I know that it is you
- that gives me true life
- and the fullness thereof.
For once I was lost,
- now found.
Blind,
- now I can see.
Deaf,
- now can hear.
Mute,
- now preach your gospel.
Ignorant of unbelief,
- now I know you.
Once dead,
- now fully alive.
You’ve sent your Son to die
- in my place for my sins
- so I can be with you.
- His cross is where
- my enemies were trampled underfoot
- and their teeth shattered.
- It is his empty grave
- where the bulls’ necks are broken
- by burying my sin
- and to stay buried forevermore.
You alone are worthy of my praise. Blessed be your name forever!.
Praying Through: Psalm 22:22-24
The Psalm
Psalm 22:22–24 (CSB)
22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will praise you in the assembly.23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! All you descendants of Israel, revere him!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred the torment of the oppressed. He did not hide his face from him but listened when he cried to him for help.
The Prayer
There is none like you!
You are God who sits high above all of my sins,
- my hardness,
- my wickedness,
- my trespasses and my calamity.
You are exalted far above all of my gods.
But in your steadfast love,
- abounding grace,
- and tender mercies,
- you saved me! You sent your son,
- Jesus Christ,
- to come live
- and die for me.
More than that,
- your Son rose from the grave
- and conquered all of the sins,
- hell,
- Satan,
- demons,
- and death once and for all.
Now I live to you
- and for you
- and with you
- and you are with me
- and in me forever.
What can I do
- but give you thanks
- and sing praises to you for all of my days?
What else can I do
- but tell the world
- that you alone are God
- and you alone are mighty to save?
I will tell the world
- that if they turn their face towards you,
- you will bring them in and you will save them.
Because you are God.
Praying Through: Psalm 22:25-31
The Psalm
Psalm 22:25–31 (CSB)
25 I will give praise in the great assembly because of you; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear you.26 The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him. May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before you,
28 for kingship belongs to the LORD; he rules the nations.
29 All who prosper on earth will eat and bow down; all those who go down to the dust will kneel before him— even the one who cannot preserve his life.
30 Their descendants will serve him; the next generation will be told about the Lord.
31 They will come and declare his righteousness; to a people yet to be born they will declare what he has done.
The Prayer
Let my words
- and my songs be a sweetness to your ears.
For I know
- that you sit on the throne of our praises
- because you are the God who alone saves.
I know
- that not only are you willing
- and able to save,
- you
- and you alone are the only one who is mighty to save.
So I praise you with all of my breath
- and strength
- and life.
And you have commissioned me
- to go tell everyone
- everywhere of everything
- that you have done.
- That if they turn to you,
- you will save them,
- even in their deepest,
- darkest despair.
So I preach of you
- and your great gospel.
Until every knee bows
- and every tongue confess
- that Jesus Christ is Lord,
- my Rock,
- and my Redeemer forever.
Praying Through: Psalm 22:6-11
The Psalm
Psalm 22:6–11 (CSB)
6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.7 Everyone who sees me mocks me; they sneer and shake their heads:
8 “He relies on the LORD; let him save him; let the LORD rescue him, since he takes pleasure in him.”
9 It was you who brought me out of the womb, making me secure at my mother’s breast.
10 I was given over to you at birth; you have been my God from my mother’s womb.
11 Don’t be far from me, because distress is near and there’s no one to help.
The Prayer
Who am I
- that I have been rejected a million times
- and despised a million times more?
You say,
- “Speak of my love”
- and it falls on deaf ears.
- You say, “Speak of my power”
- and it means little to the strong.
- You say, “Speak of my glory”
- and their eyes remain blind.
However, you saved me.
- You made me with your hands.
- You are the one who started my heartbeat.
- More than that,
- when I was wicked and evil
- and when I despised your holy name,
- you did nothing
- but see me
- and let your grace
- and love fall on me.
Once more,
- you were always my God.
- Even after my mother abandoned me
- and while my father sought to destroy me,
- You were my God.
Even when I didn’t know you,
- your righteousness and holiness
- tainted my walking corpse
- and I tasted of your power.
But your mercies come quickly:
- you followed that up with your heart in place of mine.
Be ever so close to me.
- Be the whisper that draws me out--
- yes, even into the wilderness.
- Because if I have You,
- then I have everything I need.
Amen.
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need.
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:1a The Lord Is My Shepherd
The Psalm
Psalm 23:1a (CSB) The LORD is my shepherd
The Prayer
You are my Good Shepherd. You fled the ninety-nine
- in order to come rescue me,
- when I could not possibly rescue myself. You saved me
- from certain damnation,
- you’ve rescued me from the slaughter. You’ve taken all of my sin,
- and you let the wrath of Father
- fall upon your heart You bled out for me,
- so that I might live forever. Lord, keep me in your care,
- I pray that you keep good shepherds
- to care and feed me.
- none that will run away
- at the first sight of danger
- none that will be swayed
- to and fro by every wind of doctrine
- but stay the course because
- you are their strength and resolve. I praise your holy name ever.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:1b I Have What I Need
The Psalm
Psalm 23:1b (CSB) I have what I need.
The Prayer
I thank you for your perfect provision.
You are my Good Father in heaven
- and because I am your child,
- you have always provided for me.
When I was younger, I wanted many things
- but you did not provide them.
But looking back,
- those things I wanted
- would have harmed me
- or cause me to turn away from you.
But what you have always done
- is gave something even better,
- which turned out to be actually good.
It is by your hand alone
- that I have shelter over my head,
- food in my stomach,
- water upon my dried tongue.
It is by your strength
- I am able to stand
- work
- seek out accomplishments
- which is the work you have provided
- for me to do for your glory.
But more than that,
- you are my All-in-all
- because you gave me everything
- when you gave me yourself
- in Christ Jesus my Lord.
Since I have your love,
- your Son,
- your Spirit,
- you have given me so much
- that heaven and earth
- can give me no more.
I will praise you
- with every single breath you give me.
And I will love you
- with all the love you have given me.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:2a He Lets Me Lie Down in Green Pastures
The Psalm
Psalm 23:2a (CSB) He lets me lie down in green pastures
The Prayer
You are the Prince of Peace.
Where you are,
- there I find satisfaction of my wearied soul
- and find perfect peace where I can truly rest.
Apart from you,
- I die and I perish.
- Away from you,
- I am only tormented by confusion and despair.
- Without you,
- there is nothing
- but destructions
- by my own hands
- and by everything around me.
But you, O Lord,
- call me to enter
- through you and abide in you.
- Once I am in your good graces,
- you take the back-breaking weight of sin off me
- and place it upon you.
- Once more, you lay your light,
- featherweight righteousness upon me.
- I am no longer under crushing condemnation
- nor your furious wrath
- but yet,
- within the protection
- of your great arm
- and the coolness
- within your great fortress,
- that is the Rock of Ages.
Once more,
- you are the truth.
- While my heart strays
- and wanders from you,
- you are the Good Shepherd
- who would gladly chase me down
- and bring home over and over again.
- Because you alone have the words of eternal life,
- I have nowhere else to go but to come home with you.
I thank you
- for healing my broken heart and mind.
I thank you
- for opening my eyes, ears, and mouth of your glory and goodness.
I thank you
- for giving me strength for you are Christ Jesus my Lord forever.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:2b He Leads Me Beside Quiet Waters
The Psalm
Psalm 23:2b (CSB) he leads me beside quiet waters.
The Prayer
You are the fountain of true life. I am dead without you.
- It is not that
- I can find this water on my own. For I am lost
- and, my soul is dried-up and dead. I have no wisdom,
- strength,
- or spirit to find you.
But you, O Lord, rescued me.
You have brought me into your life
- and in your life alone,
- I am fully alive. My soul is no longer dried in sin
- but restored,
- covered,
- and filled with your forever grace.
God, please keep me close
- so that I stay refreshed
- and satisfied in all of life.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:3a He Renews My Life
The Psalm
Psalm 23:3 (CSB) He renews my life
The Prayer
I perish without you.
I cannot live without you.
Apart from you, the hole in my inner being remained infinitely empty.
Without you, I strived
- and pushed
- and pulled
- and made idols
- and did whatever I need to do in order to fill my soul.
But all of it comes up empty.
But you, O Lord, not only fills my heart to the brim but gives my soul b
- and new life.
Now, I run after you.
Now I walk with you.
Now you are with me
- and I am with you forever.
Lord, give me the fullness of your Spirit so I might walk in your statues
- and obey your commands.
More than that, that I would have the strength to do you what you have called me to do.
For my joy
- and your glory.
Forevermore.
I love you.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:3b He Leads Me Along The Right Paths For His Name’s Sake
The Psalm
Psalm 23:3b (CSB) he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
The Prayer
I am often reminded of my sinful ways of the past. As the vines grew up from my heart and slowly and surely tightened around my neck as I continuously die without thought
But you, my God, broke the spell of the sin over my life.
But time after time, I see those weeds grow. I feel the cancer thriving in my heart. I sense the sin that crouches for me and waits to pierce my soul with his poison.
But you see it, too,
You come down and burn those weeds with extreme prejudice. You come in like the perfect surgeon, with a laser scalpel and burn away those cells, leaving only a soft and tender heart. You come into your pasture and violently bash in the head of the serpent with the heel of your foot.
You have sent your Spirit to walk, lead, and guide me through the darkest valleys. But I never fear. You are my Lord and God. Protector. Giver. Beloved.
I praise and adore you forever.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:4a Even When I Go Through The Darkest Valley
The Psalm
Psalm 23:4a (CSB) Even when I go through the darkest valley
The Prayer
How many times have you rescued me from not only eternal death but certain death and doom?
How many times have I sinned that did and did not lead to my death?
The answer is countless. The truth is infinite.
But yet, you are my great God and Savior! I have fallen into the abyssmal pit too many times to count. But because of your grace upon grace, you were deeper still! You placed your hands underneath my dead body and rose me up again.
I have walked through, no, lived in the valley of the shadow of death. But it was death’s stench that engulfed me but it was your sweet scent of your gospel because you are the lily of the valley.
Never cease to rescue me. I will fall infinitely times more. I will need you infinitely and once more.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:4b My Only Fear
The Psalm
Psalm 23:4b (CSB) I fear no danger
The Prayer
Death, sin, hell, and Satan
- I still fear them
- I still alarmed at their presence
- I am still scared
Yet, I am reminded
- that you came into our world
- not full of power
- but filled with vulnerability
- at the risk of your life
- and the lives of your parents
- you could not protect yourself
- but your family were at the mercies
- of your Father's great sovereignty.
And yet, I am further reminded
- because you gave up your life
- because you handed your body over to be crucified
- you defeated my fears
- you have conquered my actual enemies
I fear no evil
- I fear you
- You are my King and my God
- You alone have the power
- to save me
- from despair.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:4c You Are With Me
The Psalm
Psalm 23:4c (CSB) for you are with me
The Prayer
Even when I was dead,
- you called my name.
Even when I was lost,
- you found me.
Even when I was blind,
- you touched my eyes
- and opened them to see.
Even when I was deaf,
- you opened them to hear.
Even when I was hard-hearted,
- you took my heart of stone
- and gave me your tender heart.
Even when I couldn’t know you,
- you gave me Your Spirit.
Even when I am in the wilderness,
- you are closer to me than a whisper.
You are my God. I will adore and worship you forever.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:4d The Comfort of Your Power
The Psalm
Psalm 23:4d (CSB) your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
The Prayer
It is the might and strength of your protection on my life and heart that gives me peace.
That no other thing in all of creation can ever separate me from you in the name of your Son, Christ Jesus my Lord.
Nothing ever compares to you. You alone are powerful and worthy.
Thank you for protecting me.
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for calling me your own.
And now I am safe because I will get to be with you forever.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:5a Circumstances Abound
The Psalm
Psalm 23:5a (CSB) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
The Prayer
I have been crushed and
- discarded a hundred times.
- But, I have warred against you
- thousand more.
Yet, you sent your Son to live
- and die for me.
And now I live for you.
I will never understand
- why you saved me,
- but I only know that
- because I have sin much
- You have forgiven much.
Now I know you let me sit
- at your table,
- when I should been
- condemned for treason.
You knew I was an enemy,
- and you then declared me
- as your friend.
My God, remind me always that,
- I do not do battle
- against prisoners of war,
- but against the rulers
- who imprisoned them.
Give me your almighty strength,
- and your invincible armour,
- and let me help
- you set the captives free.
In your Son’s name I pray. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:5b The Gift of Your Spirit
The Psalm
Psalm 23:5b (CSB) you anoint my head with oil
The Prayer
Because of everything your Son has done for me,
- I now walk in the power of Your Spirit.
He leads me.
- He guides me.
- He teaches me.
He reminds me of what You have said.
- He reminds me of my righteousness.
- He reminds me that I am your son.
More so than that,
- He is the seal upon my heart
- and the promise of your strength.
And because He dwells in me,
- I fear no death.
Because he is the same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead.
And because He is in me,
- I have the fullness of life
- I am truly alive.
I am holy,
- righteous,
- just;
- loved,
- and continuous under your grace and mercy.
Because of your anointing on my life.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:5c My Cup Overflows
The Psalm
Psalm 23:5c (CSB) my cup overflows
The Prayer
I am reminded of all of your sweet blessings.
You are my inheritance.
- You are my portion.
- You are my lot.
Because you are my Christ,
- the Son of God,
- in whom is my All-of-all.
My God,
- you have called me into your family
- and I share my inheritance.
But just as you drank from the cup,
- I gladly
- and with great joy drink from the cup.
I am yours
- and your are my Beloved forever.
Thank you for saving me.
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for being my everything.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:6a Surely Goodness
The Psalm
Psalm 23:6a (CSB) Only goodness
The Prayer
I am reminded what Christ declared: You alone are good.
You are the source of all good but my heart flees and wanders from you
But in your Word,
- you declared me holy
- because you are holy.
- you declared me righteous
- because Christ is righteous
- you declared me justified
- because you alone justified.
Then because of who You are,
- I am awashed in your grace upon grace
- wake up to new mercies every morning
- abounded in your steadfast love.
I praise you for your goodness.
I praise you
- because you define what good is
- and we do not.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 23:6b Mercies
The Psalm
Psalm 23:6b (CSB) faithful love
The Prayer
Tender mercies,
- you have given me
- every single day that I life. I was so far from you
- from your will
- and your flock
- and your heart.
But I was never more
- than a mere breath away
- from your mercies for me.
Even in my wickedness,
- your kindness towards me
- was your continuous call
- for me to come home to you.
My God,
- Keep me close to your heart
- and do not let me stray.
- What little I know of my heart,
- I know it wants to flee from you.
You, my God,
- keep your children close.
- Never let me go.
- Do what you must
- so I can spend all of my days
- with you.
I love you, Lord.
- and I lift my voice
- to worship you.
- Forevermore.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:6c You Will Always Be With Me
The Psalm
Psalm 23:6c (CSB) will pursue me
The Prayer
Your Word stands true.
For you have declared that,
- your law is perfect
- and it revives my soul.
Your testimony is sure,
- turning my foolishness
- into wisdom.
Moreover, your precepts are always right,
- my heart rejoices.
Your commandments are pure,
- now my eyes can now see.
To fear you is my righteousness,
- I will be with you forever.
Once more, your rules are truth,
- and right-standing altogether.
I desire you, O Lord,
- more so than all the riches.
I love you, my God,
- and you are sweeter than honey,
- and the drippings of
- a honeycomb.
If you say you have spoken to me,
- then you will abide me forever.
If you say your Son died for me
- then I will live to you forever.
If you say your Spirit has sealed me,
- then I am yours forever. Be exalted in my praise,
- my Lord and God.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:6d All The Days of My Life
The Psalm
Psalm 23:6d (CSB) all the days of my life
The Prayer
Your Son has shed his blood for me,
- so that I now believe.
Your Son has given up his life,
- so that I might live forever.
You have taken my sin-filled heart,
- and my wonton desires,
- and replaced them with your own heart,
- and my desire is only for you.
Because you have done it all,
- to save me to yourself,
- I am yours.
Come make your home in me,
- Lord Jesus, come into my heart.
- Spirit of God, fill my life.
Make your home within me,
- so that I might not sin against thee.
Praying Through: Psalm 23:6e You Are My Home Forever
The Psalm
Psalm 23:6e (CSB) I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live.
The Prayer
You were mindful of me,
- before the foundations of the world
- were formed by you.
You did not merely saw,
- but you knew me intimately
- from the inside out.
You knew that my heart
- was desperately sick
- filled with sin
- and far from you.
Yet, I was formed by your loving hands
- inside my mother's womb.
- You have been my Lord
- since I have been at my mother's breast.
I was a beast before you.
- I defiled your holy name.
- I made war with your throne.
- I bastardized your saving grace.
Nonetheless, you held me in your hands,
- you alone rerouted my destiny.
You've set your Son
- to live
- to die
- to rise
- to ascend to glory
- so that I would be saved
- perfectly
- completely
- totally
- infinitely.
Once I saw your glory
- I would have been content
- to be a day in your house
- a post at your door
- to eat crumbs from your table
- to do as you command
- because from everlasting
- to everlasting
- you are God,
But you were never content nor satisfied
- unless I rest upon your chest
- to rejoice in your glory
- to dance in your joy
- to lie still in your peace
- to live in your power.
And so you brought me in,
- gave me your Son's own robe
- signet upon my finger
- gospel upon my feet
- seal upon my heart
- a seat at your table
- a place in your heart
- a whisper in my ear
- in your home.
Because my God,
- you are my home.
- Where you lead me,
- I will follow.
- Because it is there,
- I will be home with you.
Forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 24
The Psalm
Psalm 24 (CSB)
A psalm of David.1 The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD;
2 for he laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not appealed to what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who inquire of him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD of Armies, he is the King of glory. Selah
The Prayer
All of Creation is yours.
- It belongs to you,
- And you rule overall.
Yet, despite my own wickedness,
- and corruption
- you sought me.
- You would even descend to become man.
- So that in you,
- you would be my righteousness.
You are the Worthy Lamb who was slain.
- Only you, my Lord, can open the gates of heaven.
- Only you, Jesus, can set the captives free.
- Only you, my Redeemer, saved a sinner like me.
I will worship you alone
- for salvation belongs to you alone
- for you are the mighty one who saves.
Who are you, my Lord?
- You are the King of glory
- Forevermore.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 25
The Psalm
Psalm 25 (CSB)
Of David.1 LORD, I appeal to you.
2 My God, I trust in you. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me.
3 No one who waits for you will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced.
4 Make your ways known to me, LORD; teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your compassion and your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion; in keeping with your faithful love, remember me because of your goodness, LORD.
8 The LORD is good and upright; therefore he shows sinners the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
10 All the LORD’s ways show faithful love and truth to those who keep his covenant and decrees.
11 LORD, for the sake of your name, forgive my iniquity, for it is immense.
12 Who is this person who fears the LORD? He will show him the way he should choose.
13 He will live a good life, and his descendants will inherit the land.
14 The secret counsel of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he reveals his covenant to them.
15 My eyes are always on the LORD, for he will pull my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am alone and afflicted.
17 The distresses of my heart increase; bring me out of my sufferings.
18 Consider my affliction and trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies; they are numerous, and they hate me violently.
20 Guard me and rescue me; do not let me be disgraced, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and what is right watch over me, for I wait for you.
22 God, redeem Israel, from all its distresses.
The Prayer
My enemies have long shamed me
- and I have been beaten to death.
- I have decided, "My Lord is not for me,
- I have been forsaken."
"There is nothing left for me,
- there is none I am call to.
- Let me waste away to death
- and turn back into dust."
But You, O Lord, have been my God,
- since before I was in my mother's womb.
- Since then, I have been hurt and afflicted,
- left confused and driven to desperation.
- I was throughly convinced,
- It was better for me to be stillborn.
My God, you are my Rescuer and Redeemer.
- There is none like you.
- You do not simply remove me from evil,
- but you bring me high and lifted up to you.
And I have seen your glory,
- and my life I dismiss as shit,
- in comparison of knowing you,
- and being called your beloved.
Do not stop rescuing me.
- Keep me in your presence.
- And draw my heart towards you.
Praying Through: Psalm 26
The Psalm
Psalm 26 (CSB)
Of David.1 Vindicate me, LORD, because I have lived with integrity and have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Test me, LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind.
3 For your faithful love guides me, and I live by your truth.
4 I do not sit with the worthless or associate with hypocrites.
5 I hate a crowd of evildoers, and I do not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, LORD,
7 raising my voice in thanksgiving and telling about your wondrous works.
8 LORD, I love the house where you dwell, the place where your glory resides.
9 Do not destroy me along with sinners, or my life along with men of bloodshed
10 in whose hands are evil schemes and whose right hands are filled with bribes.
11 But I live with integrity; redeem me and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground; I will bless the LORD in the assemblies.
The Prayer
You are my Lord,
- the defender of my heart
- the rescuer of my joy
- the protector of my life.
The world, life, Satan, and sin,
- might circle me
- might entrap me
- might try to take my life.
But you, O Lord, are my strength and shield.
- my ever present help
- my healing in my gaping wounds.
I do not be so presumptuous
- that I have anything good before you
- that my heart is upright in your presence
- that any of my deeds are good for you.
You are the one who set His affections upon me
- the one whose hands grabbed me
- the one whose strength pulled me close
- the one whose love will never let me go.
Be thou my righteousness forever.
- It is only you that I trust.
Psalm 27
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army deploys against me, my heart will not be afraid; though a war breaks out against me, I will still be confident.
4 I have asked one thing from the LORD; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the LORD and seeking him in his temple.
5 For he will conceal me in his shelter in the day of adversity; he will hide me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
6 Then my head will be high above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 LORD, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
8 My heart says this about you: “Seek his face.” LORD, I will seek your face.
9 Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or abandon me, God of my salvation.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD cares for me.
11 Because of my adversaries, show me your way, LORD, and lead me on a level path.
12 Do not give me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing violence.
13 I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the LORD.
Praying Through: Psalm 27:1-3
The Psalm
Psalm 27 (CSB)
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army deploys against me, my heart will not be afraid; though a war breaks out against me, I will still be confident.
The Prayer
Countless times, I lie in wait in darkness and despair. Even when I knew you and was known by you, I have never seen such misery. It did feel as though everything was against me and I knew no wait out.
But you, O my God, did not abandoned me. You did not leave me in hell. Even when I was scared and wanted to run away, you were not like other fathers that wait for their kids to come back. You pursued me. You reached out to me. You sent your prophets to speak life into these dry, dead bones. My Lord, I knew in part and now in whole: Salvation belongs to you alone for you are the mighty one who saves. I might forget sometimes but you are so good and loving to reach out again and again and call my name. I belong to you, King Jesus. Come rescue me.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 27:11-12
The Psalm
Psalm 27 (CSB)
11 Because of my adversaries, show me your way, LORD, and lead me on a level path.
12 Do not give me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing violence.
The Prayer
My enemies have been numerous,
- and they attack me relentless. They do not rest when I am sleeping,
- they even attack me in my dreams.
My scars run deep,
- my bones break. But you, O Lord, are my healer and my restorer.
- You sent your Son
- to care for the sick and wounded.
- Be attentive to my pain
- and I will rejoice before you. You are the sweet love of my life forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 27:13-14
The Psalm
Psalm 27 (CSB)
13 I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the LORD.
The Prayer
I will worship you
- with all of my days.
You are my King and my God.
- and there is none like you.
You called me to wait,
- and wait upon you, I will.
Be blessed, O my Lord.
Praying Through: Psalm 27:4-6
The Psalm
Psalm 27 (CSB)
4 I have asked one thing from the LORD; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the LORD and seeking him in his temple.
5 For he will conceal me in his shelter in the day of adversity; he will hide me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
6 Then my head will be high above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the LORD.
The Prayer
Who has been my shield
- and my armour
- of my life?
Who has been my home
- my roof and my foundation
- of my worth?
Who has been the sanctuary
- the keeper of the fire
- and my spirit inside of me?
You, O Lord, are my only one
- and my heart's desire
- and I long to worship you.
Save me, my God,
- and keep me close.
- My heart keeps trying to run away,
- from the only Father I have ever known.
How many times
- have I dashed from your presence?
How many times
- must I run away from your love?
But you are not only my Protector
- but my Rescuer.
I have sinned all the more
- but you give grace and love even still
- and you have redeemed my life.
- Not because anything that I have done
- but all because of what your Son has done for me.
I praise you, God
- and praise your holy name forever. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 27:7-10
The Psalm
Psalm 27 (CSB)
7 LORD, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
8 My heart says this about you: “Seek his face.” LORD, I will seek your face.
9 Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or abandon me, God of my salvation.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD cares for me.
The Prayer
Every single adult who were suppose to love me and care for me
- did not.
My father raped me. My mother abandoned me. My grandmother threw me to the wolves. My step-mother neglected and beat me.
But you, O Lord, have never stopped loving me,
- even when everybody else has.
You have called me into this world,
- only to glorify you.
You have declared that I am in the world and not of the world.
- so let the world become dark and grotesque in my eyes
- so that my eyes would stare deeply in your glorious light.
My God, save me.
- take me home
- to be with you forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 28
The Psalm
Psalm 28 (CSB)
Of David.1 LORD, I call to you; my rock, do not be deaf to me. If you remain silent to me, I will be like those going down to the Pit.
2 Listen to the sound of my pleading when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with the evildoers, who speak in friendly ways with their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.
4 Repay them according to what they have done— according to the evil of their deeds. Repay them according to the work of their hands; give them back what they deserve.
5 Because they do not consider what the LORD has done or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and not rebuild them.
6 Blessed be the LORD, for he has heard the sound of my pleading.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to him with my song.
8 The LORD is the strength of his people; he is a stronghold of salvation for his anointed.
9 Save your people, bless your possession, shepherd them, and carry them forever.
The Prayer
How many times, my God,
- must you rescue me?
How many times, O Lord,
- will you come running
- when I call your name?
But I am wicked and violent man,
- and violence has me surrounded on all sides?
But you, O my Lord, rescued me
- saved me
- because you loved me
- from the very beginning. I need you, Lord,
- now more than ever. I am in desperate need of your hand
- to rescue me
- from despair
- and violence. Be my blessed Rock
- forever. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 29
The Psalm
Psalm 29 (CSB)
A psalm of David.1 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is above the waters. The God of glory thunders— the LORD, above the vast water,
4 the voice of the LORD in power, the voice of the LORD in splendor.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion, like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD flashes flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the woodlands bare. In his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned, King forever.
11 The LORD gives his people strength; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
The Prayer
Who is like you,
- splendid in majesty
- high and exalted
- wonderful and amazing
- beautiful and all-together lovely.
So I will sing this song,
- with all of my days
- because you are my portion
- and you loved me since forever.
How many times have you rescued me
- from the pit of despair
- from the darkness of hell
- from the knife edge of death?
I know not the countless times.
But you are faithful in all of your ways,
- perfect
- true
- blessed
- good
- righteous
And I know you will rescue me countless times more.
I praise you forever I will praise you.
Forever I will sing
- you are my beauty
- you are my strength
And I will sing.
Psalm 30
A psalm; a dedication song for the house. Of David.
1 I will exalt you, LORD, because you have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me.
2 LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you healed me.
3 LORD, you brought me up from Sheol; you spared me from among those going down to the Pit.
4 Sing to the LORD, you his faithful ones, and praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.
6 When I was secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
7 LORD, when you showed your favor, you made me stand like a strong mountain; when you hid your face, I was terrified.
8 LORD, I called to you; I sought favor from my Lord:
9 “What gain is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your truth?
10 LORD, listen and be gracious to me; LORD, be my helper.”
11 You turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 so that I can sing to you and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.
Praying Through: Psalm 30:1-3
The Psalm
Psalm 30:1–3 (CSB) I will exalt you, LORD, because you have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me. LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you healed me. LORD, you brought me up from Sheol; you spared me from among those going down to the Pit.
The Prayer
I sing praises to your name,
- for you are worthy
- and worthy to be praised.
I have cried for help,
- too many times to recall
- How many times have you responded?
- All of them plus one more.
I know I am with you,
- and because of that
- I am being healed by your loving grace
- My soul has been afflicted
- My heart has been scorched
- My body has been abused
- But you are my everlasting joy
- and the healer of all iniquity and sin.
For the sin that has affected me,
- you have picked me up
- set me on your Rock
- cleansed my wounds
- gave me a new heart
- with your desires
- and called me your own.
For all of my treacherous sins,
- you set your affections upon me
- you chased after me with your full Might
- and because you loved me so much
- you sent your Son
- to live for me
- to die in my place
- to resurrect so that I would be fully alive
- and then rose to glory
- All because you are glorious.
There is none like you.
Praying Through: Psalm 30:11-12
The Psalm
Psalm 30:11–12 (CSB) You turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, so that I can sing to you and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.
The Prayer
I am going to worship you,
- all of my days
- for all of my life
- for all that I have.
I can declare this in boldness
- nothing of my own strength
- and I have no righteousness to speak of.
Because I have seen the fullness of your grace,
- and the ongoing gift of kindness
- the daily portion of mercies every morning
- and the steadfastness of your love.
I have failed
- but you are God.
Let my life and love and my words glorify you
- all of my days.
Praying Through: Psalm 30:4-5
The Psalm
Psalm 30:4–5 (CSB) Sing to the LORD, you his faithful ones, and praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.
The Prayer
I sit in awe
- of your wonderous works
- but more of your love for me
- your mercy upon me
- and your grace towards me.
You sought me as a rebellious fool
- a beast towards you
- a wayward child.
Nonetheless, you held me in your arms
- you cleansed me from all of my filth
- and promised never to let me go.
You took away your anger
- and brought me your salvation.
- You are holy, holy, holy,
- and you declared me, “Holy”.
Whatever pain, betrayals,
- abandonments,
- loneliness,
- despair,
- suffering,
- pain,
- you are forever my comfort,
- and all of my hope is in you,
- because you are my absolute joy.
Save my soul, O Lord,
- and let me see your glory.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 30:6-7
The Psalm
Psalm 30:6–7 (CSB) When I was secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” LORD, when you showed your favor, you made me stand like a strong mountain; when you hid your face, I was terrified.
The Prayer
What blessings have you bestowed upon me,
- my unshakable foundation,
- my Solid Rock,
- my cornerstone,
- the one absolute love that will never be shaken.
But what is my response?
- I despise you
- I distrust you
- I think you will not be there for me. And I turn to other gods,
- and other comforts,
- and wallow in my sins,
- and let despair rest upon my soul But my beautiful Savior,
- you are the Shepherd who rescues the sheep,
- you are the Farmer who pulls the ox,
- you are the Christ that saves his people from their sin. Once and for all times,
- definitely,
- completely,
- perfectly. Blessed be your holy name forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 30:8-10
The Psalm
Psalm 30:8–10 (CSB) LORD, I called to you; I sought favor from my Lord: “What gain is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your truth? LORD, listen and be gracious to me; LORD, be my helper.”
The Prayer
My days here are just for a moment,
- and you have number them all.
- My life remains in your hands,
- only you know my beginning and end. Too many times,
- I have cried out
- to end my life here
- so you can bring me home.
- So much misery
- and calamity
- and confusion
- when all I wanted
- was peace beyond all understanding. But you are the Lord my God,
- who is from everlasting to everlasting,
- who calls anything into existence,
- who predestines us to life,
- who creates the vessels made for destruction. And yet, you sent your Son,
- who became flesh,
- who dwelt among us.
- And now we have seen God,
- the only God,
- who was at the Father's side,
- because you have made Him know. And now from his fullness,
- I dwell in grace upon grace.
- Lord, you dictate my life.
- You tell me
- if I will see your glory.
- Be exalted in my life,
- today. Amen.
Psalm 31
For the choir director. A psalm of David.
1 LORD, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. Save me by your righteousness.
2 Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me.
3 For you are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name’s sake.
4 You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me, LORD, God of truth.
6 I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul
8 and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place.
9 Be gracious to me, LORD, because I am in distress; my eyes are worn out from frustration— my whole being as well.
10 Indeed, my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my strength has failed because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.
11 I am ridiculed by all my adversaries and even by my neighbors. I am dreaded by my acquaintances; those who see me in the street run from me.
12 I am forgotten: gone from memory like a dead person—like broken pottery.
13 I have heard the gossip of many; terror is on every side. When they conspired against me, they plotted to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
15 The course of my life is in your power; rescue me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors.
16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me by your faithful love.
17 LORD, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them be quiet in Sheol.
18 Let lying lips that arrogantly speak against the righteous in proud contempt be silenced.
19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you.
20 You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from quarrelsome tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to you for help.
23 Love the LORD, all his faithful ones. The LORD protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant.
24 Be strong, and let your heart be courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD.
Praying Through: Psalm 31:1-2
The Psalm
Psalm 31:1–2 (CSB)
1 LORD, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. Save me by your righteousness.2 Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me.
The Prayer
Who is like you, God?
- and who compares to you?
You alone are worthy
- of honor
- of praise
- of worship for all of my days. The world critiques
- ridicules
- slams
- kills
- destroys. But you are the only Savior,
- who pulls me from hell
- brings me to your bosom
- and gives me peaceful rest
- because you alone are grace. Because you have declared me to be your child,
- do not ignore me.
- Hear my cries!
- Make me like you!
- Make me righteous like you!
- So I will never depart from you
- or you would ever depart from me. Keep me from this world,
- from the snares of the Devil
- from the traps of Demons
- from the bowels of Sheol
- from the darkness of my heart. Bring me to your throne, and judge me rightly, in the blood-stained robe of your only begotten Son.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 31:11-13
The Psalm
Psalm 31:11–13 (CSB)
11 I am ridiculed by all my adversaries and even by my neighbors. I am dreaded by my acquaintances; those who see me in the street run from me.12 I am forgotten: gone from memory like a dead person—like broken pottery.
13 I have heard the gossip of many; terror is on every side. When they conspired against me, they plotted to take my life.
The Prayer
How many times,
- my Lord,
- was I left for dead? The amount of people who wished me dead
- were too many to count. I have been abused,
- and used for others' perverse sins.
- I have been forgotten,
- and not attended to my needs.
- I have been exposed,
- and called a liar. But you, O my God,
- are the only one who has saved me.
- Many people want to save me
- but lack the will and the power.
- Their heart has been turned
- but they could not help me. My heart has been broken,
- my mind has gone.
- And I have no power within me. But you've healed my broken,
- renewed my mind,
- and gave me your Almighty Spirit. Since you have rescued me,
- restored me,
- redeemed me,
- and kept me,
- I am yours. I am yours,
- and you are mine forever.
Keep me,
- the Savior of my Life
- and keep me close to your heart.
- Do not let me stray
- for I will be forgotten again
- and I will perish in hell
- apart from you.
- And that is a thought I cannot stand to bear. Be my portion and love,
- forever. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 31:14-18
The Psalm
Psalm 31:14–18 (CSB)
14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”15 The course of my life is in your power; rescue me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors.
16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me by your faithful love.
17 LORD, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them be quiet in Sheol.
18 Let lying lips that arrogantly speak against the righteous in proud contempt be silenced.
The Prayer
How many times,
- my Lord,
- was I left for dead?
The amount of people who wished me dead
- were too many to count. I have been abused,
- and used for others' perverse sins.
- I have been forgotten,
- and not attended to my needs.
- I have been exposed,
- and called a liar. But you, O my God,
- are the only one who has saved me.
- Many people want to save me
- but lack the will and the power.
- Their heart has been turned
- but they could not help me. My heart has been broken,
- my mind has gone.
- And I have no power within me. But you've healed my broken,
- renewed my mind,
- and gave me your Almighty Spirit. Since you have rescued me,
- restored me,
- redeemed me,
- and kept me,
- I am yours. I am yours,
- and you are mine forever.
Keep me,
- the Savior of my Life
- and keep me close to your heart.
- Do not let me stray
- for I will be forgotten again
- and I will perish in hell
- apart from you.
- And that is a thought I cannot stand to bear. Be my portion and love,
- forever. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 31:19-20
The Psalm
Psalm 31:19–20 (CSB)
19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you.20 You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from quarrelsome tongues.
The Prayer
My Lord,
- my life bears witness
- that you alone protect me
- shield me
- provide for me
- and place your loving arms
- wrapped around me.
You hold me like a child,
- for I am just as vulnerable
- and would be devoured by dogs
- if it was not for you. I praise your holy name
- for you are Lord Most High.
- So be exalted
- in my life
- and with my words. Thank you for sparing me and thank you for saving my life Thank you for shielding me from the world from sin from Satan and his demons and sparing me from hell and protecting me from your just wrath.
Have mercy on me,
- for all of my days
- and bring me home quickly
- so I can stare into your eyes
- for all of eternity. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 31:21-22
The Psalm
Psalm 31:21–22 (CSB)
21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me in a city under siege.22 In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to you for help.
The Prayer
Who is like you, my Lord,
- clothed in majesty
- and who alone is good.
When I have realized the extent of my pain the depths of my sin the torment of my evil soul the wickedness of the Devil and the infection of my heart.
I called upon you
- and swiftly, you answered me.
- "Here I am!"
- and in your gentleness
- and loving kindness
- and grace abounding
- saved me to yourself.
Be exalted.
My Lord, be exalted.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 31:23-24
The Psalm
Psalm 31:23–24 (CSB)
23 Love the LORD, all his faithful ones. The LORD protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant.24 Be strong, and let your heart be courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD.
The Prayer
My Lord,
- if it be your will
- and under your grace alone,
- allow me your humble servant
- and your little child
- to preach your good news to the whole world.
You are my Love and my Heart,
- there is none like you.
- You are Savior of the world,
- there is none like you.
- You are more beautiful,
- and the fairest of 10,000
- there is none like you. You are good,
- perfectly holy
- and altogether lovely. Be my safe place
- be my refuge
- be my vision
- be my shield. You are my Savior
- and the love of my life
- forever. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 31:3-5
The Psalm
Psalm 31:3–5 (CSB)
3 For you are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name’s sake.4 You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me, LORD, God of truth.
The Prayer
Who is like you, God?
And who would compare to you?
You are my everything
And since birth, you have protected me
- you have guided me
- even when I wanted to run away
- you have always brought be back home.
You have not abandoned me to hell
- even when the world the discarded me as trash
- and everybody has despised me
- and Satan has come to destroyed me
- and his demons keep me in disarray
- and my own sin defiles me
But you, O Lord, are my heart's desire
- and I long to worship you.
Be with me.
Declare me to the holy
- and do not let me see corruption.
For you have shown me
- guided me
- and walked with me
- on Your path
- and now I am fully alive.
One blessed day,
- I will hold your face in my hands
- and kiss you with a thousand kisses
- and you will fill me with such great joy
- and I will sit at your right hand
- and be eternally
- completely
- perfectly
- blessed
- forevermore.
Praying Through: Psalm 31:6-8
The Psalm
Psalm 31:6–8 (CSB)
6 I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.7 I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul
8 and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place.
The Prayer
I cry and grieve for those
- who do not know you.
- I pray that their hearts
- would be turned towards you.
You have rescued me countless times.
- And all I have ever found
- was your loving grace.
Lord, you did not abandon me
- Not to hell
- Not to sin
- Not to this world
- Not to Satan
- Not to demons
- Not to death
You rescued me
- with your compassion.
- You restored my soul
- for the sake of your Son.
- You gave me life
- by the power of your Spirit. I will love you
- for all of my days.
Praying Through: Psalm 31:9-10
The Psalm
Psalm 31:9–10 (CSB)
9 Be gracious to me, LORD, because I am in distress; my eyes are worn out from frustration— my whole being as well.10 Indeed, my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my strength has failed because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.
The Prayer
I have spent all of my days
- wandering from your presence
- searching for new idols
- finding new ways to sin against you
And my life aches and groans in pain,
- not only of the sin against me
- but mostly because of my own sin.
Lord, hear my cries
- do not abandon me
- do not let me see evil
- do not take your Spirit from me
Lord, I have no idea of what you’ve called me
- but it will not be easy
- and it will take all of your grace
- and you must give me your heart and Spirit
- for me to do your will. But I love you Lord and I cry out loud to worship and praise your holy name. My soul and heart rejoices. May everything in me and all that I have bless your holy name Forever. Amen.
Psalm 32
Of David. A Maskil.
1 How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
2 How joyful is a person whom the LORD does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel.
9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you.
10 Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the LORD will have faithful love surrounding him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:1
The Psalm
Psalm 32:1 (CSB) How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
The Prayer
How many times have I have sin against you
- done wickedness in your sight
- submitted myself to perversion
- blasphemed your holy name
- persecuted those who love you
- and violently opposed your righteousness?
All of my sins,
- I cannot count that high.
- They would outnumber the stars in the sky,
- and the sands upon the shore.
For my heart does evil continually,
- it is desperately sick at it's core.
- I was born unrighteous.
- I never understood you.
- I never sought after you.
- I have turned away from your face,
- I have become worthless.
- I have never done good,
- I have only done what was right in my own eyes.
For I was once foolish,
- disobedient,
- deceived,
- enslaved by various passions and pleasures,
- living in malice and envy,
- hateful,
- and detesting everybody.
But my King,
- how did you respond to my treason?
You appeared,
- and you saved me.
- Not by anything I have done,
- because they were filthy rags in your sight.
No, but only according to your mercy,
- by washing me
- cleansing me whiter than snow
- in regeneration and renewal
- by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Your gave me your Spirit
- and did so abundantly
- through your Son, Jesus Christ
- my Savior forever.
Because of all that He did,
- I stand not condemned
- but innocent
- justified in your grace alone.
Now, I am your son,
- and You are my Father.
- I receive everything that your Son has received
- which is eternal life,
- fullness of joy,
- and pleasures evermore.
I will forever praise your holy name.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:2
The Psalm
Psalm 32:2 (CSB) How joyful is a person whom the LORD does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!
The Prayer
I am filled with iniquity,
- Lord, look at my sins?
- How can you not count
- my wickedness against me?
Are you a god
- that turns his head
- and ignores evil?
- Or do you call something a sin
- not a sin
- and allow it to run rampant
- and destroy everything
- that you alone have created
- and that you have loved?
My Lord,
- you did not ignore my sin
- you did not turn the other way
- you did not declare evil not evil.
- No!
You thought of me,
- laid your affections upon me
- saw me in my wickedness and deceit
- and you loved me.
And then you sent your Son,
- Jesus Christ the Holy One of God
- who is God
- to live as I should
- and to carry his cross
- and to place my sin
- upon himself
- and to attract Your wrath
- upon himself
- and saved me from the outermost
- to himself.
Christ saved me in
- Your grace
- Your sovereign
- Your power
- alone.
Blessed be your name forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:3a
The Psalm
Psalm 32:3 (CSB) When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.
The Prayer
I will never forget
- the darkness enveloping me
- my emotions drained out of me
- I no longer desired life
- my brain was shut down
- I was dead
- and I wanted to die.
The deepest despair
- and the darkest night
- and the most chaotic state
- and the madness that ensues
- and I am dying
- and I am being crushed
- I am without hope
- I have nothing
- I didn't have the strength
- nor the wherewithal
- to even form a thought
- to reach out and ask for help.
But you
- instilled one truth
- I am lead by your Spirit
- because you adopted me as your son
- and I have your Spirit
- and I am no longer in fear
But you
- bear witness with my spirit
- the spirit you gave me
- and the life you gave me
- that I am yours
- and you are mine
And you
- have given me everything
- because you gave me your precious Son.
I might suffer for a little
- and I cry in despair
- and my tears flood my pillow
- but your joy always comes in the morning
- because that is when your mercies are waiting for me
- more assure than the sun rising in the east.
Great is your faithfulness, O Lord.
Great is your faithfulness.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:3b
The Psalm
Psalm 32:3 (CSB) When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.
The Prayer
While I tried to ignore
- and even
- excuse the pain caused me.
- My body never forgets.
While I will make excuses
- and blameshift
- my sins against others
- My soul remembers.
Your forgiveness
- does not erase my wrongdoings.
- But your Son's blood
- covers my trespasses.
Help me to cry out to you,
- for you are my Lord and my God
- you are my Savior and Messiah
- you are my Friend and my Brother
- you are the only one who cared for me.
- you are the only one who healed me.
- you are the only one who saved me.
Be exalted, O Lord. Be lifted up higher and higher.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:4
The Psalm
Psalm 32:4 (CSB) For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah
The Prayer
Every sin against me
- does not counter
- any of my sins.
Their sins are their sins.
- My sins are my sins.
- And you will judge accordingly.
But I know of your perfection,
- your beauty
- your majesty
- your holiness
- and your righteousness.
If you looked upon me,
- you will see my treason
- my affairs
- my thoughts
- my heart's desires
- my lusts
- my wickedness!
And by that,
- you will be left wanting.
But it is my sins,
- my treason
- my trespass
- my rage
- my war
- against you
- that you looked upon
- and saw my infinite shortcomings
- and decided
- alone upon your grace
- alone upon your mercy
- alone upon your sweet love
- and you saved me.
How?
I was meant to die I was meant to take on the cosmos-filled wrath I was meant for hell
But you sent your Son
- to die for me
- to absorb every ounce of wrath
- to and descend into hell
- so that I might live
- and move
- and my being
- with you
- unto you
- by you
- through you
- and from you
- alone.
You are my God forever.
Forever I will love you.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:5
The Psalm
Psalm 32:5 (CSB) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
The Prayer
How long, O Lord,
- when I have not confess to you
- when I have spoken of my evil
- when I thought, "The Lord forgives"
- and I no longer will be burdened with you.
But burden with my wickedness, I was.
- My pretend ignorance failed me
- My own heart betrays me.
- and I was crushed under my iniquity
- and I was suppressed by my unrighteousness.
But you have sent your Son
- to change my mind
- to speak life into my dead flesh
- to exchange my rock heart for your soft heart
- to borne my grief
- to carry my sorrow
- to be stricken for me
- to be smitten for me
- to be afflicted for me
- and pierced for my transgression
- and crushed for my iniquity.
- to be my righteousness forever.
Take my sin
- my back-breaking yoke
- my strength-sapping burden
- the best that I can ever do.
And give me your Son
- so I dwell in your presence
- and be free to love and obey you
- all of my days
- forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:6
The Psalm
Psalm 32:6 (CSB) Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him.
The Prayer
Oh how many times, O Lord,
- have I whispered nothings
- gave half-hearted thanks
- prayed and did not believe
- spoke and did not think it was real.
When I was an ungodly husband
- and my weak non-prayers were unanswered
- When I was a sinful subject
- and any other king would ignore me
- or worse yet
- have me executed
- for high treason?
But that is not you.
You are the King who sends his heralds
- to tell the nations
- about the good news
- that the God of the universe
- relentlessly
- passionately
- persistently
- wonderfully
- goes after us.
- Even those of us
- who are the most vile
- most wicked
- the chief of sinners
- like me.
You rescued me
- you called on me
- I call on you.
- You turn your ear to me
- because I am your son
- because of Your Son
- because of Your Spirit within me
- becasue you love me.
Be exalted, O Lord. Be exalted higher and higher.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:7
The Psalm
Psalm 32:7 (CSB) You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah
The Prayer
The world
- and the Prince of the Air
- and his demons
- have left me
- to rot
- to die
- to drown in the middle of the ocean
- to be consumed by the waves
- to let my soul fall into hell.
They care not for my soul,
- it does not bother them
- if I live or if I die
- It is better for them
- if I was to be destroyed.
But when the waves were about to swallow me whole
- you have come along
- an bedrock island
- raised up
- and pushes me closer to the sun
- where I can be healed by you
- rest in you
- recover in you
- be with you
- and you with me.
You alone are my strength and shield
- I will worship and rest in you.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:8-9
The Psalm
The Prayer
Without you,
- I am completely ignorant of you.
There are not enough classes in the world
- to sit and learn about you.
There are not enough books
- to sit and read to know you.
All the data in the world
- multiplied one billion fold
- couldn't even contain
- what the Son has done
- what the Father has thought
- let alone how You move.
All knowledge, wisdom, and understanding
- philosophies, logic, reason
- science, medicine, and technology
- comes from you
- and is all your own.
More so
- to even see your glory
- to even call upon your name
- to even pray to you
- to be saved by you
- that sheer ability and knowledge
- you will need to give that to us first.
We are dead in our trespasses
- and dead men do not cry out
- Dead men do not think
- Dead men cannot pray
- Dead men cannot worship
- unless you give them life.
Uncover our eyes
- open our ears
- change our minds
- unmute our tongues
- exchange our hearts
- and make Your place
- into our souls.
Mark us
- seal us
- unto the Father.
Praise your holy name.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:10
The Psalm
The Prayer
I have spent much of my life
- not turning to you
- not loving you
- and not trusting in you.
And my sorrows and grief fill my heart.
I am sorrowful
- because of my own sins
- and wickedness before you
I grieve
- because I wish I have only known you
- all of my life
You have been my God before
- since I was in my mother's womb
- since I nursed at her breasts
- since I knew how to walk
And you pursued me
- when sin encroached
- and preyed on my flesh
You loved me
- when I was being devoured
- and consumed
And you rescued me
I see you
- and I hear you
- and I know you love me
- because there is no other
- who could care for me
- love me so tenderly
- and perfectly save me
I love you Lord and I will worship you my Redeemer.
Praying Through: Psalm 32:11
The Psalm
Psalm 32:11 (CSB) Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
The Prayer
When I was
- a beast before you
- a worm beneath the dirt
- a blasphemer of your holy name
- an accuser of your beloved people
- a violent opponent of your dwelling
- a blind fool of your glory
- a ignorant recipient of your tender mercies
- a stonewall to your amazing grace
- a rejecter of your great love
- a dead man in my own sins
You thought of me
- you stirred your affections for me
- you loved me
- you chose me
- you called me
- you saved me
- you gave me faith
- you washed away my sins
- you regenerated my heart
- you filled me with your Spirit
- you changed my mind
- you opened my eyes
- you cleared my ears
- you unmuted my tongue
- you adopted me
- you called me your own
- you lavished you affections upon me
- you justified me
- you discipline me
- you sanctify me
- you conform me to look like your Son
- you wash me in the water of your word
- you pour out mercies on me
- you give me grace upon grace
- you forever love me
- you glorified me
Only then and now
- my heart is filled with joy
- my soul stands upright in your presence
- my being dwells with you
- my mind captures thoughts towards you
- my strength chokes out my sin
- do I love you
Be my love.
Be my everything.
For I am yours
- and you are mine.
Psalm 33
1 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful.
2 Praise the LORD with the lyre; make music to him with a ten-stringed harp.
3 Sing a new song to him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.
4 For the word of the LORD is right, and all his work is trustworthy.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the LORD’s unfailing love.
6 The heavens were made by the word of the LORD, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the water of the sea into a heap; he puts the depths into storehouses.
8 Let the whole earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came into being; he commanded, and it came into existence.
10 The LORD frustrates the counsel of the nations; he thwarts the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart from generation to generation.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD— the people he has chosen to be his own possession!
13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he observes everyone.
14 He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from his dwelling place.
15 He forms the hearts of them all; he considers all their works.
16 A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be rescued by great strength.
17 The horse is a false hope for safety; it provides no escape by its great power.
18 But look, the LORD keeps his eye on those who fear him— those who depend on his faithful love
19 to rescue them from death and to keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait for the LORD; he is our help and shield.
21 For our hearts rejoice in him because we trust in his holy name.
22 May your faithful love rest on us, LORD, for we put our hope in you.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:1
The Psalm
Psalm 33:1 (CSB) Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful.
The Prayer
With my voice
- with every breath
- I will shout out
- I will cry out
- I will sing your holy name
- I will dance with joy
Because you alone are
- good
- worthy
- beautiful
- lovely
- wonderful
- peace
- joy
- exalted
- and raised far above
- all of my gods
I will worship you
- forever I will worship
- there is none like you
Praying Through: Psalm 33:2-3
The Psalm
Psalm 33:2–3 (CSB) Praise the LORD with the lyre; make music to him with a ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song to him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.
The Prayer
Who was the only one
- who created the heavens
- from a thought
- who created the earth
- from a whisper?
Who was the only one
- from deep love
- and passionate affections
- for a desire
- to create a perfect relationship
- with a creation
- out of a perfect community?
Who was the only one
- who preached his perfect standard
- who grieved when we rebelled
- who filled with sorrow
- when we wage war against you
- who cried when we turned away from you?
Who was the only one
- who never flinched at our wickedness
- who never balked at our sinfulness
- who never backed away from our evilness
- who ALONE who stared death
- through his skull
- and with the loudest voice
- and the deepest wells of tears
- the same tongue who spoke
- all creation into existence
- cries out
- COME TO LIFE!
Who resurrected my dead heart?
Who was like that?
No one.
No one could nor willing nor had the power.
You alone.
You alone are God.
You alone are good forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:4
The Psalm
Psalm 33:4 (CSB) For the word of the LORD is right, and all his work is trustworthy.
The Prayer
I remember when you fulfilled your word
- in the gospel to Adam and Eve
- in the promise to Noah and his family
- in the covenant to Abraham
- in your example with Saul
- in your steadfastness to David
- in your wisdom with Soloman
- in your keep with Isaiah
- in your tower with Jeremiah
- in your instructions with Hosea
- in your mystery with Daniel
- in your glory with Ezekiel
- in your ending with Malachi
That you alone would
- send a Savior
- bring a Messiah
- to crush the enemy
- to keep your justice sure
- out of a family
- upon the throne
- to rescue His beloved
- to save His people from their sins
- to adopted into your family
- to be redeemed of their past
- to be resurrected to glory
- to never perish
- to never see corruption
- to never see hell
- to the fullness of life
- to the presence of unending joy
- to pleasures forevermore
That is Jesus Christ
- the fulfiller of the law
- the keeper of the promises
- the worthy lamb that was slain
- the absorber of wrath
- the burden of my sin
- the bearer of my sorrows
- the welcomer of my trespasses
- the seed of Abraham
- the righteousness of me
- the lover of my soul
- the love of my heart
I am my Beloved and he is mine forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:5
The Psalm
Psalm 33:5 (CSB) He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the LORD’s unfailing love.
The Prayer
I have spent a lifetime
- ignoring this precious truth
- that you loved the world so much
- that you sent your only begotten Son
- to live and die for his people
- to rise again to champion over
- death
- hell
- Satan
- demons
- sin.
For those who want to live with you forever
- we would only need to believe in you
- trust in you
- obey your word
- and take you at your word.
The earth if full of the steadfast love of the Lord
- because You have sent your Son to us
You love righteousness
- because You have sent your Son to us
You love justice
- because You have sent your Son speedily to us
Lord,
- help me
- to never cease wondering at who you are
- to never wander from your right hand
- to never look away from your beautiful face
- deliver me
- to keep me with you
- to lay my head upon your heart
- to rest in your arms
- and keep from sin
- all the days of my life
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 33:6
The Psalm
Psalm 33:6 (CSB) The heavens were made by the word of the LORD, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth.
The Prayer
You are majestic
- and altogether mighty.
You alone brought something
- out of nothing.
- You alone can do that.
When you created me,
-
you did so from what was created.
-
Out of dirt.
-
But you also created me
-
out of your heart
-
because of your love for me.
-
And you created me
-
out of your begotten
-
for He was the firstborn
-
among many brethen.
Because of my sin
- I was destined to go back into dirt
- apart from you
- and under your wrath.
Yet, in your great love,
- you predestined me
- not to dirt but to life
- not apart but to fullness of joy
- not under your wrath but under your right hand
- with pleasures forevermore.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:7
The Psalm
Psalm 33:7 (CSB) He gathers the water of the sea into a heap; he puts the depths into storehouses.
The Prayer
The galaxies fall right into the palm of your hand,
- the universe are in your grasp
- the stars are named by you
- Jupiter is but a little toy to you
- the sun is pinched between your finger and thumb
We have been here for the length of the creation
- and yet we do not know the depths of the oceans
- we are powerless to gather up a ocean wave
But you, my Lord,
- gathered all the material plane
- at your mere fingertips.
And you alone, my Lord,
- gathered my stony heart
- tossed to the infinite east-west
- Grabbed into your chest
- ripped your heart out
- by sending your Son
- to live and die
- and place that love
- placed into my chest
- just to give me life.
Blessed be your wonderful name.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:8
The Psalm
Psalm 33:8 (CSB) Let the whole earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
The Prayer
I sit
- and make no excuses
- for my sin blinds me
- my wickedness keeps me deaf
- my trespasses rob my smarts
- my treason born death in me.
I could not see your glory
- I was blind and cannot see
- and not thing in me
- could process your beauty.
I had no frame
- no knowledge
- no heart
- no love
- no life.
Therefore I did not fear you.
When I did see your glory,
- I fell in awe
- I lay prostrate in terror
- my face down because I fear
- I saw my own sin
- compare to your holiness
- and surely I would perish
- because you are too good.
But you reached down
- gave me life
- strength to my legs
- beat to my heart
- picked me up like a child
- held me close to your heart
- and whispered these words,
"I do not condemn you
- and I love you.
- You never have to sin again
- for you are mine
- and I am yours forever.'
Praise your sweet name.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:9
The Psalm
Psalm 33:9 (CSB) For he spoke, and it came into being; he commanded, and it came into existence.
The Prayer
You are the only being
- when you speak
- things actually happen
- When you promise
- they are unbreakable
- When you declare
- it is so
- When you proclaim
- it comes to pass.
All of your promises are yes and amen.
So when I hear your voice,
- when you beckon me from the depths of hades
- when you spoke a new identity in me
- when you called my name
- I answered.
I was yours from the moment on.
I have tried to flee
- into my own sins
- and back into hell.
- But you are forever my rescuer
- my portion
- and deliverer.
You have spoken my name
- That means I am yours.
- And that is unbreakable
- and perfect.
Be glorified today.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:10
The Psalm
Psalm 33:10 (CSB) The LORD frustrates the counsel of the nations; he thwarts the plans of the peoples.
The Prayer
We have made the grandest plans
- devised the biggest schemes
- and planned our legacy
- that we are so certain that lives on.
But you are alone
- rule and reign over all of creation
- sets up and takes down kings
- determines the times and boundaries of our dwelling
Because you are not merely in the present
- but also currently in the past
- because you are from everlasting to everlasting
- and you are currently in the future
- because you are the God who is there.
Therefore
- you do not merely do something
- speaking something
- think something
- and cause a chain reaction
- But you are the chain
- and the reaction
- of everything.
You rule and reign
- over all creation
- time
- space
- the material
- and the spiritual
No one is like you.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:11
The Psalm
Psalm 33:11 (CSB) The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart from generation to generation.
The Prayer
What does your word say?
- Your word goes out
- and does it sets to accomplishes
- and never returns void?
You have made promises
- to Adam
- to Noah
- to Abraham
- to David
- and to all the prophets
That you will send
- the One who would crush the head of the serpent
- that is Jesus Christ
- the Savior of his people
- the Redeemer of our sins
- the Messiah of the nations
- the Conquerer of Satan
- the Vanquisher of demons
- the Wrath-filler of hell
- the Glory of the cosmos
And this is perfectly true
- and now you have captured our hearts.
Be exalted, O God,
- higher and higher.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:12
The Psalm
Psalm 33:12 (CSB) Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD— the people he has chosen to be his own possession!
The Prayer
We read in your word
- where you have called a tiny nation
- unto you
- to carry out your promises
- to established your covenants.
Perhaps for a moment
- this nation would worship you
- praise you
- and love you.
But not even a generation would pass
- before they worship other gods
- distrust you
- and fall far away from you.
That is just like any of us
- that is just like me
- I have cling to other idols
- I have not given you a second thought
- I have hated you.
So Lord,
- save me
- keep me
- call upon me
- to preach to nations
- call them to repent
- and turn their hearts towards you.
For one day,
- all the nations will cease to rage
- and they will worship you
- because you are on your throne
Oh, King of kings Oh my Lord of Lords Blessed be your glorious name.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:13-15
The Psalm
Psalm 33 (CSB)
13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he observes everyone.14 He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from his dwelling place.
15 He forms the hearts of them all; he considers all their works.
The Prayer
I know that all of mankind
- will wonder into ungodliness
- will stray into wickedness
- and by their own sin,
- fall away in ignorance.
I was once
- atheistic
- evil
- blasphemous
- ignorant in unbelief
But yet
- You gave me more grace
- with the faith and love
- that can only be found
- in your Son.
My God,
- we know that you see us
- you know we are not good
- we know that you do not overlord us
- to condemn us
- But you’ve sent your Son
- to save us.
My Lord,
- Be merciful to me
- Give me grace beyond measure
- Never remove your Spirit from me
- Never end your steadfast love for me
- Do not forsake me
- Do not forget me
- Just be with me
You are worthy to be praised. Forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:16-19
The Psalm
Psalm 33:16–19 (CSB)
16 A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be rescued by great strength.17 The horse is a false hope for safety; it provides no escape by its great power.
18 But look, the LORD keeps his eye on those who fear him— those who depend on his faithful love
19 to rescue them from death and to keep them alive in famine.
The Prayer
In my darkest moments,
- greatest fears
- deepest pains
- I would never turn to you
- and instead I would flee
- to idols and gods
- that I thought would ease the pain
- soothe my anxiety
- save my soul.
My idols were lust
- my gods were pornography
- when I was thirsty
- I would insist on drinking
- crap-infused
- toilet water
But you rescued me
- you have kept my eyes upon you
- you have turn my face
- and my heart
- to you
- the source of everlasting joy.
You are the only one
- who has kept me
- fully and truly
- alive.
- I have your Son
- who bled and died for me.
- I have your Spirit
- who has marked me
- and is the only one
- that will bear witness
- that I am your child.
Please keep me closer
- do not let me stray
- Destroy my idols if you must
- Kill my masters if you please
- Burn this world around me
- Take my soul
- because I do not want to go back to hell
- I just want to be with you
I love you Lord.
Praying Through: Psalm 33:20-22
The Psalm
Psalm 33 (CSB)
20 We wait for the LORD; he is our help and shield.21 For our hearts rejoice in him because we trust in his holy name.
22 May your faithful love rest on us, LORD, for we put our hope in you.
The Prayer
Is there some sort of target on me?
Why has the enemy been so focused on my life?
Why is it that with
- every single foolish
- decision I have made,
- Satan has used it
- to drag me back
- in the darkness
- where I once lived?
And why does the world
- keep trying to pull me
- back into the life
- that I once lived?
I know that life
- I have been scorched by that hell.
I cry out
- LORD PROTECT ME
- The bullets of the enemy
- are aimed for my heart and soul
- And I am so weak and frail
- I know for sure
- I will perish
- I will suffer
- I will die.
I am not a mighty fortress
- you are I am not strong tower
- you are I am not great shield
- you alone are.
Protect me from death
- Help me to slay
- and destroy my enemies
- just so I can get back home
- safe and sound with you.
You are my Rock and Redeemer.
Psalm 34
Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech, who drove him out, and he departed.
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will boast in the LORD; the humble will hear and be glad.
3 Proclaim the LORD’s greatness with me; let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him from all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!
9 You who are his holy ones, fear the LORD, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.
11 Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is someone who desires life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.
14 Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help.
16 The face of the LORD is set against those who do what is evil, to remove all memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.
19 One who is righteous has many adversities, but the LORD rescues him from them all.
20 He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21 Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants, and all who take refuge in him will not be punished.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:1-2
The Psalm
Psalm 34:1–2 (CSB)
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.2 I will boast in the LORD; the humble will hear and be glad.
The Prayer
With my lips
- I will speak blessings
- to my God
With my hands
- I will bless others
- for my Christ
With my feet
- I will bring peace
- for my Savior
With my mind
- I will think
- upon my Redeemer
With my strength
- I will depend
- upon the Almighty.
With my portion
- it will only come
- from my All-in-all
With my heart
- I will love
- the Lord at all times
Jesus
- the Worthy Lamb who was slain
- glorious and mighty are you
- mercy and power are at your hands
- grace and love are from your heart
Be exalted
- in everything I do
- I will worship you
- forever I will
- you alone are my God.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:3
The Psalm
Psalm 34:3 (CSB)
3 Proclaim the LORD’s greatness with me; let us exalt his name together.
The Prayer
People of God,
- inhabitants of the world
- dwellers in the city
Turn your eyes upon God
- look at his amazing love
- His grace is for you!
You do not have to die in your sin
- He will rescue you!
- He will pull you from hell
You say, "I have no sin"
- then you are condemned already
- but those in Christ
- there is no condemnation
You say, "There is no hell"
- but to those who do not
- trust and obey the Son
- the wrath of God remains upon you!
- But if you believe and obey
- the Lamb who was slain
- he takes the wrath
- that was properly owed to you.
You say, "There is no God"
- Do not be a hypocrite
- Do not suppress
- what you have seen
- what you have experience
- what you know
- about God.
- Go back into the only
- good
- perfect
- blameless
- word
- where He speaks about who He is
- who His Son is
- and what His Spirit will do.
I pray
- that you worship God
- with me
- that you love God
- with all of your heart
- that you pray to God
- and ask to be delivered
Your circumstances might not change
- your sins might catch up
- you will still be affected by other's sins
- But God will always be there
- He will mark you as holy
- because he is holy
- He will count you as righteous
- because his Son took on your sin
- He will call you His beloved child
- because the Spirit shall bear witness.
Worship God!
- He alone is worthy.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:4
The Psalm
Psalm 34 (CSB)
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears.
The Prayer
For all of my life
- I have pretended to be in fear of nothing
And certainly not you
But I was crippled
- by fears of
- rejection
- betrayal
- abandonment
- and not being loved
I did whatever
- I could to harden my heart
- so I wouldn’t have to feel.
But I was sad
- alone
- confused
- angry
- and bitter.
- I was so lonely.
- And my life was worth nothing.
And remember when I tried to be the good guy? Outside I was nice and honorable.
- But on the inside?
- Full of wickedness and sin.
- Heart was filled with perversion.
I am afraid
- but I know this to be true:
- a million times more wicked
- than my dad.
Oh Lord. My heart is bent toward lust and sin. Save me Lord. Do what you must. I cannot cannot cannot go back to hell I refuse to. I will not.
You must do what you need to do to ensure that I don’t go back there.
Save me Lord. Do what you will to keep me from there and to you and in you and by you forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:5
The Psalm
Psalm 34 (CSB)
5 Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.
The Prayer
My God.
- Keep me close to you.
- Let me see your face.
- Just this once.
- So I can behold your beauty.
- If I die then so be it.
- Because I rather see you and die
- then to never see your face and never fully live.
My God keep my eyes on your eyes my heart on your heart and my soul connected to yours.
- Whatever work you must do in me do it.
- For I am yours and you are mine.
I know this forever.
- I will never be satisfied.
- So long as I live.
- Until I see your face.
So I will run hard
- fly fast
- do as I please
- because I am so in love with you
- and I have absolute freedom.
Never in prison yet a bond servant.
Never obligated but your bride.
Never ever an orphan but your son.
Never alone for you are with me forever.
Bring me home.
- Let me see your face.
- But if it isn’t now then I will do your will.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:6
The Psalm
Psalm 34 (CSB)
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him from all his troubles.
The Prayer
I lack.
- I am weak.
- I have nothing.
- I am poor.
- I am dead.
Whatever I have is from you.
- This roof upon my head.
- Clothes on my back.
- My warm bed.
- My beautiful wife.
- My wonderful children.
- My running cars.
- My vocation.
All of it comes from you alone.
But I have everything.
- I am wealthy beyond measure.
- I am strong.
- I am the richest.
- I am fully alive.
All of because I am in full possession of your Son Jesus Christ.
He is my rock
He is my fortress
He is my redeemer
He is my strength
He is my beloved
And I am his.
Keep me close to you.
- Do not let me go.
- Do what you must
- to keep me with you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:7
The Psalm
Psalm 34 (CSB)
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.
The Prayer
We know that sins crouched for us.
We know that the devil
- sets his snares for our souls. We know that the world
- beckons our hearts towards death. But you alone are
- worthy to be praised
You alone are
- holy and holy and holy
You alone are
- righteous
- for there is none like you
I will worship you
I will give you praise
I will sing of your wondrous works
I will marvel at your law
I will dance in your heart
I will repent of all my sin
I will trust in your Son
Because you have loved me
Because your Son
- lived and died for me
Because your Spirit
- bears witness with my spirit
- that I am a son of God.
That you dwell wholly within me.
And with you in me
- I will bless your holy name forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:8
The Psalm
Psalm 34 (CSB)
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!
The Prayer
What did your Son say?
- Eat of my flesh
- Drink of my blood
- For God alone is good.
There is no other manna but your Son.
There is no Bread of life other than your Son.
There is no other Living Water other than your Son.
There is no life outside of your Son.
I will taste and see
- because my Lord alone is good
- For in him I live and move and have my being
I will forever make a joyful noise
I am so weak
- so be my strength
- I am so filled with sin
- so grant me your Son’s righteousness
- I am so far
- so send your Spirit to bring me home
- I am an orphan
- My God, adopt me as your own.
Be glorified. Today.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:9
The Psalm
Psalm 34 (CSB)
9 You who are his holy ones, fear the LORD, for those who fear him lack nothing.
The Prayer
My God
- I have suffered so much due
- to all the sin I’ve committed
- all the righteous acts that I have failed to do
- and all the wickedness done to me.
I was destined to die
- I was limited to this world
- and it’s smallish pleasures
- that fulfill nothing
- in my eternal heart.
And because I am a son of Adam
- I feared only everything not Godx
- My attention was away from you
- My gaze was away from your face
- My heart flees from you
Capture my heart
- Again and again
Capture my love
- until I know no other love
Capture my life
- until you take me home forever
Tell me your will
- so I can do it
Tell me your heart
- so I can see if my heart matches
- and repent if not
Tell me I am yours forever
- so I can be alive
- and free in you
Praise your holy name forever
Praying Through: Psalm 34:10
The Psalm
Psalm 34 (CSB)
10 Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.
The Prayer
I have sought all of my life
- to prey on the weak
- to consume to my stomach's content
- to try to fill my heart
- with everything
- my sin's desires
- the world and it's pleasures
- the sweetest temptations of the devil
My God,
- you knew me
- and loved me
- you sought me
- and rescued me
- when I was in the mud
- at the bottom of the ocean
- and was dead in my trespasses.
Your arm
- none too short
- reached in
- carried me up
- took me to green pastures
- laid me besides still waters
- restored my soul
- for your name sake only.
Feed my body
- be my forever sustenance
- be my forever strength
- be my forever shield
- be my forever salvation.
In you, will I trust.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:11-14
The Psalm
Psalm 34 (CSB)
11 Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.12 Who is someone who desires life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.
14 Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.
The Prayer
My lips have spoken evil
- because my heart was filled with wickedness.
My eyes saw lustful things
- because my heart was filled with sin.
My ears desired fleshy things
- because my heart was filled with cancer.
How can I even see good
- when I filled with evil and contempt?
- How can I even keep my tongue from evil and deceit
- when all I know is sin.
- How can I turn away from evil
- when all I have done is chase after my gods.
But you alone are good
- you alone bring peace
- and I dare not pursue you
- until you first capture me
- exchanged my heart
- gave me your faith
- gave me sight
- opened my ears
- changed my mind
- and gave me new desires.
Oh Lord,
- in your steadfast love
- grace upon grace
- and daily mercies
- capture my heart
- again and again
- keep my eyes on you
- and keep your precious word
- in my heart
- so that I will not sin against you.
Now, tomorrow and forever more.
I love you, Lord.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:15-18
The Psalm
Psalm 34 (CSB)
The Prayer
Why would you spare me?
I have seen the evil that men have done
- I have seen their sins stacked up
- miles above
- oceans deep
- filling the earth
- with treachery and debauchery
My sins filled more
- overfill all oceans and canyons
- I have done more evil in your sight
- than all of humanity
- I am the supreme chief of sinners
But yet
- you saw me
- not the good that I could ever do
- but the wickedness that was in me
- and you pitied me
- because I was a fool
- and you sought me
- because I was lost
- and you loved me
- because I was completely unlovable
When I saw your glory
- from the deepest, darkest parts of my heart
- I cried out in agony and pain,
- "HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER!"
And your sweetest, only begotten Son
- laid his mighty hand on me
- and quietly respond,
- "I do not condemn you"
Now, only because of You
- that I will go
- and sin no more.
Praise be to your loveliest name.
Praying Through: Psalm 34:19-22
The Psalm
The Prayer
My God,
- if I was raped
- tortured
- bruised
- afflicted
- pressed
- crushed
- beaten
- sicken
- destroyed
- attacked
- for all of my days
- If I faced unspeakable
- evil acts against me
I will call upon you
- to give me your Son
- to give me your Spirit
- to raise my lowly head
- to open my eyes
- to see your lovely face
- once more
- to take me home
My life before you
- was everything evil
- was none of it good
- it was torturous
- crushing
- back-breaking
- afflicting
- because of the sheer weight
- of all of my sins.
The evil I have done
- was enough to try to take my life
- and surely I was not good
- surely I would have perish
- and be under the wrath of your Son
- forever.
For I was once foolish,
- disobedient,
- led astray,
- slaves to various passions and pleasures,
- passing my days in malice and envy,
- hated by others
- and hating everybody.
But when
- the goodness and
- loving kindness of
- God my Savior appeared,
- you saved me.
Not because of any works I have done in righteousness,
- because everything that I have ever done
- are stench of death to your nostrils.
But why?
- According to your own mercy,
- by the washing me in regeneration and
- renewal of the Holy Spirit,
- whom you have poured out on me
- richly through Jesus Christ my Savior,
- so that I am justified by his grace
- and I might become an heir
- according to the hope of eternal life.
Praise your lovely name on high.
Psalm 35
Of David.
1 Oppose my opponents, LORD; fight those who fight me.
2 Take your shields—large and small— and come to my aid.
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers, and assure me, “I am your deliverance.”
4 Let those who intend to take my life be disgraced and humiliated; let those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed.
5 Let them be like chaff in the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 They hid their net for me without cause; they dug a pit for me without cause.
8 Let ruin come on him unexpectedly, and let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his ruin.
9 Then I will rejoice in the LORD; I will delight in his deliverance.
10 All my bones will say, “LORD, who is like you, rescuing the poor from one too strong for him, the poor or the needy from one who robs him?”
11 Malicious witnesses come forward; they question me about things I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good, making me desolate.
13 Yet when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer was genuine.
14 I went about mourning as if for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for a mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; they gathered against me. Assailants I did not know tore at me and did not stop.
16 With godless mockery they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages; rescue my precious life from the young lions.
18 I will praise you in the great assembly; I will exalt you among many people.
19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let those who hate me without cause wink at me maliciously.
20 For they do not speak in friendly ways, but contrive fraudulent schemes against those who live peacefully in the land.
21 They open their mouths wide against me and say, “Aha, aha! We saw it!”
22 You saw it, LORD; do not be silent. Lord, do not be far from me.
23 Wake up and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Vindicate me, LORD my God, in keeping with your righteousness, and do not let them rejoice over me.
25 Do not let them say in their hearts, “Aha! Just what we wanted.” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”
26 Let those who rejoice at my misfortune be disgraced and humiliated; let those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and reproach.
27 Let those who want my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them continually say, “The LORD be exalted. He takes pleasure in his servant’s well-being.”
28 And my tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praise all day long.
Praying Through: Psalm 35:1-3
The Psalm
Psalm 35:1–3 (CSB)
1 Oppose my opponents, LORD; fight those who fight me.2 Take your shields—large and small— and come to my aid.
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers, and assure me, “I am your deliverance.”
The Prayer
I remembered
- being attacked
- all of my days
- and having no will to fight
- succumbing to the attacks of Satan
- easily
- like a sheep
- like a prisoner of war
- tortured
- for entertainment
- to despise your holy name.
When you saved me,
- your hand was upon me
- your shield protected me
- you healed my heart
- you mended my bones
- you restored my soul.
But just as David called his mighty men
- you called on me
- there are numerous giants to be slain
- for Satan and his demons
- have sharpened their arrows
- quickened their aim
- sure their shots.
But you are the Commander of the Most High
- and I bow at your command
- I am on your side
- you are my Lord.
Give me your will
- and with your grace
- I will make it my own
- for Your are my Redeemer and Judge
- and your resurrecting Spirit
- is always with me.
Guard me from temptation
- but give me yourself
- my Christ and Lord
- to give me the strength and endurance
- to wrap my hands
- around the necks of my gods
- my torturers
- my giants
- and crushed their windpipes
- until they fall lifeless
- and dead forever.
Sin has not conquered me
- for you alone have conquered sin
- forever.
I love you, Lord.
Praying Through: Psalm 35:4-6
The Psalm
Psalm 35:4–6 (CSB)
4 Let those who intend to take my life be disgraced and humiliated; let those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed.5 Let them be like chaff in the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
The Prayer
You descended to the cross
- with great joy.
You faced Death
- and called out Life
You bear the weight
- of my complete sin
You gave yourself over
- and allowed them
- to nail you
- to the cross
They mocked
- others grieved.
- your heart was pierced
- your love washed over
- your body broken
- your Spirit remained
- until the justified wrath of God
- was meant for me
- was finished pouring on you
When you cried out,
- "IT IS FINISHED!"
- when your Spirit left
- when your breath exhausted
- at that very moment
- you snapped the neck of Death
- the realms of Hell became yours
- my sin was removed infinitely away
- demons cried out in pain
- and Satan
- the Prince of Lies
- the Condemner of Man
- the Fallen Angel
- was conquered
- stripped of his power
- put to open shame
- forever.
And all the angels bear witness,
- Worthy is the Lamb that was just slain,
- Holy
- Holy
- Holy
- is the Lord God Almighty
- who was
- and is
- and is to come.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 35:7-28
The Psalm
Psalm 35:7-28 (CSB)
7 They hid their net for me without cause; they dug a pit for me without cause.8 Let ruin come on him unexpectedly, and let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his ruin.
9 Then I will rejoice in the LORD; I will delight in his deliverance.
10 All my bones will say, “LORD, who is like you, rescuing the poor from one too strong for him, the poor or the needy from one who robs him?”
11 Malicious witnesses come forward; they question me about things I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good, making me desolate.
13 Yet when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer was genuine.
14 I went about mourning as if for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for a mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; they gathered against me. Assailants I did not know tore at me and did not stop.
16 With godless mockery they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages; rescue my precious life from the young lions.
18 I will praise you in the great assembly; I will exalt you among many people.
19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let those who hate me without cause wink at me maliciously.
20 For they do not speak in friendly ways, but contrive fraudulent schemes against those who live peacefully in the land.
21 They open their mouths wide against me and say, “Aha, aha! We saw it!”
22 You saw it, LORD; do not be silent. Lord, do not be far from me.
23 Wake up and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Vindicate me, LORD my God, in keeping with your righteousness, and do not let them rejoice over me.
25 Do not let them say in their hearts, “Aha! Just what we wanted.” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”
26 Let those who rejoice at my misfortune be disgraced and humiliated; let those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and reproach.
27 Let those who want my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them continually say, “The LORD be exalted. He takes pleasure in his servant’s well-being.”
28 And my tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praise all day long.
The Prayer
My life
- I have only experienced
- enemies trying to take my life
- attempting to end me
- my soul
- my heart
- and my mind. They have used me
- for their own wickedness
- and to fulfill their hearts of sin
- and to dispose me
- like I am trash.
I am burn with anger
- because I feel powerless
- but my eyes see
- who are my enemies
- who have vowed to draw me away from you
- and that fills me with rage.
Because you have loved me from all of eternity
- and your heart was openly affectionate upon me
- and you loved me
- and you loved me so much
- that you sent your Son
- to live and die and rise from death
- so I can live, and move and have my being
- in you alone.
God, I pray for those
- who would try to take my life.
- They have failed. Miserably.
- Their actions are in completely vain
Show them the wickedness of their sin
- and turn their hearts towards you. Save them from their sins
- and from the snares of the devil.
Put Satan and his demons to open shame
- because your Son has the keys
- to hell and death
How much more glorious would it be
-
to these supposed enemies
-
who would have me killed
-
and then you draw them
-
and you call them
-
and you exchange their hearts
-
and filled them with your Spirit?
-
That would be spectacular
-
because that is what you have done for me
-
You have predestined me?
-
Predestined them
-
You have called me?
-
Call them
-
You have justified me in my wickedness
-
that eclipses their own wickedness?
-
Justify them
-
You have glorified me
-
because you have glorified your Son?
-
Glorify them
-
You have saved me?
-
Save them
-
You have loved me?
-
Love them.
Save my enemies O Lord
- keep them precious in your sight
- my Savior and my Redeemer forever.
Amen.
Psalm 36
For the choir director. Of David, the LORD’s servant.
1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked person: Dread of God has no effect on him.
2 For with his flattering opinion of himself, he does not discover and hate his iniquity.
3 The words from his mouth are malicious and deceptive; he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.
4 Even on his bed he makes malicious plans. He sets himself on a path that is not good, and he does not reject evil.
5 LORD, your faithful love reaches to heaven, your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your judgments like the deepest sea. LORD, you preserve people and animals.
7 How priceless your faithful love is, God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They are filled from the abundance of your house. You let them drink from your refreshing stream.
9 For the wellspring of life is with you. By means of your light we see light.
10 Spread your faithful love over those who know you, and your righteousness over the upright in heart.
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant come near me or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There! The evildoers have fallen. They have been thrown down and cannot rise.
Praying Through: Psalm 36:1-4
The Psalm
Psalm 36 (CSB)
1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked person: Dread of God has no effect on him.2 For with his flattering opinion of himself, he does not discover and hate his iniquity.
3 The words from his mouth are malicious and deceptive; he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.
4 Even on his bed he makes malicious plans. He sets himself on a path that is not good, and he does not reject evil.
The Prayer
How often do I preach
- against the sin in others
- guilt deep in the hearts of men
- and as they continue to plot in vain
- as if there is no God.
But my life
- was filled to the hilt
- with my own wickedness
- perversions that few can know
- evil that cause some to shudder
- sin that churns and burns in my
- heart
- mind
- and soul
- continuously.
I was one of these worthless men
- that sinned all the more
- I was ill-deserving of any leniency
- I could not afford grace.
But you O Lord
- had me in your sights
- and you had sweetest mercy for me
- and you pulled me out of hell
- and your rescued me from death
- and you loved me
- and you saved me
- and you bless me.
My God, keep your hand on my life
- and keep turning my heart towards you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 36:5
The Psalm
Psalm 36 (CSB)
5 LORD, your faithful love reaches to heaven, your faithfulness to the clouds.
The Prayer
I search this earth
- for something that is good and holy
- none I can find
- I see semblances
- but none fulfilling.
But you led me to your word
- and your word speaks of you.
I see that you alone are good
- holy
- justified
- merciful
- gracious
- loving
- and righteous.
And we are so far from you
- I even see my own heart
- and I am an infinite distant
- from your presence.
Who would bridge this gap?
Is it I?
- Then, let me try my best
- let me abstain from sin
- let me not look at porn
- let me not lust after someone eclipses
- let me not steal
- let me not life
- let me not swell in pride
- let me fail not in helping those in need
- let me do good1
Oh but everything I do is infected with sin.
I see it because I know it in my heart.
When I am helpful,
- I do so in order for people to like me. When I am nice,
- I want people to think I am good.
But if they could see my heart
- if they could see the thoughts of my minds
- that sin runs continuously
- that wickedness runs without end
- that treason is built into my soul
- and they judge me wanting.
But you saw the depths of my soul
- even beyond what I can see
- in the darkness and despair
- and you did not cower
- you did not look away
- you took pity on this old fool
- and you gave me your Son
- and you gave me your Spirit
- and you gave me your inheritance
- your daily mercies
- your sweetest grace
- and your steadfast love.
Keep me in palms of your hands O Lord
- I stand on the spoken word of your Son
- that no one
- not anything
- even sin
- Satan
- death
- demons
- and hell
- can take me from your hand
Furthermore,
- my God
- you would never let me go.
Keep me in your heart
- and speak into my soul
- and write your words in my heart
- that I may never sin against you.
Praying Through: Psalm 35:6
The Psalm
Psalm 36 (CSB)
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your judgments like the deepest sea. LORD, you preserve people and animals.
The Prayer
I search this earth
- for something that is good and holy
- none I can find
- I see semblances
- but none fulfilling
But you lead me to your word
- your word speaks of you
- I see that you alone are good
- holy
- justified
- merciful
- gracious
- loving
- righteous
- we are so far from you
I see my own heart
- I am an infinite distance from your presence.
Who would bridge this gap?
Is it I?
Let me try my best
- let me abstain from sin
- let me not look at porn
- let me not lust after someone eclipses
- let me not steal
- let me not life
- let me not swell in predestined
- let me fail not in helping those in need
- let me do good.
Oh but everything I do is infected with sin
- I see it because I know it in my heart
When I am helpful
- I do so in order for people to like me
When I am nice
- I want people to think I am good
- but if they could see my heart
- if they could see the thoughts of my mind
- they would run continuously
- they judge me wanting.
But you saw the depths of my soul
- even beyond what I can see
- in the darkness and despair
- you did not shudder
- you did not look away
- you took pity on this old fool
- you gave me your Son
- you gave me your Spirit
- you gave me your inheritance
- your daily mercies
- your sweetest grace
- your steadfast love
- forever.
Keep me in palms of your hands
- O Lord
- I stand on the spoken word of your Son
- that no one
- not anything
- Satan
- death
- demons
- hell
- can take me from your hands
- I know
- you will never let me go.
Keep me in your heart
- speak into my soul
- write your words in my heart
- that I may never sin against you.
Praying Through: Psalm 36:7-9
The Psalm
Psalm 36 (CSB)
7 How priceless your faithful love is, God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.8 They are filled from the abundance of your house. You let them drink from your refreshing stream.
9 For the wellspring of life is with you. By means of your light we see light.
The Prayer
I love you, Lord
- but only for a little while. I have known you for most of my life
- but loved you just a little.
I have seen your love for me
- started with my grandmother
- and then my mom My family is wicked and deceived
- and I had no inheritance. I was introduced to the revolting evil
- at an age when I should have not known
- and that sin
- quickly overcame my heart
- and infected my soul.
The devil had me early
- and I kept trying to end my life.
But you alone
- preserved my life
- when I was treasonous against you
- gave me grace
- when I was a sinner all the more
- saved me from the utmost
- when I was deserving of wrath
- gifted me your heart
- in exchange for my concrete
- gave me your Son
- in exchange for my sin
- gave me your Spirit
- so I will be marked as your son
- forever.
My God,
- your love as always been on my life
- and I see it now
- preserve me
- keep me in your hands
- and never let me go.
I love you Lord
- increase my heart and affections
- towards you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 36:10-12
The Psalm
Psalm 36 (CSB)
10 Spread your faithful love over those who know you, and your righteousness over the upright in heart.11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant come near me or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There! The evildoers have fallen. They have been thrown down and cannot rise.
The Prayer
Keep your love upon me
- do not let me go
- do not turn your back on me
- do not forget me
- do not forsake me
If I am arrogant
- then discipline me
If I am wicked
- then wash me clean
If I am evil
- then make me holy.
Whatever you can do
- to keep me close
- then do it.
Because I want you
- and nobody else
- and not even sin
- nor things of this world
- would be worth
- be one second apart
- from your love.
Keep me Lord
Defeat my real enemies
Love those who oppose you
- and save them to you.
You are the only God
- who is mighty to save.
Amen.
Psalm 37
Of David.
1 Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.
2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants.
3 Trust in the LORD and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.
4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act,
6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.
7 Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans.
8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.
9 For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.
12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him.
13 The Lord laughs at him because he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow to bring down the poor and needy and to slaughter those whose way is upright.
15 Their swords will enter their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16 The little that the righteous person has is better than the abundance of many wicked people.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD supports the righteous.
18 The LORD watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity; they will be satisfied in days of hunger.
20 But the wicked will perish; the LORD’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures, will fade away— they will fade away like smoke.
21 The wicked person borrows and does not repay, but the righteous one is gracious and giving.
22 Those who are blessed by the LORD will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will be destroyed.
23 A person’s steps are established by the LORD, and he takes pleasure in his way.
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the LORD supports him with his hand.
25 I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread.
26 He is always generous, always lending, and his children are a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil, do what is good, and settle permanently.
28 For the LORD loves justice and will not abandon his faithful ones. They are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.
29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it permanently.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom; his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The instruction of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.
32 The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous and intends to kill him;
33 the LORD will not leave him in the power of the wicked one or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.
34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.
35 I have seen a wicked, violent person well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree.
36 Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found.
37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the person of peace will have a future.
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD, their refuge in a time of distress.
40 The LORD helps and delivers them; he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in him.
Praying Through: Psalm 37:1-2
The Psalm
Psalm 37 (CSB)
1 Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants.
The Prayer
What is our lives, O Lord
- that we would be counted as precious
- that you would be mindful of us
- that you would set your affections upon us
- that you would give your grace to us
- and you would want to cherish us?
But Lord,
- we are here for a moment
- our lives are but a blink
- your word says,
- like dew on grass
- until the early morning sun
- scorches the fields
- and burns us all away.
Lord,
- keep my mind on these things
- that what I might do here
- will give you eternal glory.
Let wait upon your words
- so I might only prophesy
- and build up your church.
Let my hands and feet
- run after
- those in need
- and serve according to your will.
Let me only herald
- the eternal kingdom
- of the Son of David
- and evangelize till the end of the earth
- "The Kingdom of God is here!"
Help me not waste one second of my life
- but give you eternal glory.
I pray this in your Son's precious and holy name forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 37:3
The Psalm
Psalm 37 (CSB)
3 Trust in the LORD and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.
The Prayer
What is my life, O Lord,
- that I have spent
- most of my years
- trusting in gods that weak and stupid
- and couldn't save themselves.
What is my mind, O Lord,
- that my very nature
- is incline not to think of you
- but of the things of the world
- as though anything in the material plane
- could actually give me an ounce of real joy.
What is my heart, O God,
- that breeds contempt
- against my Creator and my Kingdom
- that wages war
- against the Spirit of peace
- that blasphemes your holy name
- and sins against you continuously.
My Lord and my God,
- give me your precious mercy
- so that I might live and not perish
- give me your grace
- to obey your word and do your will
- give me your love
- so I will be precious in your sight.
Save me from hell and death
- and I can worship you
- for all of my days
- till the end of time.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 37:4
The Psalm
Psalm 37 (CSB)
4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
The Prayer
I have one prayer:
- give me your heart.
- for mine is frail and weak
- and corrupted with sin.
- it is made of stone
- and gives me no life
- it gives wickedness
- and seeks to only destroy me.
If I had your heart,
- surely I will live
- surely I will be in your grace
- surely I will give others your grace
- I will see others in the a new light
- that you love them with all of your heart
- and your desire was to save them
Grant me a new heart, O Lord
- then my desires will not be for this world
- but for they will be for you alone.
Be my love.
Be my joy.
Be my king.
You are my God.
I love you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 37:5-6
The Psalm
Psalm 37 (CSB)
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act,6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.
The Prayer
I love you Lord
- and you are my heart's desire
- for all of my days
- I want to be by your side
- and dwell with you
- and waste my days with you
- because you are the Lord of my life
- and the love of my heart.
How amazing
- that you would look upon
- my sinful heart
- and thought of love at first sight
- there is none like you
- there is none beside you
- I stake all of my hope and trust in you
- you are my God and my Lord forever
- you are the center and totality of my heart
- you are my will and my desire.
God,
- keep me close
- never let me go
- don't loosen your grip on me
- because I couldn't stand it
- and I rather die
- then to be apart from you.
- Because if I do,
- then I will be with you.
Be my God.
- Be my sweetest affections
- and my deepest joy
- and my fieriest passions.
I will praise you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 37:7
The Psalm
Psalm 37 (CSB)
7 Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans.
The Prayer
I examine my life
- filled with despair
- chaos
- confusion
- darkness
- death.
And your love
- have pierced through it all
- into my heart
- and gave me life
- when I was dead
- joy
- when there was sorrow
- pleasure
- when all I have ever known is pain
- weakness
- when I have tried to be strong
- humility
- when I was filled with pride
- righteousness
- when the world excused my lusts
- holiness
- when I was sin.
Be my Rock of Ages
- Be my source
- Be the water to my thirst
- nourishment to my hunger
- satisfaction to my emptiness
- peace to my soul.
I love you Lord
- now and always
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 37:8-9
The Psalm
Psalm 37 (CSB)
8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.9 For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
The Prayer
I repent
- of a life that exacted
- vengeance for my wounds
- revenge for my pain
- justice for wrongs against me.
I repent for being wrathful.
You, O Lord, are the ONLY being
- deserving of justice
- because you have been wronged
- deserving of vengeance
- because you have been hurt
- wrathful
- because you are jealous for me.
Lord, I am repenting
- of when I thought I was you.
Beat this out of me
- make me your servant
- keep me as your friend
- love me as your lover
- Be my Lord and my God forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 37:10-11
The Psalm
Psalm 37 (CSB)
10 A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there.11 But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.
The Prayer
Holy, holy, holy
- are you, my Lord.
Human history and my life
- is filled with everybody
- being mighty when they are weak
- and conquering over the less fortunate
- and the weaker persons
Truth be told
- we are all weak and feeble.
- Our strength amounts to nothing
- Our minds know nothing
- Our hearts are cold and embittered
- Our souls have nothing
- next to you and who you are.
My Christ,
- you came down
- as a baby
- lived as a weak human
- and died terribly
- You are the meekest
- and you have inherited all of existance
- And you did so
- so that you can save a wretch like me
- from my sins and back to you.
You are my living Christ
- I praise you for your life
- Now, I am yours
- and you are mine forevermore.
I love you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 37:12-13
The Psalm
Psalm 37 (CSB)
12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him.13 The Lord laughs at him because he sees that his day is coming.
The Prayer
I write with my words
- all the time
- that these people who have warred against me
- when they have sought to end my life
- when they have chipped away at my heart
- they are not my enemies
- but they have been captured by the Enemy.
I know this truly
- but I cannot help to feel the pain
- from the wounds they have left.
My God,
- you have granted me repentance
- when I have sinned against you
- and you were quick to forgive me.
Grant me forgiveness
- O Lord
- to give to them
- and would you save them, O God?
- you are the only God
- who is mighty to save.
But if it be your will
- not to save them to you,
- then I pray
- as your Son prayed
- "Lord, forgive them
- for they do not know what they do."
- They have hurt me
- but you can forgive them
- and not punish them
- because I am no longer identify with those pains
- because I am only identify
- with the life,
- death
- resurrection
- and ascension
- of my only, only Lord Jesus Christ
- who lived
- and died for me.
Praise be your holy name forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 37:14-15
The Psalm
Psalm 37 (CSB)
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow to bring down the poor and needy and to slaughter those whose way is upright.15 Their swords will enter their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
The Prayer
When I am hurt
- when people hurt me
- when they attack me
- when they do their worse.
Help me to take no offense
- to take my pain to you, O God
- because on your Son
- is all of my sin
- treason
- disease
- pain
- and suffering
- That belongs to you.
I will no longer live
- on offense
- by angry
- by destruction
- by pain
- bv sin
- because you have called me to live in your Son alone
Be my love, O Lord.
I love you.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 37:16-40
The Psalm
Psalm 37 (CSB)
16 The little that the righteous person has is better than the abundance of many wicked people.17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD supports the righteous.
18 The LORD watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity; they will be satisfied in days of hunger.
20 But the wicked will perish; the LORD’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures, will fade away— they will fade away like smoke.
21 The wicked person borrows and does not repay, but the righteous one is gracious and giving.
22 Those who are blessed by the LORD will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will be destroyed.
23 A person’s steps are established by the LORD, and he takes pleasure in his way.
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the LORD supports him with his hand.
25 I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread.
26 He is always generous, always lending, and his children are a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil, do what is good, and settle permanently.
28 For the LORD loves justice and will not abandon his faithful ones. They are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.
29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it permanently.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom; his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The instruction of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.
32 The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous and intends to kill him;
33 the LORD will not leave him in the power of the wicked one or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.
34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.
35 I have seen a wicked, violent person well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree.
36 Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found.
37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the person of peace will have a future.
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD, their refuge in a time of distress.
40 The LORD helps and delivers them; he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in him.
The Prayer
All of my days
- were filled with evil
- treason
- unholiness
- vile
- and dread before you.
I was once
- foolish
- disobedient
- led astray
- a slave to various passions
- and pleasures
- passing my days in malice
- and envy
- hated by others
- and hating others.
But when you appeared,
- O Lord
- you brought your goodness
- and loving kindness
- and you saved me
- Not because of anything I have ever done
- or will ever do
- but only because of your great mercy
- and you washed me
- my giving me a clean heart
- and filling me richly
- with your Holy Spirit.
And now I am justified
- by your grace
- and now I am heir
- because you are only hope
- for eternal life.
Be thou my vision
- forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 38
The Psalm
Psalm 38 (CSB)
A psalm of David to bring remembrance.1 LORD, do not punish me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has pressed down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my body because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have flooded over my head; they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.
5 My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness.
6 I am bent over and brought very low; all day long I go around in mourning.
7 For my insides are full of burning pain, and there is no soundness in my body.
8 I am faint and severely crushed; I groan because of the anguish of my heart.
9 Lord, my every desire is in front of you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart races, my strength leaves me, and even the light of my eyes has faded.
11 My loved ones and friends stand back from my affliction, and my relatives stand at a distance.
12 Those who intend to kill me set traps, and those who want to harm me threaten to destroy me; they plot treachery all day long.
13 I am like a deaf person; I do not hear. I am like a speechless person who does not open his mouth.
14 I am like a man who does not hear and has no arguments in his mouth.
15 For I put my hope in you, LORD; you will answer me, my Lord, my God.
16 For I said, “Don’t let them rejoice over me— those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble.”
17 For I am about to fall, and my pain is constantly with me.
18 So I confess my iniquity; I am anxious because of my sin.
19 But my enemies are vigorous and powerful; many hate me for no reason.
20 Those who repay evil for good attack me for pursuing good.
21 LORD, do not abandon me; my God, do not be far from me.
22 Hurry to help me, my Lord, my salvation.
The Prayer
I will never forget
- the moment
- when I stood
- and asked for help.
I was being tormented
- and persecuted
- for the sake of sin
- and I have always been low
- because of other people's sin.
But those people
- who are not my enemies
- are not in my control.
When I stood
- and I begged,
- "They keep doing this to me,
- help me to control myself
- help me to cease
- giving myself
- the permission to sin
- against the Holy God."
And then
- and only then
- did you send help
- you answered my cries
- and you begun the healing
- and the renewing of the mind.
Even in the midst of your presence
- I got frightened
- as a wounded dog
- and I ran
- because I did not know
- what I was going to do
- or how painful it was going to be.
My God,
- you did not stop
- you did not flinch
- you pursue me
- you sought me out
- when i ran from your sweet love.
And you captured me
- and you continued your work.
Only You,
- could have done this.
- Only you,
- could have set me free
- Only you,
- could have loved me
- in the way that I needed the most.
God,
- write your word
- upon my heart
- and seal it with your Spirit
- and purchase me with your Som
- and make me like your child.
Keep me
- do not lose me
I adore you - now and always.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 39
The Psalm
Psalm 39 (CSB)
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David.1 I said, “I will guard my ways so that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was speechless and quiet; I kept silent, even from speaking good, and my pain intensified.
3 My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, a fire burned. I spoke with my tongue:
4 “LORD, make me aware of my end and the number of my days so that I will know how short-lived I am.
5 In fact, you have made my days just inches long, and my life span is as nothing to you. Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor. Selah
6 Yes, a person goes about like a mere shadow. Indeed, they rush around in vain, gathering possessions without knowing who will get them.
7 “Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from all my transgressions; do not make me the taunt of fools.
9 I am speechless; I do not open my mouth because of what you have done.
10 Remove your torment from me. Because of the force of your hand I am finished.
11 You discipline a person with punishment for iniquity, consuming like a moth what is precious to him; yes, every human being is only a vapor. Selah
12 “Hear my prayer, LORD, and listen to my cry for help; do not be silent at my tears. For I am here with you as an alien, a temporary resident like all my ancestors.
13 Turn your angry gaze from me so that I may be cheered up before I die and am gone.”
The Prayer
In fury
- wrath
- injustice
- vengeance
- rage
- and anger
- I cried out
- not in righteousness of your Son
- but if I examine my heart for a second
- in my own self-righteousness.
I share
- posts
- memes
- quotes
- to try to take away the pain
- when I should have been grieving
- crying
- interceding
- and praying
- because you have seen my iniquity
- and you have withheld your mercy
- and you have judged my land
- unholy and unpleasing
- to you.
My God,
- make me ready
- for what you are about to do
- make me ready
- to be taken in by you
- make me ready
- so that your Son will come back
- now
- today
- right now
- so that I can be with you.
Every person
- that I have ever come across
- save them
- save them now
- save them quickly
- do not hesitate
- strip their pride
- crack their heart open
- step into their eternity
- and predestined to you
- the only and only God
- who alone is mighty to save.
Save them Lord
- Save them to the utmost
- Save them now
- Take us home
- None of us are waiting for anything worthwhile
- because nothing that we could ever desire
- compares to you.
We need you
- desperately
- right now.
Come Lord Jesus
- Come quickly
- Amen and amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 40
The Psalm
Psalm 40 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David.1 I waited patiently for the LORD, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.
2 He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and they will trust in the LORD.
4 How happy is anyone who has put his trust in the LORD and has not turned to the proud or to those who run after lies!
5 LORD my God, you have done many things— your wondrous works and your plans for us; none can compare with you. If I were to report and speak of them, they are more than can be told.
6 You do not delight in sacrifice and offering; you open my ears to listen. You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.
7 Then I said, “See, I have come; in the scroll it is written about me.
8 I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me.”
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; see, I do not keep my mouth closed— as you know, LORD.
10 I did not hide your righteousness in my heart; I spoke about your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal your constant love and truth from the great assembly.
11 LORD, you do not withhold your compassion from me. Your constant love and truth will always guard me.
12 For troubles without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me; I am unable to see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my courage leaves me.
13 LORD, be pleased to rescue me; hurry to help me, LORD.
14 Let those who intend to take my life be disgraced and confounded. Let those who wish me harm be turned back and humiliated.
15 Let those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” be appalled because of their shame.
16 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation continually say, “The LORD is great!”
17 I am oppressed and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and my deliverer; my God, do not delay.
The Prayer
You called upon me
- and I am your servant
- and I heard your voice
I will wait upon you
- to give me the command
- to preaching your good news
- to the lost
- the lonely
- the widowed
- the orphan
- the prisoner
I have waited for years
- and I will wait
- until you shower me with grace
- until you fill me with your Spirit
- like you did with your Son
- and you open my mouth
- they will not hear my voice
- nor will they hear my words
- they will hear you
- calling to them
- speaking to them
- raising the name of your Son
- Jesus Christ
- far above their sin and idols
- and draw everyone to you
So until that faithful day
- when you judged me faithful
- and appointed to your service
- I will sit still
- and wait upon the Lord
- I will meditate on your precious love
- I will praying and seek your face
- I will rejoice and be glad in you
I will praise your holy name
- forever and ever
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 41
The Psalm
Psalm 41 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David.1 Happy is one who is considerate of the poor; the LORD will save him in a day of adversity.
2 The LORD will keep him and preserve him; he will be blessed in the land. You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies.
3 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed; you will heal him on the bed where he lies.
4 I said, “LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 My enemies speak maliciously about me: “When will he die and be forgotten?”
6 When one of them comes to visit, he speaks deceitfully; he stores up evil in his heart; he goes out and talks.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they plan to harm me.
8 “Something awful has overwhelmed him, and he won’t rise again from where he lies!”
9 Even my friend in whom I trusted, one who ate my bread, has raised his heel against me.
10 But you, LORD, be gracious to me and raise me up; then I will repay them.
11 By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.
12 You supported me because of my integrity and set me in your presence forever.
13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen.
The Prayer
I will guard my mouth
- and my heart
- to not speak ill
- of those who are in abundance
- who do as they seem what is right in their own eyes
- and live as there is no God
I pray for them
- that you quickly save them
- as I pray this prayer
- and say these words
O Lord,
- I need you to be gracious to me
- heal my broken heart
- for I continuously sin against you
I went about my days
- being worthless and foolish
- disobedient to all of your law
- deceived by the prince of the air
- enslaved by the lusts of my heart
- and the idols of my mind
- living in violent opposition to you
- hated by others
- and hating one another
But when you appeared to me
- on that rainy Monday afternoon
- when I just sinned against you
- you saved me
- I have done nothing righteous
- in your eyes
- but you alone where completely merciful to me
- and you exchanged my sin-filled cancerous granite heart for your tender soft heart
- and you washed me clean
- and you renewed me with your Spirit
- to whom there is no end
I bath in your Spirit
- because your Son spoken and gave me Him
- and now I am a wicked sinner
- justified by Your grace
- and now I am an adopted child
- who now inherits everything
- that you gave your Son
Be exalted, my God
Be exalted, higher and higher
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 42
The Psalm
Psalm 42 (CSB)
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.1 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, “Where is your God?”
4 I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful and thankful shouts.
5 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.
6 I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your billows have swept over me.
8 The LORD will send his faithful love by day; his song will be with me in the night— a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”
10 My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they say to me, “Where is your God?”
11 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.
The Prayer
When you found me
- I was a swollen corpse
- at the bottom of the ocean
- I was a dried up river
- in the middle of a burning desert
- I was frozen death
- in a icy wasteland
I was completely dead
- I had no life to call upon you
- I had no heart to beat towards you
- My hands and feet were death
- and I stunk like a rotting corpse
- with sin-maggots eating
- away at my terrible heart
Surely I was left for dead
But you saw me
- and not only had pity on me
- but more so
- you gave me favor
- you lavished your grace
- and you extended your mercy
- You saw me
- in my desperate wickedness
- my unholy wretchedness
- my perversion wanton lusts
- and you loved me
- you cared for me
- you saved me
- you predestined me
- you called me
- you justified me
- and only because your promises
- are the only sure thing
- you have glorified me
You are my Lord and my God
- there is none like you
Amen and amen
Praying Through: Psalm 43
The Psalm
Psalm 43 (CSB)
1 Vindicate me, God, and champion my cause against an unfaithful nation; rescue me from the deceitful and unjust person.2 For you are the God of my refuge. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?
3 Send your light and your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling place.
4 Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise you with the lyre, God, my God.
5 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.
The Prayer
When will I know
when those who would cause me harm
have hurt me
betrayed me
abandoned me
and discard me
that I am sorrowful for that hurt
and I grieve
and I am angry for what was done
because I have been hurt.
But for most of my life
I have let that fester into
rage
vengeance
and wrath.
It has taken me all of my life
to know
that rage is a sin
vengeance belongs to you, O Lord
and you alone are deserving of wrath.
But here is the key
in you great love
you sent your Son
so that for your people
for the salvation of those you have elected
you pour your wrath
not on us
but on your Son
because he is the Worthy Lamb that was slain
holy holy holy is he.
Cleansed my heart
of my wickedness
in thinking I am God
I am not Never will I be you.
Save us
and keep us in your mercy
shower us with grace
and give us your steadfast love
for all of our days.
I love you Lord
thank you for saving me.
Save those whom I know and care for and love.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 44
The Psalm
Psalm 44 (CSB)
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.1 God, we have heard with our ears— our ancestors have told us— the work you accomplished in their days, in days long ago:
2 In order to plant them, you displaced the nations by your hand; in order to settle them, you brought disaster on the peoples.
3 For they did not take the land by their sword— their arm did not bring them victory— but by your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable toward them.
4 You are my King, my God, who ordains victories for Jacob.
5 Through you we drive back our foes; through your name we trample our enemies.
6 For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory.
7 But you give us victory over our foes and let those who hate us be disgraced.
8 We boast in God all day long; we will praise your name forever. Selah
9 But you have rejected and humiliated us; you do not march out with our armies.
10 You make us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have taken plunder for themselves.
11 You hand us over to be eaten like sheep and scatter us among the nations.
12 You sell your people for nothing; you make no profit from selling them.
13 You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.
14 You make us a joke among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
15 My disgrace is before me all day long, and shame has covered my face,
16 because of the taunts of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy and avenger.
17 All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten you or betrayed your covenant.
18 Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from your path.
19 But you have crushed us in a haunt of jackals and have covered us with deepest darkness.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 wouldn’t God have found this out, since he knows the secrets of the heart?
22 Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
23 Wake up, Lord! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don’t reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide and forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For we have sunk down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up! Help us! Redeem us because of your faithful love.
The Prayer
Before Christ
- I was without strength
- I would succumb to the enemy
- day and night.
Before Christ
- I was without glory
- I would lose all of my battles
- and torn to pieces.
Before Christ
- I was filled with sin
- my consequences
- and my enemies
- would have surely put me to death.
But Christ
- stepped in
- rescued me
- clothed me
- gave me food
- gave me strength
- gave me protection
- and gave me the one thing I never have
- everlasting love.
Dear God,
- Let me have your Son
- as my friend
- my beloved
- my Savior
- my love
- my brother
- and my King
- Forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 45
The Psalm
Psalm 45 (CSB)
For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song.1 My heart is moved by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most handsome of men; grace flows from your lips. Therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Mighty warrior, strap your sword at your side. In your majesty and splendor—
4 in your splendor ride triumphantly in the cause of truth, humility, and justice. May your right hand show your awe-inspiring acts.
5 Your sharpened arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, God, is forever and ever; the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.
8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume all your garments; from ivory palaces harps bring you joy.
9 Kings’ daughters are among your honored women; the queen, adorned with gold from Ophir, stands at your right hand.
10 Listen, daughter, pay attention and consider: Forget your people and your father’s house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty. Bow down to him, for he is your lord.
12 The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people, will seek your favor with gifts.
13 In her chamber, the royal daughter is all glorious, her clothing embroidered with gold.
14 In colorful garments she is led to the king; after her, the virgins, her companions, are brought to you.
15 They are led in with gladness and rejoicing; they enter the king’s palace.
16 Your sons will succeed your ancestors; you will make them princes throughout the land.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered for all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.
The Prayer
And now
- you are finished
- my Lord
- and now all the kingdoms
- power
- glory
- belong to you alone.
Yours is the kingdom
- and you are exalted above all.
Yours is the treasure
- for you alone
- are the rightful heir
- to all of Creation.
Be exalted, O God
- I shall worship you
- all of my days
- there is none like you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 46
The Psalm
Psalm 46 (CSB)
For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,
3 though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah
4 There is a river— its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when he lifts his voice.
7 The LORD of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
8 Come, see the works of the LORD, who brings devastation on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; he sets wagons ablaze.
10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
11 The LORD of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
The Prayer
You alone
- are my righteousness
- and my exalted Lord
- who rules and reigns in the heavens.
Majesty
- and my Love
- who can do what you have done?
My circumstances
- and my time here on earth
- do not define me
- nor do my sins
- nor do my actions
- nor do my desires
- nor does my heart.
Only you
- King Jesus
- give me all of my identity
- and worth
- and value.
Nothing else
- just you.
- My Lord and my Rock.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 47
The Psalm
Psalm 47 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry.
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is awe-inspiring, a great King over the whole earth.
3 He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.
4 He chooses for us our inheritance— the pride of Jacob, whom he loves. Selah
5 God ascends among shouts of joy, the LORD, with the sound of a ram’s horn.
6 Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise!
7 Sing a song of wisdom, for God is King of the whole earth.
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the peoples have assembled with the people of the God of Abraham. For the leaders of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
The Prayer
I will sing
- of all of your done
- of your salvation of my soul
- of your goodness to me
- of your provision when I have nothing
- of your presence when I was alone.
I will proclaim
- that you alone are good
- that you alone are righteous
- that you alone are worthy
- that you alone are holy
- holy
- holy.
I will preach
- that Christ came to save sinners
- of whom I am the foremost
- that Christ came to save His people
- from their sins
- that Christ is gentle and lowly
- and will take our sins
- of Christ alone
- and him crucified.
I will confess
- with a changed heart
- and a renewed mind
- and with your Spirit within me
- and your Son who died for me
- of all of my sins
- that you are God alone
- there is none like you.
I will live
- unto you alone
- because you are my precious God
- and my Lord
- forevermore.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 48
The Psalm
Psalm 48 (CSB)
A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.1 The LORD is great and highly praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain,
2 rising splendidly, is the joy of the whole earth. Mount Zion—the summit of Zaphon— is the city of the great King.
3 God is known as a stronghold in its citadels.
4 Look! The kings assembled; they advanced together.
5 They looked and froze with fear; they fled in terror.
6 Trembling seized them there, agony like that of a woman in labor,
7 as you wrecked the ships of Tarshish with the east wind.
8 Just as we heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of Armies, in the city of our God; God will establish it forever. Selah
9 God, within your temple, we contemplate your faithful love.
10 Like your name, God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with justice.
11 Mount Zion is glad. Judah’s villages rejoice because of your judgments.
12 Go around Zion, encircle it; count its towers,
13 note its ramparts; tour its citadels so that you can tell a future generation:
14 “This God, our God forever and ever— he will always lead us.”
The Prayer
I have been surrounded
- by all iniquity
- temptation waits for me
- sin is drawing ever so closely.
The demons seek
- and wait for my moments of weakness
- which I am continuously frail
- surely I will be devoured.
Satan attempts one last time
- to destroy your son
- to crush me
- with the weight of my own sin
- surely I will be buried.
But you have appeared
- not just one time rescuer
- but the all-time destroyer of evil
- the everlasting protector
- the risen conquerer.
When I have fallen
- you have lifted my head
- when I am faithless
- you have been faithful
- when I am weak
- you are the Almighty God.
I will give you praise
- for all of my days
- because you alone
- are worthy of my praise.
King Jesus
Praying Through: Psalm 49
The Psalm
Psalm 49 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart’s meditation brings understanding.
4 I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.
6 They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God—
8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying—
9 so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.
10 For one can see that the wise die; the foolish and stupid also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their permanent homes, their dwellings from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves.
12 But despite his assets, mankind will not last; he is like the animals that perish.
13 This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah
14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
15 But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol, for he will take me. Selah
16 Do not be afraid when a person gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases.
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down.
18 Though he blesses himself during his lifetime— and you are acclaimed when you do well for yourself—
19 he will go to the generation of his ancestors; they will never see the light.
20 Mankind, with his assets but without understanding, is like the animals that perish.
The Prayer
I am so ashamed
- because I have tried so hard
- to take the things of this world
- with me to the end
- and foolishly
- beyond the end.
I pat myself on the back
- and congratulate myself
- for not chasing after wealth
- power
- or anything else
- and called myself holy
- and worthy to be in your presence.
But the one thing I sought
- for all of my days
- was not you
- never you
- but to fulfill the lusts
- I had within my heart.
The more sex
- the more porn
- the more perversion
- the more idolatry
- the more immorality
- I could grab a hold of
- the better.
And exactly like the world
- I dare justify it
- and ignored it
- and destroyed everything around me to obtain it.
But you, O Lord
- like how you saw Noah in the midst of evil
- how you saw John in the midst of his mother's womb
- how you saw Paul in the midst of his blasphemy
- you saw me.
I was not lovely to look at
- my heart was grotesque and wicked
- and hated others
- especially women.
But you set your eyes upon me
- you appear
- you called upon me
- called me to life
- and I was dead in my trespasses
- but dead men have no choice
- but to be risen to life
- when they are awaken by the Living God.
How many times
- have I tried to wander
- back to death
- since then.
But how many more times
- have you
- come and get me.
Keep my feet planted
- O Lord
- break my heart
- seal my soul
- and don't release me
- until I see you face to face.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 50
The Psalm
Psalm 50 (CSB)
A psalm of Asaph.1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks; he summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God appears in radiance.
3 Our God is coming; he will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes him, and a storm rages around him.
4 On high, he summons heaven and earth in order to judge his people:
5 “Gather my faithful ones to me, those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God is the Judge. Selah
7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel. I am God, your God.
8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or for your burnt offerings, which are continually before me.
9 I will not take a bull from your household or male goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is mine.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer a thanksgiving sacrifice to God, and pay your vows to the Most High.
15 Call on me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”
16 But God says to the wicked: “What right do you have to recite my statutes and to take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate instruction and fling my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you make friends with him, and you associate with adulterers.
19 You unleash your mouth for evil and harness your tongue for deceit.
20 You sit, maligning your brother, slandering your mother’s son.
21 You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But I will rebuke you and lay out the case before you.
22 “Understand this, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to rescue you.
23 Whoever offers a thanksgiving sacrifice honors me, and whoever orders his conduct, I will show him the salvation of God.”
The Prayer
My sins before you
- can stretch to the furthest galaxies
- can fill the oceans
- can corrupt my soul
- can tangle my flesh
- can rot my mind
- can breaks my heart
- can steal any love I have in me.
At one time
- you counted me wicked
- because I was wicked
- I was treasonous
- because I made war against you
- with my mind
- my heart
- and my desires.
But you, O God
- in your great mercies
- and your lavish grace
- gave me your Son
- to live and die
- in my place
- for my sins.
You granted me a new heart
- your Spirit
- new desires
- for you.
You have given me faith
- to exalt you
- to worship you
- to run to you
- to lay at your feet
- to hope in you
- to trust in you
- to obey your every word.
Keep your love on me
- Do not let me stray
- I do not want to lose you love
- you are all that I have
- I have nothing else
- where else can I go.
Be exalted, my Lord.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 51
The Psalm
Psalm 51 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.1 Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.
2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.
5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.
10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.
18 In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
The Prayer
I cannot fall back into wickedness
- I cannot sin again
- I cannot be apart from you
- I cannot
I don't want to live
- If I cannot be in your presence
- You life is my life
- And I choose not to live without you.
Any sin left on my heart
- I need you wash it away
- Bring it up
- Give me the gift of repentance
- So I can turn away
- And turn to you.
Do this every moment of my life
- I have done everything
- The world
- My friends
- Work
- Satan
- Demons
- And sin
- Told me to go after
- And all of it is crap
- I find it wanting
- It is lacking
You have been the only thing
- That I have ever experienced
- That has given me perfection
- Perfect in love
- Grace
- mercy
You are better
- You are more
- You are righteous
- You are far above all of my gods.
I hate this world
- And I want nothing from it.
Take me home.
- Cleansed me of sin
- And take me home
- You are so good
- And there is nothing left here for me.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 52
The Psalm
Psalm 52 (CSB)
For the choir director. A Maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, telling him, “David went to Ahimelech’s house.”1 Why boast about evil, you hero! God’s faithful love is constant.
2 Like a sharpened razor, your tongue devises destruction, working treachery.
3 You love evil instead of good, lying instead of speaking truthfully. Selah
4 You love any words that destroy, you treacherous tongue!
5 This is why God will bring you down forever. He will take you, ripping you out of your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous will see and fear, and they will derisively say about that hero,
7 “Here is the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, taking refuge in his destructive behavior.”
8 But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I trust in God’s faithful love forever and ever.
9 I will praise you forever for what you have done. In the presence of your faithful people, I will put my hope in your name, for it is good.
The Prayer
Everything that I have
- And all that I got
- It is in you.
I have nowhere else to go
- And no one else to turn to
- You are my righteousness
- In you, I will trust.
I will bless your name forever
- I will worship your name on high
- I will proclaim your word to everyone
- I will preach your gospel to the end
- I will love you forever
- I will fear you for my life
- I will be still
- And know you are my God.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 53
The Psalm
Psalm 53 (CSB)
For the choir director: on Mahalath. A Maskil of David.1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.
3 All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Will evildoers never understand? They consume my people as they consume bread; they do not call on God.
5 Then they will be filled with dread— dread like no other— because God will scatter the bones of those who besiege you. You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
6 Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
The Prayer
My presence
- My life
- My words
- My actions
- Boldly proclaim,
- "There is no God!"
I sinned when I wanted
- And never repented
- No intention of
- Because I thought I was be fulfilled
- I thought porn was caring for me
- I thought lust was healing me.
But my sins
- Chew on my bones
- And gnawed on my flesh
- And I was immune to the pain
- And could not see what it was doing.
I was dead in my trespasses
- and sins
- Because I walked according
- To the ways of this world,
- According to every whim of Satan
- Disobeying you with every breath of my life
- I dwelled in my own fleshly desires
- I did what was right in my own eyes
- Disobeying you
- And sitting under your wrath.
But you,
- O God
- Forever rich in mercy
- Because of your great love for me
- Took me from death
- To life with your Son
- Even when I was dead.
I am saved by grace!
You raised me up with Christ
- So why?
- So that you can display
- Your immeasurable riches of your grace
- Through the kindness of your Son
I was saved by grace through faith
- Nothing that I am
- Nothing I have ever did
- Nothing that I can ever do
- Because you gave me everything
- Because you gave me your Son
I will boast in nothing less
- Then Jesus' blood and righteousness.
Everything that I am
- I am your work and poem.
Give me your Spirit
- Write your word upon my heart
- Dwell in my heart
- And go and send me.
Praying Through: Psalm 54
The Psalm
Psalm 54 (CSB)
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. When the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding among us?”1 God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might!
2 God, hear my prayer; listen to the words from my mouth.
3 For strangers rise up against me, and violent men intend to kill me. They do not let God guide them. Selah
4 God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life.
5 He will repay my adversaries for their evil. Because of your faithfulness, annihilate them.
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you. I will praise your name, LORD, because it is good.
7 For he has rescued me from every trouble, and my eye has looked down on my enemies.
The Prayer
I have seen so many evils in my life
- And I thought I had so many enemies
- Because they have wounded me
- And attempted to destroy me.
I have come close to the edge of death
- Because I was desperate for your love
- And I cannot bear to live one more moment
- Under persecution and torment.
I was already weak.
- The schemes of the devil?
- They worked.
- I was defeated.
- And I was no more.
But in whatever way
- I cannot understand
- You saved me
- And you saved me time and time again
- No matter how far I stray
- No matter if I was faithful
- You came and grabbed me and brough me close.
What about that time
- When you gave me your peace?
- How did I react?
- I fled full long into sin
- I gave over to lust and temptation
- I was seeking nothing from you
- Because I thought I had lost everything
- I was too blinded
- To see
- That no matter what I have lost
- Even my life
- I have everything
- Because I have you
- You are the holy one of God
- Christ Jesus my Lord
- I don't need to turn anywhere else
- I don't need to go anywhere else
- I have you.
You are my All-in-all.
Be my loving God.
Have mercy on me.
Thank you for saving me
- And making me your son.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 55
The Psalm
Psalm 55 (CSB)
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.1 God, listen to my prayer and do not hide from my plea for help.
2 Pay attention to me and answer me. I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,
3 because of the enemy’s words, because of the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster on me and harass me in anger.
4 My heart shudders within me; terrors of death sweep over me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me; horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
7 How far away I would flee; I would stay in the wilderness. Selah
8 I would hurry to my shelter from the raging wind and the storm.”
9 Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city;
10 day and night they make the rounds on its walls. Crime and trouble are within it;
11 destruction is inside it; oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.
12 Now it is not an enemy who insults me— otherwise I could bear it; it is not a foe who rises up against me— otherwise I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man who is my peer, my companion and good friend!
14 We used to have close fellowship; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
15 Let death take them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, because evil is in their homes and within them.
16 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.
17 I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, and he hears my voice.
18 Though many are against me, he will redeem me from my battle unharmed.
19 God, the one enthroned from long ago, will hear and will humiliate them Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.
20 My friend acts violently against those at peace with him; he violates his covenant.
21 His buttery words are smooth, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
23 God, you will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
The Prayer
I don't pretend to understand Or can even teach Or comprehend Why you would answer my prayers.
But just like those in the Bible, I called on you And you answered And you rescued me.
Sometimes I will pray And you will not answer my questions I have taken that to mean I will wait upon the Lord Because you alone are my refuge and strength My portion My help in my very hour of need.
I have seen the faith of my grandmother Who prayed for you to save my dad And you did!
And I have seen my grandmother Pray for you to save me and you did!
I know you alone are mighty to save Because salvation belongs to you.
Save me Save my children Save my household Save their households
Lord,
Save us all So that together We can worship you.
Be my God.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 56
The Psalm
Psalm 56 (CSB)
For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” A Miktam of David. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.1 Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me; he fights and oppresses me all day long.
2 My adversaries trample me all day, for many arrogantly fight against me.
3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
5 They twist my words all day long; all their thoughts against me are evil.
6 They stir up strife, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.
7 Will they escape in spite of such sin? God, bring down the nations in wrath.
8 You yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere humans do to me?
12 I am obligated by vows to you, God; I will make my thanksgiving sacrifices to you.
13 For you rescued me from death, even my feet from stumbling, to walk before God in the light of life.
The Prayer
I have spent all of my life Being scared Being fearful of man And worrying about what did they think of me
My eyes were never Where they should have been They should have been fixated On the only one Who answers my cries quiets my soul Cares for my heart Loves me till the end And brings me all the way home.
Breath life into me When I turn away And start to be anxious and fearing man Man cannot save me Man cannot soothe me Man cannot save my soul Only you, my Lord Can save me And love me And heal me.
Be with me.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 57
The Psalm
Psalm 57 (CSB)
For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. When he fled before Saul into the cave.1 Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, for I take refuge in you. I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings until danger passes.
2 I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me. Selah God sends his faithful love and truth.
4 I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among devouring lions— people whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.
6 They prepared a net for my steps; I was despondent. They dug a pit ahead of me, but they fell into it! Selah
7 My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident. I will sing; I will sing praises.
8 Wake up, my soul! Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn.
9 I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your faithful love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
11 God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.
The Prayer
I have been surrounded by evil Left exposed And vulnerable To Satan and Demons Who feed upon my flesh And leave me to perish.
My God How did you know Where I needed help How could you love Someone like me I have been unloved and unwanted All of my life But you came along And brought me to you And kept me in your heart.
I have fought with you But you stayed with me I have warred against you And you love me regardless I have ran away Yet you were there to rescue me All the days of my life.
You have always been with me From my mother's womb Till I see you.
You are forever My Lord and King.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 58
The Psalm
Psalm 58 (CSB)
For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David.1 Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones? Do you judge people fairly?
2 No, you practice injustice in your hearts; with your hands you weigh out violence in the land.
3 The wicked go astray from the womb; liars wander about from birth.
4 They have venom like the venom of a snake, like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,
5 that does not listen to the sound of the charmers who skillfully weave spells.
6 God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; LORD, tear out the young lions’ fangs.
7 May they vanish like water that flows by; may they aim their blunted arrows.
8 Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman’s miscarried child, may they not see the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns— whether green or burning— he will sweep them away.
10 The righteous one will rejoice when he sees the retribution; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 Then people will say, “Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! There is a God who judges on earth!”
The Prayer
No matter what has happened to me For I have been molested raped left to starve kidnapped Held for hostage Homeless Loveless Orphan Lost Divorced Twice Lost my kids Lost my jobs Lost my friends And my homes.
I am sinner filled with lust worked in porn stolen cheated lied lazy full of rage Filled with wrath Filled with pride Hater of everyone Hater of women Hater of self.
Yet, I am not those things. Because you saw me Before time began And you loved me And you set your affections Upon me And because you sent your Son Who lived for me Who bled, hung, and died for me Who ascended to your right hand for me Who sent His Spirit for me.
You are my identity. I identified with you.
Nothing I have done Or anything that has happened to me Not my circumstances Nor my deeds just you My Lord and my King.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 59
The Psalm
Psalm 59 (CSB)
For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. When Saul sent agents to watch the house and kill him.1 Rescue me from my enemies, my God; protect me from those who rise up against me.
2 Rescue me from evildoers, and save me from men of bloodshed.
3 Because look, LORD, they set an ambush for me. Powerful men attack me, but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine.
4 For no fault of mine, they run and take up a position. Awake to help me, and take notice.
5 LORD God of Armies, you are the God of Israel. Rise up to punish all the nations; do not show favor to any wicked traitors. Selah
6 They return at evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
7 Look, they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips. “For who,” they say, “will hear?”
8 But you laugh at them, LORD; you ridicule all the nations.
9 I will keep watch for you, my strength, because God is my stronghold.
10 My faithful God will come to meet me; God will let me look down on my adversaries.
11 Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget. By your power, make them homeless wanderers and bring them down, Lord, our shield.
12 For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. They utter curses and lies.
13 Consume them in fury; consume them until they are gone. Then people will know throughout the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah
14 And they return at evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
15 They scavenge for food; they growl if they are not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of your strength and will joyfully proclaim your faithful love in the morning. For you have been a stronghold for me, a refuge in my day of trouble.
17 To you, my strength, I sing praises, because God is my stronghold— my faithful God.
The Prayer
I pray
- that all of my sworn enemies
- have sought to destroy me
- kill me
- hurt me
- maim me
- torture me
- and weaken me
- that they would all
- be saved
- by your hand
- with your love
- in the blood of your Son
- by the power of your Spirit.
I will say this once
- because they are not my enemies
- but prisoners of war
- a war they cannot see
- and death is already upon them.
Be merciful to them, Lord,
- answer my prayer
- save them
- so we can worship you
- Almighty God
- for there is none like you.
I would like to see their face
- in the light of your love
- in the light of grace
- in the luxury of your mercy.
I love you Lord
- and I know you will save
- your people
- from their sins
- because all of what your Son
- has done for us.
Thank you. I praise you. Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 60
The Psalm
Psalm 60 (CSB)
For the choir director: according to “The Lily of Testimony.” A Miktam of David for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in Salt Valley, killing twelve thousand.1 God, you have rejected us; you have broken us down; you have been angry. Restore us!
2 You have shaken the land and split it open. Heal its fissures, for it shudders.
3 You have made your people suffer hardship; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.
4 You have given a signal flag to those who fear you, so that they can flee before the archers. Selah
5 Save with your right hand, and answer me, so that those you love may be rescued.
6 God has spoken in his sanctuary: “I will celebrate! I will divide up Shechem. I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, and Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin. I throw my sandal on Edom; I shout in triumph over Philistia.”
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
10 God, haven’t you rejected us? God, you do not march out with our armies.
11 Give us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless.
12 With God we will perform valiantly; he will trample our foes.
The Prayer
The battles I have seen The bloodshed upon my hands The hurt I have caused The wounds I have made Was all of my actions.
I have been hurt too And that does not make it right
I am sorry Lord For the hurt I have caused.
Will you save me?
Will you give me a tender heart To forgive others And love others And to seek reconcilation and help heal others?
I am so sorry Lord For all of my sins.
Make me like your Son And turn my heart towards you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 61
The Psalm
Psalm 61 (CSB)
For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Of David.1 God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer.
2 I call to you from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me,
3 for you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy.
4 I will dwell in your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah
5 God, you have heard my vows; you have given a heritage to those who fear your name.
6 Add days to the king’s life; may his years span many generations.
7 May he sit enthroned before God forever. Appoint faithful love and truth to guard him.
8 Then I will continually sing of your name, fulfilling my vows day by day.
The Prayer
I will never forget
- my deepest sins
- my anguish
- my torment
- my chaos
- my own iniquity
And you were so far
- I thought I knew you
- and I could not see your face
- All that appeared to me
- was darkness
- and dread
- and death
- and disease
- and wickedness.
I did not knew you well enough
- because your hand was always on my soul
- your grace always surrounded me
- your righteousness always clothed me
- your peace was placed in my heart.
My response
- to your goodness
- was the worst.
- But when I was faithless
- you are were absolutely faithful
- and just to forgive my sin
- and cleansed me of my sin
- over and over.
You will never tire
- of rescuing me
- I need your help
- always I need you
- be my God
- and my Lord forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 62
The Psalm
Psalm 62 (CSB)
For the choir director: according to Jeduthun. A psalm of David.1 I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you attack as if he were a leaning wall or a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to bring him down from his high position. They take pleasure in lying; they bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly. Selah
5 Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge. Selah
9 Common people are only a vapor; important people, an illusion. Together on a scale, they weigh less than a vapor.
10 Place no trust in oppression or false hope in robbery. If wealth increases, don’t set your heart on it.
11 God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: strength belongs to God,
12 and faithful love belongs to you, Lord. For you repay each according to his works.
The Prayer
Most of my life
- I have fought against you
- blasphemed your holy name
- was slave to my own lusts
- continue to hating everybody
- and including myself.
But with all of my life
- you set your affections upon me
- loved me with love I have never known
- gave me grace everywhere
- and was so merciful and kind towards me
- despite my anger and rage and sin against you
I still cannot believe
- that you would love me
- at my very worst
- in my darkest pain
- in my deepest shame
- you saw me
- knowing I was dead
- and brought me to life.
I need you, Lord
- now more than anything.
Be my love forever.
I love you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 63
The Psalm
Psalm 63 (CSB)
A psalm of David. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.1 God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you; my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
2 So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory.
3 My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live; at your name, I will lift up my hands.
5 You satisfy me as with rich food; my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.
6 When I think of you as I lie on my bed, I meditate on you during the night watches
7 because you are my helper; I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
8 I follow close to you; your right hand holds on to me.
9 But those who intend to destroy my life will go into the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the power of the sword; they will become a meal for jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by him will boast, for the mouths of liars will be shut.
The Prayer
My enemies feebly
- failed to destroy me
- They attacked me from all sides
- They have punctured my heart
- with all of their fiery arrows
- surely I was dead
- my soul was gone.
But I belong to you
- you are my everlasting God
- who have sent His Son
- to live and die for me
- so that I will never perish
- but have everlasting life.
Your love
- is what my life runs on.
- Be my everything
- and be with me forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 64
The Psalm
Psalm 64 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David.1 God, hear my voice when I am in anguish. Protect my life from the terror of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the scheming of wicked people, from the mob of evildoers,
3 who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim bitter words like arrows,
4 shooting from concealed places at the blameless. They shoot at him suddenly and are not afraid.
5 They adopt an evil plan; they talk about hiding traps and say, “Who will see them?”
6 They devise crimes and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” The inner man and the heart are mysterious.
7 But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly, they will be wounded.
8 They will be made to stumble; their own tongues work against them. All who see them will shake their heads.
9 Then everyone will fear and will tell about God’s work, for they will understand what he has done.
10 The righteous one rejoices in the LORD and takes refuge in him; all those who are upright in heart will offer praise.
The Prayer
The worst
- has absolutely befallen me
- I have already tasted death
- I have already lost everything
- two times over
- I have nothing
But you appeared
- and rescued me
- one million and one times over
- and you will forever do it again
- because you have set your love upon me
- and you will never let me go
- and you will keep me in your bosom
- all of my days.
If I have you
- and nothing on this earth
- then I have everything
- because nothing compares to you.
Because you have sent your Son
- for my sake
- you have given me everything
- and heaven and earth
- can give me nothing.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 65
The Psalm
Psalm 65 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David. A song.1 Praise is rightfully yours, God, in Zion; vows to you will be fulfilled.
2 All humanity will come to you, the one who hears prayer.
3 Iniquities overwhelm me; only you can atone for our rebellions.
4 How happy is the one you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple.
5 You answer us in righteousness, with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the distant seas.
6 You establish the mountains by your power; you are robed with strength.
7 You silence the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves, and the tumult of the nations.
8 Those who live far away are awed by your signs; you make east and west shout for joy.
9 You visit the earth and water it abundantly, enriching it greatly. God’s stream is filled with water, for you prepare the earth in this way, providing people with grain.
10 You soften it with showers and bless its growth, soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges.
11 You crown the year with your goodness; your carts overflow with plenty.
12 The wilderness pastures overflow, and the hills are robed with joy.
13 The pastures are clothed with flocks and the valleys covered with grain. They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.
The Prayer
There is none like you
- the Savior of my soul
- the Love of my heart
- the Giver of my salvation
- the Redeemer of my existence
- the Absorber of my just wrath
- the Remover of my sins
- the Adopter of this child
- the Mercy of my every morning
- the Grace upon your grace
- the Love that steadfastly me so.
I love you Lord
- and I will forever praise your holy name.
Praying Through: Psalm 66
The Psalm
Psalm 66 (CSB)
For the choir director. A song. A psalm.1 Let the whole earth shout joyfully to God!
2 Sing about the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.
3 Say to God, “How awe-inspiring are your works! Your enemies will cringe before you because of your great strength.
4 The whole earth will worship you and sing praise to you. They will sing praise to your name.” Selah
5 Come and see the wonders of God; his acts for humanity are awe-inspiring.
6 He turned the sea into dry land, and they crossed the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him.
7 He rules forever by his might; he keeps his eye on the nations. The rebellious should not exalt themselves. Selah
8 Bless our God, you peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard.
9 He keeps us alive and does not allow our feet to slip.
10 For you, God, tested us; you refined us as silver is refined.
11 You lured us into a trap; you placed burdens on our backs.
12 You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us out to abundance.
13 I will enter your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows
14 that my lips promised and my mouth spoke during my distress.
15 I will offer you fattened sheep as burnt offerings, with the fragrant smoke of rams; I will sacrifice bulls with goats. Selah
16 Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth, and praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
19 However, God has listened; he has paid attention to the sound of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God! He has not turned away my prayer or turned his faithful love from me.
The Prayer
Who alone
- who saves the helpless and the weak
- the far and the lost
- the powerless and the downtrodden
- the slave and the oppressed
- the wicked and the sinful
- the blind and the deaf
- the mute and the dumb
But who Lord
- when I was oppose to your will
- when my every breath commit treason against your holiness
- when my every thought was dipped in wickedness and sin
- when my every heartbeat longed to be my own god
But who Lord
- saw me in my wickedness
- in my deceit
- in my folly
- in my stupidness
- in my ignorance
- in my sin
- and had the deepest affection for me.
Nothing stopped you
- you set your love on me
- you sent your Son after me
- you gave your Spirit to seal me
- your grace keeps me
- your mercy secures me
- your righteousness is mine.
There is none like you
- because you are the only God
- who saves.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 67
The Psalm
Psalm 67 (CSB)
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.1 May God be gracious to us and bless us; may he make his face shine upon us Selah
2 so that your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, God; let all the peoples praise you.
4 Let the nations rejoice and shout for joy, for you judge the peoples with fairness and lead the nations on earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, God, let all the peoples praise you.
6 The earth has produced its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.
7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
The Prayer
I will never stop
- writing words
- sing songs
- mulling thoughts
- sleeping in my dreams
- reading books
- dwelling in your word
- filled with your Spirit
- to try do my best
- to express the grace
- that you have drowned me in
- lavished upon my life
- that is more than all the riches in the world
- more than the deepest minds
- the greatest wisdom
- all the love
- all of everything.
Your grace
- is more than my pain
- my despair
- my deceit
- my hurts
- my wounds
- my brokenness
- my trauma
- the sin committed against me
- the sin I have committed against others
- all the evil in this world.
Your grace
- was fulfilled
- perfect
- complete
- totality
- definite
- found in your Son
- Jesus Christ.
Now I am saved
Now I am yours
Now you are mine
Your presence is forever with me
- and I am forever in your grasp
- No one can ever remove me
- nothing can ever separate us
- nothing can come between us.
Your grace
- is worth more
- than anything I ever had in this world
- and the best of anything I have ever lost.
You found me
- and now I have everything
- because I have you
- You are my heart and my love and joy forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 68
The Psalm
Psalm 68 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David. A song.1 God arises. His enemies scatter, and those who hate him flee from his presence.
2 As smoke is blown away, so you blow them away. As wax melts before the fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.
3 But the righteous are glad; they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy.
4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name. Exalt him who rides on the clouds— his name is the LORD—and celebrate before him.
5 God in his holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows.
6 God provides homes for those who are deserted. He leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a scorched land.
7 God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the desert, Selah
8 the earth trembled and the skies poured rain before God, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9 You, God, showered abundant rain; you revived your inheritance when it languished.
10 Your people settled in it; God, you provided for the poor by your goodness.
11 The Lord gave the command; a great company of women brought the good news:
12 “The kings of the armies flee—they flee!” She who stays at home divides the spoil.
13 While you lie among the sheep pens, the wings of a dove are covered with silver, and its feathers with glistening gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in the land, it snowed on Zalmon.
15 Mount Bashan is God’s towering mountain; Mount Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.
16 Why gaze with envy, you mountain peaks, at the mountain God desired for his abode? The LORD will dwell there forever!
17 God’s chariots are tens of thousands, thousands and thousands; the Lord is among them in the sanctuary as he was at Sinai.
18 You ascended to the heights, taking away captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious, so that the LORD God might dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord! Day after day he bears our burdens; God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation, and escape from death belongs to the LORD my Lord.
21 Surely God crushes the heads of his enemies, the hairy brow of one who goes on in his guilty acts.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the sea
23 so that your foot may wade in blood and your dogs’ tongues may have their share from the enemies.”
24 People have seen your procession, God, the procession of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
25 Singers lead the way, with musicians following; among them are young women playing tambourines.
26 Bless God in the assemblies; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.
27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them, the rulers of Judah in their assembly, the rulers of Zebulun, the rulers of Naphtali.
28 Your God has decreed your strength. Show your strength, God, you who have acted on our behalf.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring tribute to you.
30 Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those with bars of silver. Scatter the peoples who take pleasure in war.
31 Ambassadors will come from Egypt; Cush will stretch out its hands to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; sing praise to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides in the ancient, highest heavens. Look, he thunders with his powerful voice!
34 Ascribe power to God. His majesty is over Israel; his power is among the clouds.
35 God, you are awe-inspiring in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
The Prayer
I have seen
- texts
- empty promises
- words
- feelings
- good intentions
- exchanges
- hopes
- doubts
- knowledge
- wisdom
- charity
- love
- that could try to fix me.
I was beyond repair
- nothing on this earth
- would make me whole
- would seal my heart
- would fulfill eternity inside
- right my mind
- open my eyes
- unmute my tongue
- unplug my ears
- clear my mind
- give a beat to my heart
- give me life.
Nothing. Because I have tried it all
- and I found the world wanting.
You gave me your Spirit
- and now I am fully alive in you.
Preserve me, O God
- lay your power upon me
- to take me to the end
- when I get to hold your Son's face
- in my little hands
- forever and ever.
I love you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 69 Savior
The Psalm
Psalm 69 (CSB)
For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.” Of David.1 Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck.
2 I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing; I have come into deep water, and a flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
4 Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me, are powerful. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
5 God, you know my foolishness, and my guilty acts are not hidden from you.
6 Do not let those who put their hope in you be disgraced because of me, Lord GOD of Armies; do not let those who seek you be humiliated because of me, God of Israel.
7 For I have endured insults because of you, and shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons
9 because zeal for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
10 I mourned and fasted, but it brought me insults.
11 I wore sackcloth as my clothing, and I was a joke to them.
12 Those who sit at the city gate talk about me, and drunkards make up songs about me.
13 But as for me, LORD, my prayer to you is for a time of favor. In your abundant, faithful love, God, answer me with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the miry mud; don’t let me sink. Let me be rescued from those who hate me and from the deep water.
15 Don’t let the floodwaters sweep over me or the deep swallow me up; don’t let the Pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, LORD, for your faithful love is good. In keeping with your abundant compassion, turn to me.
17 Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!
18 Come near to me and redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies.
19 You know the insults I endure— my shame and disgrace. You are aware of all my adversaries.
20 Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I waited for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, but found no one.
21 Instead, they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table set before them be a snare, and let it be a trap for their allies.
23 Let their eyes grow too dim to see, and let their hips continually quake.
24 Pour out your rage on them, and let your burning anger overtake them.
25 Make their fortification desolate; may no one live in their tents.
26 For they persecute the one you struck and talk about the pain of those you wounded.
27 Charge them with crime on top of crime; do not let them share in your righteousness.
28 Let them be erased from the book of life and not be recorded with the righteous.
29 But as for me—poor and in pain— let your salvation protect me, God.
30 I will praise God’s name with song and exalt him with thanksgiving.
31 That will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.
32 The humble will see it and rejoice. You who seek God, take heart!
33 For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise his own who are prisoners.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them,
35 for God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah. They will live there and possess it.
36 The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will live in it.
The Prayer
I sit in the darkness once again I have been here before this a quiet and cold place where I can smell the sin waiting for me to sleep.
All of the pain all of the loss all of the sin that I have ever experienced has brought me back to this place and it is cold and dark where I can almost make out the evil waiting for me to lay down
My sickness my sin my disease my brokenness are now my companions
And every time I come back here I would be devoured and eating to the near last bite and you would come and get me and keep my soul.
This time this round this year I stay awake alive quick strong in this sadness in this quiet int his cold because now you are my only companion you are my beloved you are my love you are my God
Keep me keep your son don't let me perish.
But more so just stay with me just keep me with you and I will always be okay because I am yours.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 70 Rescuer
The Psalm
Psalm 70 (CSB)
For the choir director. Of David. To bring remembrance.1 God, hurry to rescue me. LORD, hurry to help me!
2 Let those who seek to kill me be disgraced and confounded; let those who wish me harm be turned back and humiliated.
3 Let those who say, “Aha, aha!” retreat because of their shame.
4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation continually say, “God is great!”
5 I am oppressed and needy; hurry to me, God. You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay.
The Prayer
How many times
-
do I fall back into the depths of the ocean
-
to drown in my own sin
-
to return back to my vomit
-
to die another death
-
to run away from you?
-
How many times
-
do you love me
-
do you care for me
-
do you keep me
-
do you find me
-
do you rescue me
How many stars are there?
How many grains of sand?
How many drops of ocean?
How many blades of grass?
How many waves of sun?
What is that number?
Doesn't compare
- to your unending love for me.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 71 Refuge
The Psalm
Psalm 71 (CSB)
1 LORD, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced.2 In your justice, rescue and deliver me; listen closely to me and save me.
3 Be a rock of refuge for me, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the power of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and oppressive.
5 For you are my hope, Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.
6 I have leaned on you from birth; you took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always about you.
7 I am like a miraculous sign to many, and you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is full of praise and honor to you all day long.
9 Don’t discard me in my old age. As my strength fails, do not abandon me.
10 For my enemies talk about me, and those who spy on me plot together,
11 saying, “God has abandoned him; chase him and catch him, for there is no one to rescue him.”
12 God, do not be far from me; my God, hurry to help me.
13 May my adversaries be disgraced and destroyed; may those who intend to harm me be covered with disgrace and humiliation.
14 But I will hope continually and will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell about your righteousness and your salvation all day long, though I cannot sum them up.
16 I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord GOD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
17 God, you have taught me from my youth, and I still proclaim your wondrous works.
18 Even while I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, while I proclaim your power to another generation, your strength to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness reaches the heights, God, you who have done great things; God, who is like you?
20 You caused me to experience many troubles and misfortunes, but you will revive me again. You will bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth.
21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.
22 Therefore, I will praise you with a harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing to you with a lyre, Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you because you have redeemed me.
24 Therefore, my tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long, for those who intend to harm me will be disgraced and confounded.
The Prayer
Calm
Quiet
Peace
Holy
Righteous
Just
Fixed
Unbroken
Redeemed
Whole
New
Loved
Saved
Kept
Adopted
Glory
You.
Praying Through: Psalm 72 King
The Psalm
Psalm 72 (CSB)
Of Solomon.1 God, give your justice to the king and your righteousness to the king’s son.
2 He will judge your people with righteousness and your afflicted ones with justice.
3 May the mountains bring well-being to the people and the hills, righteousness.
4 May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor.
5 May they fear you while the sun endures and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6 May the king be like rain that falls on the cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.
7 May the righteous flourish in his days and well-being abound until the moon is no more.
8 May he rule from sea to sea and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
9 May desert tribes kneel before him and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and the coasts and islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
11 Let all kings bow in homage to him, all nations serve him.
12 For he will rescue the poor who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.
13 He will have pity on the poor and helpless and save the lives of the poor.
14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious in his sight.
15 May he live long! May gold from Sheba be given to him. May prayer be offered for him continually, and may he be blessed all day long.
16 May there be plenty of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains. May its crops be like Lebanon. May people flourish in the cities like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever; as long as the sun shines, may his fame increase. May all nations be blessed by him and call him blessed.
18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonders.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; the whole earth is filled with his glory. Amen and amen.
20 The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.
The Prayer
I sit and wait
- for your command
- you are my King.
I will pray
- for your love
- you are my Lord.
I will obey
- in your grace
- you are my Savior
I will run the race
- in your strength
- you are my Life.
I will fly
- in your freedom
- you are my Redeemer.
I will worship
- in your love
- you are God.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 73 Heart
The Psalm
Psalm 73 (CSB)
A psalm of Asaph.1 God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray.
3 For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well fed.
5 They are not in trouble like others; they are not afflicted like most people.
6 Therefore, pride is their necklace, and violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn to them and drink in their overflowing words.
11 The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High know everything?”
12 Look at them—the wicked! They are always at ease, and they increase their wealth.
13 Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15 If I had decided to say these things aloud, I would have betrayed your people.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.
18 Indeed, you put them in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin.
19 How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors.
20 Like one waking from a dream, Lord, when arising, you will despise their image.
21 When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded,
22 I was stupid and didn’t understand; I was an unthinking animal toward you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me up in glory.
25 Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.
27 Those far from you will certainly perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, so I can tell about all you do.
The Prayer
I have spent most of my life
- chasing after the world
- wanting what the world is offering
- and falling for the temptations of Satan
- every single time.
I yearn after my own lusts
- and my desires
- because surely this will make me secure
- surely this will keep me safe
- surely that this will protect my heart from all harm.
But it didn't
- and my world fell apart
- and I had nothing
- and I was nothing.
I have been foolish and ignorant before you
But how did you respond?
- You saved me
- and lifted me to you
- and I stare into your eyes
- and I cannot leave you
- even if I tried.
Who else do I have in this life?
- Where else do I go?
- Where else does my salvation come from?
- Who else has the words for eternal life?
Just you
- my only, only Lord Jesus.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 75 Judge
The Psalm
Psalm 75 (CSB)
For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.1 We give thanks to you, God; we give thanks to you, for your name is near. People tell about your wondrous works.
2 “When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.
3 When the earth and all its inhabitants shake, I am the one who steadies its pillars. Selah
4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn.
5 Do not lift up your horn against heaven or speak arrogantly.’ ”
6 Exaltation does not come from the east, the west, or the desert,
7 for God is the Judge: He brings down one and exalts another.
8 For there is a cup in the LORD’s hand, full of wine blended with spices, and he pours from it. All the wicked of the earth will drink, draining it to the dregs.
9 As for me, I will tell about him forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
10 “I will cut off all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”
The Prayer
I lived my life
- as the absolute chief of sinners
- fulfilling my heart's desires
- for all the lustful and rage-filled wickedness
- blaspheming your holy name
- attempting to weaken and mock those who worship you
- and violently opposing your holy name.
But you, my Christ,
- rule and reign
- as the absolute chief of grace
- and gives the most mercy
- in your steadfast kindness
- to sinners just like me.
Keep me in your love
- and keep my heart towards you
- you are my King Jesus
- and you are the judge and keeper of my life.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 76 Righteous
The Psalm
Psalm 76 (CSB)
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.1 God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
2 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he shatters the bow’s flaming arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah
4 You are resplendent and majestic coming down from the mountains of prey.
5 The brave-hearted have been plundered; they have slipped into their final sleep. None of the warriors was able to lift a hand.
6 At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both chariot and horse lay still.
7 And you—you are to be feared. When you are angry, who can stand before you?
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment. The earth feared and grew quiet
9 when God rose up to judge and to save all the lowly of the earth. Selah
10 Even human wrath will praise you; you will clothe yourself with the wrath that remains.
11 Make and keep your vows to the LORD your God; let all who are around him bring tribute to the awe-inspiring one.
12 He humbles the spirit of leaders; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
The Prayer
When I joined the rest of the world
- to make war with you
- I sit tight
- under your mighty wraith
- with every beat of my heart
- because my heart knew nothing else
- but wickedness and deceit towards you.
What I could never foreknew
- is that before the mountains were formed
- and time and space were spoken into existence
- from everlasting to everlasting
- you have sat your affections on me
- and you bended time and circumstances
- and you broke into our broken world
- by the way of your Son
- so that he would live and die for me
- so that my sins--all of my wicked sins
- would be buried in that tomb
- and I would be resurrected
- not just in life
- but true life
- forevermore.
Do what you must
- to keep me close to you.
- I never want to be apart from you
- because that is a hell
- I never want to see again.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 77 Confidence
The Psalm
Psalm 77 (CSB)
For the choir director: according to Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 I sought the Lord in my day of trouble. My hands were continually lifted up all night long; I refused to be comforted.
3 I think of God; I groan; I meditate; my spirit becomes weak. Selah
4 You have kept me from closing my eyes; I am troubled and cannot speak.
5 I consider days of old, years long past.
6 At night I remember my music; I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders.
7 “Will the Lord reject forever and never again show favor?
8 Has his faithful love ceased forever? Is his promise at an end for all generations?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Selah
10 So I say, “I am grieved that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”
11 I will remember the LORD’s works; yes, I will remember your ancient wonders.
12 I will reflect on all you have done and meditate on your actions.
13 God, your way is holy. What god is great like God?
14 You are the God who works wonders; you revealed your strength among the peoples.
15 With power you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 The water saw you, God. The water saw you; it trembled. Even the depths shook.
17 The clouds poured down water. The storm clouds thundered; your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind; lightning lit up the world. The earth shook and quaked.
19 Your way went through the sea and your path through the vast water, but your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
The Prayer
Your promises are sure.
You cannot reject me
- you cannot withhold your grace from me
- you cannot reject me
- nor forsake me
- you cannot stop loving me.
Because you have promised
- my acceptance
- your grace
- your calling
- your affections
- and your love.
How do I know?
Because I have your Son,
- Jesus Christ
- I always belong to my Beloved
- and He is mine forever.
Let me praise your holy name
- let me worship you with everything in me
- let me bless your wonderful name.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 78 Remembrance
The Psalm
Psalm 78 (CSB)
A Maskil of Asaph.1 My people, hear my instruction; listen to the words from my mouth.
2 I will declare wise sayings; I will speak mysteries from the past—
3 things we have heard and known and that our ancestors have passed down to us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, but will tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children
6 so that a future generation— children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children
7 so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep his commands.
8 Then they would not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not loyal and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9 The Ephraimite archers turned back on the day of battle.
10 They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law.
11 They forgot what he had done, the wondrous works he had shown them.
12 He worked wonders in the sight of their ancestors in the land of Egypt, the territory of Zoan.
13 He split the sea and brought them across; the water stood firm like a wall.
14 He led them with a cloud by day and with a fiery light throughout the night.
15 He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the depths.
16 He brought streams out of the stone and made water flow down like rivers.
17 But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High.
18 They deliberately tested God, demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God, saying, “Is God able to provide food in the wilderness?
20 Look! He struck the rock and water gushed out; torrents overflowed. But can he also provide bread or furnish meat for his people?”
21 Therefore, the LORD heard and became furious; then fire broke out against Jacob, and anger flared up against Israel
22 because they did not believe God or rely on his salvation.
23 He gave a command to the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven.
24 He rained manna for them to eat; he gave them grain from heaven.
25 People ate the bread of angels. He sent them an abundant supply of food.
26 He made the east wind blow in the skies and drove the south wind by his might.
27 He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the seas.
28 He made them fall in the camp, all around the tents.
29 The people ate and were completely satisfied, for he gave them what they craved.
30 Before they had turned from what they craved, while the food was still in their mouths,
31 God’s anger flared up against them, and he killed some of their best men. He struck down Israel’s fit young men.
32 Despite all this, they kept sinning and did not believe his wondrous works.
33 He made their days end in futility, their years in sudden disaster.
34 When he killed some of them, the rest began to seek him; they repented and searched for God.
35 They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their Redeemer.
36 But they deceived him with their mouths, they lied to him with their tongues,
37 their hearts were insincere toward him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he was compassionate; he atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often turned his anger aside and did not unleash all his wrath.
39 He remembered that they were only flesh, a wind that passes and does not return.
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert.
41 They constantly tested God and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember his power shown on the day he redeemed them from the foe,
43 when he performed his miraculous signs in Egypt and his wonders in the territory of Zoan.
44 He turned their rivers into blood, and they could not drink from their streams.
45 He sent among them swarms of flies, which fed on them, and frogs, which devastated them.
46 He gave their crops to the caterpillar and the fruit of their labor to the locust.
47 He killed their vines with hail and their sycamore fig trees with a flood.
48 He handed over their livestock to hail and their cattle to lightning bolts.
49 He sent his burning anger against them: fury, indignation, and calamity— a band of deadly messengers.
50 He cleared a path for his anger. He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague.
51 He struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the first progeny of the tents of Ham.
52 He led his people out like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness.
53 He led them safely, and they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies.
54 He brought them to his holy territory, to the mountain his right hand acquired.
55 He drove out nations before them. He apportioned their inheritance by lot and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
56 But they rebelliously tested the Most High God, for they did not keep his decrees.
57 They treacherously turned away like their ancestors; they became warped like a faulty bow.
58 They enraged him with their high places and provoked his jealousy with their carved images.
59 God heard and became furious; he completely rejected Israel.
60 He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent where he resided among mankind.
61 He gave up his strength to captivity and his splendor to the hand of a foe.
62 He surrendered his people to the sword because he was enraged with his heritage.
63 Fire consumed his chosen young men, and his young women had no wedding songs.
64 His priests fell by the sword, and the widows could not lament.
65 The Lord awoke as if from sleep, like a warrior from the effects of wine.
66 He beat back his foes; he gave them lasting disgrace.
67 He rejected the tent of Joseph and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
68 He chose instead the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved.
69 He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever.
70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;
71 he brought him from tending ewes to be shepherd over his people Jacob— over Israel, his inheritance.
72 He shepherded them with a pure heart and guided them with his skillful hands.
The Prayer
Everything you have done
- in my life
- and the life of your people
Help me
- to remember you
- when I am weak
- and when I would perish
- you are the champion
- of the perishable.
You have come to save me
- and when I wander
- and lost again
- you will save me
- yet again.
Write your precious Scripture
- upon my heart
- so I might not sin
- against you
- you are my Rock and my Redeemer
- forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 79 Faith
The Psalm
Psalm 79 (CSB)
A psalm of Asaph.1 God, the nations have invaded your inheritance, desecrated your holy temple, and turned Jerusalem into ruins.
2 They gave the corpses of your servants to the birds of the sky for food, the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.
3 They poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.
4 We have become an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.
5 How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy keep burning like fire?
6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name,
7 for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.
8 Do not hold past iniquities against us; let your compassion come to us quickly, for we have become very weak.
9 God of our salvation, help us, for the glory of your name. Rescue us and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake.
10 Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, let vengeance for the shed blood of your servants be known among the nations.
11 Let the groans of the prisoners reach you; according to your great power, preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back sevenfold to our neighbors the reproach they have hurled at you, Lord.
13 Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever; we will declare your praise to generation after generation.
The Prayer
You are the Almighty God
- who rules and reigns
- over all the earth
- who demands perfection
- and holiness
- and righteousness
- in order to dwell with you.
But you demand something
- that is not in us
- that we cannot make
- because we are so far from
- and we have turned from you
- we have rejected your grace
- and ignored your mercies
- because we thought we knew our own way.
So you sent your Son
- not only to guide us and teach us
- but to live for us and die for us
- so that we would live and give glory to you.
Open our eyes to see
- our ears to hear
- renew our minds
- spirit in our bodies
- remove our old cancerous hearts
- and replace them with your heart
- so that we would have new desires for you alone.
Blessed be your glorious name forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 80 Restorer
The Psalm
Psalm 80 (CSB)
For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.” A testimony of Asaph. A psalm.1 Listen, Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine
2 on Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Rally your power and come to save us.
3 Restore us, God; make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.
4 LORD God of Armies, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You fed them the bread of tears and gave them a full measure of tears to drink.
6 You put us at odds with our neighbors; our enemies mock us.
7 Restore us, God of Armies; make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.
8 You dug up a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared a place for it; it took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 It sent out sprouts toward the Sea and shoots toward the River.
12 Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its fruit?
13 Boars from the forest tear at it and creatures of the field feed on it.
14 Return, God of Armies. Look down from heaven and see; take care of this vine,
15 the root your right hand planted, the son that you made strong for yourself.
16 It was cut down and burned; they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
17 Let your hand be with the man at your right hand, with the son of man you have made strong for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.
19 Restore us, LORD, God of Armies; make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.
The Prayer
Save me, O God!
If you do not save me, I will perish
- For I will die in my iniquity
- I will be crushed for my wickedness.
You know I come from dust
You know I am weak and frail
You know I cannot turn to you apart from you
You are the only God and there is none beside you
- and you are the God of grace
- you are the God of mercy
- you are the God of steadfast love
Apart from You
- I will not be saved.
Save me
- from my sins
- from my fallen
- from my own life
- from my own righteousness
- from myself
Save me, my God.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 81 God
The Psalm
Psalm 81 (CSB)
1 Sing for joy to God our strength; shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.2 Lift up a song—play the tambourine, the melodious lyre, and the harp.
3 Blow the ram’s horn on the day of our feasts during the new moon and during the full moon.
4 For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5 He set it up as a decree for Joseph when he went throughout the land of Egypt. I heard an unfamiliar language:
6 “I relieved his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from carrying the basket.
7 You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you at the Waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Listen, my people, and I will admonish you. Israel, if you would only listen to me!
9 There must not be a strange god among you; you must not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel did not obey me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans.
13 If only my people would listen to me and Israel would follow my ways,
14 I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.”
15 Those who hate the LORD would cower to him; their doom would last forever.
16 But he would feed Israel with the best wheat. “I would satisfy you with honey from the rock.”
The Prayer
My your grace alone, I knew you when I was young. I knew you and did not love you nor run to you. I was infected by sin and kept turning to sin rather to the healer of my soul. I was broken and did not desire wholeness but rather to the despair that kept me broken. My heart was hardened and instead of crying for a new one, I kept it cold and frozen through my deeds and thoughts.
Still,
- you saved me.
You washed me clean of my sin
- in your precious Spirit.
You made me whole
- by the blood covering of your Son.
You took my dead heart
- and gave me your own soft heart.
This is what you have done.
You are my most precious Savior and Messiah.
You are my Lord and my God. Forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 82 Divine
The Psalm
Psalm 82 (CSB)
A psalm of Asaph.1 God stands in the divine assembly; he pronounces judgment among the gods:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.
4 Rescue the poor and needy; save them from the power of the wicked.”
5 They do not know or understand; they wander in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, “You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.
7 However, you will die like humans and fall like any other ruler.”
8 Rise up, God, judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.
The Prayer
You, O Lord, are high
- above all the earth
- you are exalted
- far above all other gods.
All of the idols that I have worshiped for all of my life
- I place them into your presence
- so you will break their hands
- and snap their necks
- and sever their heads
- to kill them all off.
Moreso, I repent of all the times
- I was a god
- that I made it about me
- and my needs and desires.
- Without your gracious and soft heart
- without your Spirit dwelling in me
- without your Christ that came and rescue me
- I would die and fall like any other idol.
I love you, Lord, and all that is in me
- I will bless your holy name forever.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 83 Conqueror
The Psalm
Psalm 83 (CSB)
A song. A psalm of Asaph.1 God, do not keep silent. Do not be deaf, God; do not be quiet.
2 See how your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have acted arrogantly.
3 They devise clever schemes against your people; they conspire against your treasured ones.
4 They say, “Come, lets wipe them out as a nation so that Israel’s name will no longer be remembered.”
5 For they have conspired with one mind; they form an alliance against you—
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
8 Even Assyria has joined them; they lend support to the sons of Lot. Selah
9 Deal with them as you did with Midian, as you did with Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.
10 They were destroyed at En-dor; they became manure for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their tribal leaders like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Lets seize God’s pastures for ourselves.”
13 Make them like tumbleweed, my God, like straw before the wind.
14 As fire burns a forest, as a flame blazes through mountains,
15 so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm.
16 Cover their faces with shame so that they will seek your name, LORD.
17 Let them be put to shame and terrified forever; let them perish in disgrace.
18 May they know that you alone— whose name is the LORD— are the Most High over the whole earth.
The Prayer
Whatever life and death and grief and sadness and sin
- presses down my life
- grinds my bone into dust
- breaks my heart into a billion pieces
- and drags my soul into hell
You are my God
- and my Lord
- and my King
- and my Great Love.
And you have not forgotten me
- no forsaken me
- you have loved me since forever
- and you will love me forever
- You have always preserved my life
- and you have given me real hope
- in my hour of desperate need.
Because of what you have done
- because of your work on your cross
- you saved me
- moreso, you conquered my true enemies
- sin
- Satan
- demons
- hell
- death.
I don't to have to hate anyone who does me harm
- I pray that you would save them to the utmost
- and that they will know your great love for them
- for all of their days.
You are my Great Conqueror
- and your conquest is finish.
- Allow me to herald your great gospel
- "Repent, for the kingdom of God is here!"
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 84 Home
The Psalm
Psalm 84 (CSB)
For the choir director: on the Gittith. A psalm of the sons of Korah.1 How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD of Armies.
2 I long and yearn for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even a sparrow finds a home, and a swallow, a nest for herself where she places her young— near your altars, LORD of Armies, my King and my God.
4 How happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually. Selah
5 Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of spring water; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.
7 They go from strength to strength; each appears before God in Zion.
8 LORD God of Armies, hear my prayer; listen, God of Jacob. Selah
9 Consider our shield, God; look on the face of your anointed one.
10 Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield. The LORD grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.
12 Happy is the person who trusts in you, LORD of Armies!
The Prayer
You are my joy
- my haven
- my safe place
- my comfort in my desperate time of need.
You are the only place
- I can go to
- when I am hurt
- lonely
- scared
- ashamed
- cold
- and you will bring me in
- bring me close to your heart
- and let me heal and be restored
- and cared for and soothed
- all the days of my life.
You are my great God in heaven
- I will forever praise your holy name.
Praying Through: Psalm 85 Grace
The Psalm
Psalm 85 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.1 LORD, you showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave your people’s guilt; you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your fury; you turned from your burning anger.
4 Return to us, God of our salvation, and abandon your displeasure with us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger for all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again so that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your faithful love, LORD, and give us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God will say; surely the LORD will declare peace to his people, his faithful ones, and not let them go back to foolish ways.
9 His salvation is very near those who fear him, so that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace.
11 Truth will spring up from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven.
12 Also, the LORD will provide what is good, and our land will yield its crops.
13 Righteousness will go before him to prepare the way for his steps.
The Prayer
Just as you looked upon Noah
-
saw his wickedness
-
foolishness
-
worthlessness
-
and depravity
-
you looked upon my sins
-
and counted them up
-
and they are endless
-
and every one of my sins
-
was treasonous act
-
against your holiness
But just as you looked upon Noah
- and gave him grace
- you looked upon my estate
- and gave me grace
- I did nothing to deserve it
- I did everything to reject it
- but still you loved me
- knew me
- and saved me.
There will be one day
- I will stand in front of your precious Son
- and the account of my sins will be listed off
- and others' sins will not compare to my own
- because I am the chief of sinners
Call my sins out
- every last one of them
- because even it was one sin or a billionth sin
- I will still need Your only begotten Son
- Jesus Christ
- to forgive me of all of my sins
- and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness
- to remove my transgressions as far as the east is from the west
I am in desperate need
- of the grace that only Christ can give.
Name my sins
- so even my wickedness
- will glorify His name
- because salvation belongs to the Lord
- You are the only one mighty to save me.
Praying Through: Psalm 86 Protector
The Psalm
Psalm 86 (CSB)
A prayer of David.1 Listen, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Protect my life, for I am faithful. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.
3 Be gracious to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant’s life, because I appeal to you, Lord.
5 For you, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, abounding in faithful love to all who call on you.
6 LORD, hear my prayer; listen to my cries for mercy.
7 I call on you in the day of my distress, for you will answer me.
8 Lord, there is no one like you among the gods, and there are no works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made will come and bow down before you, Lord, and will honor your name.
10 For you are great and perform wonders; you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, LORD, and I will live by your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear your name.
12 I will praise you with all my heart, Lord my God, and will honor your name forever.
13 For your faithful love for me is great, and you rescue my life from the depths of Sheol.
14 God, arrogant people have attacked me; a gang of ruthless men intends to kill me. They do not let you guide them.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me. Give your strength to your servant; save the son of your female servant.
17 Show me a sign of your goodness; my enemies will see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped and comforted me.
The Prayer
You have been my God
- since my birth
- you have protected me
- from the attacks of the world
- you have shielded me
- from the attacks of the enemy
Moreso
- you have been my shelter
- when I had no roof
- you have been my tower
- when I was in constant danger
- you have been my hope
- when I was drowning in despair
- you have been my home
- when I had no one who loved me
- you have been my God
- when my idols have destroyed me.
In my life and love and heart and strength,
- I will glorify you for all of my days
- You are my sweetest King
- and one day, I will rest in your throne room
- to worship you
- and to look upon your lovely face
- for all of my days.
Thank you, my God and Protector.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 87 Dwelling
The Psalm
Psalm 87 (CSB)
A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.1 The city he founded is on the holy mountains.
2 The LORD loves Zion’s city gates more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said about you, city of God. Selah
4 “I will make a record of those who know me: Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush— each one was born there.”
5 And it will be said of Zion, “This one and that one were born in her.” The Most High himself will establish her.
6 When he registers the peoples, the LORD will record, “This one was born there.” Selah
7 Singers and dancers alike will say, “My whole source of joy is in you.”
The Prayer
Where is my home
- and my heart
- and my love
- and my belongings
- and my rest?
None other
- than your Blessed Son
- who is my King of kings
- but who is my friend
- and my oldest brother
- and my love and satisfaction.
You have proven yourself over
- time and time again
- that you are mine
- and I am yours
- forevermore.
And there is nothing
- that can harm me
- hurt me
- damage me
- or separate me
- from your precious love.
You are my God
- and my Christ
- my keeper
- and my Lord
- You are exalted
- far above
- all of my gods.
I will exalt you
- till my last heartbeat
- till my dying breath
- till my final thought
- I will worship you
- I will glorify you
- forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 88 Salvation
The Psalm
Psalm 88 (CSB)
A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.1 LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out before you day and night.
2 May my prayer reach your presence; listen to my cry.
3 For I have had enough troubles, and my life is near Sheol.
4 I am counted among those going down to the Pit. I am like a man without strength,
5 abandoned among the dead. I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom you no longer remember, and who are cut off from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit, in the darkest places, in the depths.
7 Your wrath weighs heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah
8 You have distanced my friends from me; you have made me repulsive to them. I am shut in and cannot go out.
9 My eyes are worn out from crying. LORD, I cry out to you all day long; I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise you? Selah
11 Will your faithful love be declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Will your wonders be known in the darkness or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
13 But I call to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer meets you.
14 LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me?
15 From my youth, I have been suffering and near death. I suffer your horrors; I am desperate.
16 Your wrath sweeps over me; your terrors destroy me.
17 They surround me like water all day long; they close in on me from every side.
18 You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me; darkness is my only friend.
The Prayer
From the moment, I laid dead in the pit of hell
- in the death of my own sin
- in the torment of sins against me
- in the agony of my trespasses
- in the torture of my soul
- and my eyes closed
- and I could not move
- and lay
- and I am dead.
You gave me life
- and your light shined into my soul
- your actions wiped my wickedness away
- your grace gave me hope
- your death gave me your life
- your life is my worship to you in heaven forever.
You are the God
- who instantly saves.
Be glorified in my life today.
Praying Through: Psalm 89 Security
The Psalm
Psalm 89 (CSB)
A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.1 I will sing about the LORD’s faithful love forever; I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations with my mouth.
2 For I will declare, “Faithful love is built up forever; you establish your faithfulness in the heavens.”
3 The LORD said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah
5 LORD, the heavens praise your wonders— your faithfulness also— in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies can compare with the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD?
7 God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, more awe-inspiring than all who surround him.
8 LORD God of Armies, who is strong like you, LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule the raging sea; when its waves surge, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like one who is slain; you scattered your enemies with your powerful arm.
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours. The world and everything in it—you founded them.
12 North and south—you created them. Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at your name.
13 You have a mighty arm; your hand is powerful; your right hand is lifted high.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; faithful love and truth go before you.
15 Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; LORD, they walk in the light from your face.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long, and they are exalted by your righteousness.
17 For you are their magnificent strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.
18 Surely our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19 You once spoke in a vision to your faithful ones and said, “I have granted help to a warrior; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found David my servant; I have anointed him with my sacred oil.
21 My hand will always be with him, and my arm will strengthen him.
22 The enemy will not oppress him; the wicked will not afflict him.
23 I will crush his foes before him and strike those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted.
25 I will extend his power to the sea and his right hand to the rivers.
26 He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the rock of my salvation.’
27 I will also make him my firstborn, greatest of the kings of the earth.
28 I will always preserve my faithful love for him, and my covenant with him will endure.
29 I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as heaven lasts.
30 If his sons abandon my instruction and do not live by my ordinances,
31 if they dishonor my statutes and do not keep my commands,
32 then I will call their rebellion to account with the rod, their iniquity with blows.
33 But I will not withdraw my faithful love from him or betray my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant or change what my lips have said.
35 Once and for all I have sworn an oath by my holiness; I will not lie to David.
36 His offspring will continue forever, his throne like the sun before me,
37 like the moon, established forever, a faithful witness in the sky.” Selah
38 But you have spurned and rejected him; you have become enraged with your anointed.
39 You have repudiated the covenant with your servant; you have completely dishonored his crown.
40 You have broken down all his walls; you have reduced his fortified cities to ruins.
41 All who pass by plunder him; he has become an object of ridicule to his neighbors.
42 You have lifted high the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You have also turned back his sharp sword and have not let him stand in battle.
44 You have made his splendor cease and have overturned his throne.
45 You have shortened the days of his youth; you have covered him with shame. Selah
46 How long, LORD? Will you hide forever? Will your anger keep burning like fire?
47 Remember how short my life is. Have you created everyone for nothing?
48 What courageous person can live and never see death? Who can save himself from the power of Sheol? Selah
49 Lord, where are the former acts of your faithful love that you swore to David in your faithfulness?
50 Remember, Lord, the ridicule against your servants— in my heart I carry abuse from all the peoples—
51 how your enemies have ridiculed, LORD, how they have ridiculed every step of your anointed.
52 Blessed be the LORD forever. Amen and amen.
The Prayer
I know that
- you are my eternity to eternity
- the steadfast love that has always been there
- you have created time and space and material
- you have created north and south and east and west
- you have created height and depth and width and breadth
- you have created physics
You have created thought
- the will, the heart, the emotion
- the power, the bend, the direction
- the start of study, science, knowledge, and wisdom
- you have created philosophy
Yet, you have begotten your Son
- who was from eternity to eternity
- who loved me before creation
- who saw my wickedness and sin
- who was born into my world
- who lived for me
- who died for me
- who was raised so I could live
- and be with you forever.
It is not that I have kept you
- because I have ran away a million times
- sinned against you a trillion times more
- warred against you with every fiber of my being
- and would soon descend into hell then to see you.
But you have kept me
- from before the beginning
- through creation
- through the fall of my parents
- throughout all time
- throughout the ages
- through wars and rumors of wars
- through the raising and lowering of kings
- through the building and wiping of nations
- through it all
- you have kept me close to your bosom.
Keep me everlasting to everlasting
- from reach of your hand
- to the depths of your heart
- keep me always in your love.
Praying Through: Psalm 90 Eternity
The Psalm
Psalm 90 (CSB)
A prayer of Moses, the man of God.1 Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation.
2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
3 You return mankind to the dust, saying, “Return, descendants of Adam.”
4 For in your sight a thousand years are like yesterday that passes by, like a few hours of the night.
5 You end their lives; they sleep. They are like grass that grows in the morning—
6 in the morning it sprouts and grows; by evening it withers and dries up.
7 For we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath.
8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days ebb away under your wrath; we end our years like a sigh.
10 Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away.
11 Who understands the power of your anger? Your wrath matches the fear that is due you.
12 Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.
13 LORD—how long? Turn and have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us rejoice for as many days as you have humbled us, for as many years as we have seen adversity.
16 Let your work be seen by your servants, and your splendor by their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish for us the work of our hands— establish the work of our hands!
The Prayer
What is my life, Lord
- that you were so sweet to me
- that you were so tender
- that you thought of me
- and preserved me?
How many times
- should have perished in my own sin
- should have been destroyed by sin
- should have been wiped because of others' sin?
I cannot count that high
- my mind cannot comprehend
- my life is always at risk
- I shall lose to my life
- at a mere whim
Once more
- the times I should have died
- and I shall descend into your just wrath
- and into the torments of hell
- and I shall have been held captive
- for my sins
- and my disease
- and my wickedness
- and my treason
- and my evils.
Why did you spare me?
- Why are you so caring?
- Why do you love me so?
You took pity upon me
- and you knew I was made from dust
- and you spared me
- Moreso, you lifted me up
- and gave me a seat at your table
- and made me your son like your Son
- and you gave me everything.
I cannot begin to answer any of these questions
- but I will worship you for all of my days
- because you are my Lord and my God forever.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 91 Almighty
The Psalm
Psalm 91 (CSB)
1 The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say concerning the LORD, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust:
3 He himself will rescue you from the bird trap, from the destructive plague.
4 He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day,
6 the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you.
8 You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD—my refuge, the Most High—your dwelling place,
10 no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent.
11 For he will give his angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.
12 They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the young lion and the serpent.
14 Because he has his heart set on me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name.
15 When he calls out to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.
16 I will satisfy him with a long life and show him my salvation.
The Prayer
I remember all the times when my Grandma would pray this prayer over me. When she did, I never knew why.
But the dangers and the turmoil and the devastation I would face,
- when Satan and his demons would place their hands on me
- and do me much harm.
When the world and its effects
- finally succeeded in corrupting my soul
- and had me worshipping demons.
When the wickedness of my heart
- turned against you
- and I gave into my whims and desires
- and received only shit.
Still,
- these prayers and the faith my grandma
- protest my heart, my soul, my heart, and my life.
You did not ignore nor discard me
- you saved me.
You did not leave me to rot and die
- you gave me life.
You did not left me lonely, hated, and at war with you
- you were always my God.
Be exalted, O Lord
- be exalted, higher and higher
- and I will forever praise your holy name.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 92 Faithfulness
The Psalm
Psalm 92 (CSB)
A psalm. A song for the Sabbath day.1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High,
2 to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
3 with a ten-stringed harp and the music of a lyre.
4 For you have made me rejoice, LORD, by what you have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
5 How magnificent are your works, LORD, how profound your thoughts!
6 A stupid person does not know, a fool does not understand this:
7 though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be eternally destroyed.
8 But you, LORD, are exalted forever.
9 For indeed, LORD, your enemies— indeed, your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have lifted up my horn like that of a wild ox; I have been anointed with the finest oil.
11 My eyes look at my enemies; when evildoers rise against me, my ears hear them.
12 The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon.
13 Planted in the house of the LORD, they thrive in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green,
15 to declare, “The LORD is just; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”
The Prayer
I worship you
- Almighty God
- there is none like you.
Who is like you, O Lord
- who has spare my life
- who has saved my soul
- who has made your home in me
- who is the lover of my heart?
There is none
- because you have never left nor betrayed
- despite my wickedness and folly
- you have been for me
- and you have been there
- always to bring me back to you!
With my mouth
- I certainly will sing
- I will give testimony
- I will build my life giving you thanks
- I will preach your word
- I will proclaim your name
- You are the only One
- that my heart desires.
I love you
- and all that is within me
- I will bless your holy name.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 93 Majesty
The Psalm
Psalm 93 (CSB)
1 The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, enveloped in strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken.2 Your throne has been established from the beginning; you are from eternity.
3 The floods have lifted up, LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their pounding waves.
4 Greater than the roar of a huge torrent— the mighty breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is majestic.
5 LORD, your testimonies are completely reliable; holiness adorns your house for all the days to come.
The Prayer
You are the God
- of all splendor and grace
Your beauty is
- beyond my comprehension
Your power is
- the definition of amazing
Your grace is
- always undeserving
Your mercy
- will never come to an end
Because of you
- I am alive
- I am free
- I am your child
- and I will worship you
- because you are great
- holy
- righteous
- just
- grace
- mercy
- perfect
- love
- almighty
Be exalted, my Lord
- today
Praying Through: Psalm 94 Vengeance
The Psalm
Psalm 94 (CSB)
1 LORD, God of vengeance— God of vengeance, shine!2 Rise up, Judge of the earth; repay the proud what they deserve.
3 LORD, how long will the wicked— how long will the wicked celebrate?
4 They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.
5 LORD, they crush your people; they oppress your heritage.
6 They kill the widow and the resident alien and murder the fatherless.
7 They say, “The LORD doesn’t see it. The God of Jacob doesn’t pay attention.”
8 Pay attention, you stupid people! Fools, when will you be wise?
9 Can the one who shaped the ear not hear, the one who formed the eye not see?
10 The one who instructs nations, the one who teaches mankind knowledge— does he not discipline?
11 The LORD knows the thoughts of mankind; they are futile.
12 LORD, how happy is anyone you discipline and teach from your law
13 to give him relief from troubled times until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 The LORD will not leave his people or abandon his heritage,
15 for the administration of justice will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who stands up for me against the wicked? Who takes a stand for me against evildoers?
17 If the LORD had not been my helper, I would soon rest in the silence of death.
18 If I say, “My foot is slipping,” your faithful love will support me, LORD.
19 When I am filled with cares, your comfort brings me joy.
20 Can a corrupt throne be your ally, a throne that makes evil laws?
21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD is my refuge; my God is the rock of my protection.
23 He will pay them back for their sins and destroy them for their evil. The LORD our God will destroy them.
The Prayer
The sins against me
- when the people should have
- cared for me
- tender towards me
- love me
- cherish me
Instead
- I was forgotten
- forsaken
- betrayed
- hated
- unloved
But you appeared
- you saved me
- and nothing I have done
- brought you to me
- everything that I have done
- should have attracted your wrath
Those who forgotten me
- you are closer than whisper
- those who forsaken me
- you dwell in me
- those who have betrayed me
- you have adopted me
- those who have hated me
- you have loved me
- those who despite me
- I am my Beloved
- and you are mine
- forever
Praying Through: Psalm 95 Thanksgiving
The Psalm
Psalm 95 (CSB)
1 Come, let’s shout joyfully to the LORD, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!2 Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving; let’s shout triumphantly to him in song.
3 For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.
4 The depths of the earth are in his hand, and the mountain peaks are his.
5 The sea is his; he made it. His hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let’s worship and bow down; let’s kneel before the LORD our Maker.
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care. Today, if you hear his voice:
8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness
9 where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
10 For forty years I was disgusted with that generation; I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray; they do not know my ways.”
11 So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest.”
The Prayer
So what then can I say?
So what then can I do?
All I can do is simply thank you.
So from the bottom of my heart,
I thank you for giving me strength.
Thank you my Father God.
Thank you my Christ Jesus.
Thank you my Holy Spirit.
You judged me faithful.
You appointed to Your service.
Despite my dishonoring and blaspheming,
Your holy name,
despite my persecution and hatred
those who love you,
despite my perverted and violent opposition
towards you,
Still
I only received mercy
because I was lost
I was lame
I was deaf
I was blind
I was stupid
I was ignorant
I was evil
I was dead
and I was not looking and could not look for you whatsoever.
But Your beautiful, sweet and tender
love, mercy and grace
overflowed for me
overwhelmingly
undeservedly
ill-deservingly
with your unbroken faithfulness
and your relentless love
that can only be by You,
for You,
through You,
my Christ Jesus my Lord my Savior.
These words
out of my heart
are true
and with all of my hope and dreams
and desires and wishes
that these words would be sweet to your ears.
I know
that you came in this world
to rescue your people
to pull them out of despair
to give your people life
to save them from their sins
to bring them to you
evil sinners
at war with you
All of us
And I lead this group.
I am the foremost
I am their chief
I am their victor
I am their champion of those who would face Your terrifying wrath!
Yet,
in this reason
that Your grace abounds all the more
that Your mercy renews every morning
that Your love never ceases
that You
my Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ
might display
Your perfection, beauty, tenderness, quickness,
Your love, mercy, grace, patience
for all of those who You call Yours
and those would believe upon Your holy name for life forever.
This is why I will sing
to the God of the everlasting to the everlasting
the Triune
the Father
the Son
the Holy Spirit
the immortal
the invisible
the Only One
the Creator
the Sustainer
the Merciful
the Peace
the Grace
the Faith
the Messiah
the Immanuel, God with Us
the Blessed
the Living Word
the Christ
the Son of God
the Fellow Heir
the Second Adam
the Kinsman Redeemer
the Beginning
the Means
the End
the Majesty
the Truth
the Way
the Life
the Wisdom
the Teacher
the Rescuer
the Promise
the Calling
the Fulfillment
the Abundance
the Host
the Governor
the High Priest
the Prophet
the Apostle
the Sufferer
the Messiah
the Servant
the Son of Man
the Glorified
the Power
the Gospel
the Guide
the Elector
the All-Sufficient
the Lion of Judah
the Worthy Lamb who was slain
the King of all kings
the Lord of all lords
the Commander
the Ruler above all
the Name above all Names
the Wonderful Counselor
the Mighty God
the Everlasting Father
the Prince of Peace
my Holiness
my Righteousness
my Justice
my Faithfulness
my Mercy
my Grace
my Friend
my Confidence
my Pastor
my Elder
my Brother
my Assurance
my Redeemer
my Rock
my Salvation
my All in all
my Exalted
my Glorious
my Beloved
my Joy
my Song
my Love
my Jesus Christ, King, Lord, Savior and Messiah
my Father, my Father, my Abba, my heart
my Holy Spirit, my comfort, my peace, my gift, my breath.
So I will be so very careful to
worship,
sing,
praise,
glorify,
exalt,
proclaim,
honor,
dedicate,
and love
You alone.
I pray this desperately and joyfully,
in the beautiful,
sweet,
precious,
most tender,
loveliest,
most worthy,
dearest name of
Your Son.
His name is
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 96 Song
The Psalm
Psalm 96 (CSB)
1 Sing a new song to the LORD; let the whole earth sing to the LORD.2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; proclaim his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples.
4 For the LORD is great and is highly praised; he is feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; bring an offering and enter his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him.
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. He judges the peoples fairly.”
11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound.
12 Let the fields and everything in them celebrate. Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy
13 before the LORD, for he is coming— for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his faithfulness.
The Prayer
I will exhaust my breath
- I will give whatever I have
- I will deplete my resources
- I will squeeze my heart
- I will sacrifice my voice
- I will waste my life
- to search you out
- to testify of your goodness
- to glorify your holy name
- to proclaim your salvation
- to preach your word
- to sing your name
- to the everlasting
- you are my God
- forever
Praying Through: Psalm 97 Righteousness
The Psalm
Psalm 97 (CSB)
1 The LORD reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad.2 Clouds and total darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him and burns up his foes on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD— at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; all the peoples see his glory.
7 All who serve carved images, those who boast in worthless idols, will be put to shame. All the gods must worship him.
8 Zion hears and is glad, Judah’s villages rejoice because of your judgments, LORD.
9 For you, LORD, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods.
10 You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful ones; he rescues them from the power of the wicked.
11 Light dawns for the righteous, gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones, and give thanks to his holy name.
The Prayer
For you, O Lord
- are high
- above all the earth
And you alone
- are exalted
- far above
- all of my gods
I thought
- that what I did was good enough
- to have nothing to do with you
- and wanted everything you provide
- to worship your gifts
- instead of worshipping the Giver
But you were none content
- with my life unto death
- you will not let your son perish
- nor see corruption
You gave me a new heart
- renewed mind
- gift of repentance
- and Your Spirit
- because you were thoughtful
- mindful
- gracious
- to give me your Son
Now I get to sing
- now I get to worship
- now I get to proclaim
- you are my Lord
- and you are my great God!
Praying Through: Psalm 98 Wonder
The Psalm
Psalm 98 (CSB)
A psalm.1 Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has performed wonders; his right hand and holy arm have won him victory.
2 The LORD has made his victory known; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen our God’s victory.
4 Let the whole earth shout to the LORD; be jubilant, shout for joy, and sing.
5 Sing to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and melodious song.
6 With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout triumphantly in the presence of the LORD, our King.
7 Let the sea and all that fills it, the world and those who live in it, resound.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains shout together for joy
9 before the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world righteously and the peoples fairly.
The Prayer
I remember
- within this year
- how I sinned against you
- and trespass your holy name
What did you do
- what was your response?
You took my top prayers
- and in your beauty might
- and answered them one by one
I sinned against you
- you saved my oldest son
I war against you
- you dwelled in the heart of my youngest son
I blasphemed you
- but you were faithful to my children
I sought out deceit
- and yet, you let me
- preach your holy word
Is there no end to you mercies to me?
Is there no limit to your grace that you have stacked upon grace for me?
Is there no space that can contain your tenderness for me?
From what I have seen
- and I have experienced
- and I know
- that if I took your love to me
- and poured into the universe
- you would have infinite more love
- just for me
I will praise your holy name
- because you are my great God
Praying Through: Psalm 99 Awe
The Psalm
Psalm 99 (CSB)
1 The LORD reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He is enthroned between the cherubim. Let the earth quake.2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted above all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awe-inspiring name. He is holy.
4 The mighty King loves justice. You have established fairness; you have administered justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the LORD our God; bow in worship at his footstool. He is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests; Samuel also was among those calling on his name. They called to the LORD and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees and the statutes he gave them.
8 LORD our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their sinful actions.
9 Exalt the LORD our God; bow in worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.
The Prayer
You are gracious and kind
- and my heart is limited
You are merciful and loving
- and my soul can only bear so much
You dwell in me
- and I have spent most of life
- rejecting you
You are glorious
- and I tightly squint my eyes
- because they ache from your light
I have seen your great power and might
- and rarely do I believe
You alone are awe-inspiring
- and I often settle for less
Yet, I am yours
- and you are mine
- forever
Praying Through: Psalm 100 Goodness
The Psalm
Psalm 100 (CSB)
A psalm of thanksgiving.1 Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the LORD!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made us, and we are his— his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.
The Prayer
I will sing!
- And I will shout!
- I will praise the Lord of Hosts!
- For he alone is worthy to be praised!
He is my heart and my life
- I will gladly lay down my life
- because he has saved me from the depths of hell
- because he has loved me from the beginning of time
- because he has kept me close to his precious heart
- because I am his son and he is my Father
So whatever I can do
- however I can proclaim
- however I can sing
- however I can dance
- however I will write
- however I will think
- however I will worship
- my great God who is the source of all good
- he alone has been good to me
- for the world and sin and Satan and his demons
- have sought to destroy me and crushed me and keep me from my God
But my God is stronger
- of infinite might
- he has nor will ever lose me
- he has sent his only begotten Son
- to destroy and vanquished the forces of evil
Now my enemies are down
- they have no power over me
- for the Triune God lives in me
- forever
- I am his and he is mine
He has loved me with an everlasting love
- let me sing unto my God
- let me gaze upon his beauty
- let me write a trillion words
- and I will fall short
- because there is no end to his loveliness
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 101 Worthy
The Psalm
Psalm 101 (CSB)
A psalm of David.1 I will sing of faithful love and justice; I will sing praise to you, LORD.
2 I will pay attention to the way of integrity. When will you come to me? I will live with a heart of integrity in my house.
3 I will not let anything worthless guide me. I hate the practice of transgression; it will not cling to me.
4 A devious heart will be far from me; I will not be involved with evil.
5 I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor; I cannot tolerate anyone with haughty eyes or an arrogant heart.
6 My eyes favor the faithful of the land so that they may sit down with me. The one who follows the way of integrity may serve me.
7 No one who acts deceitfully will live in my palace; the one who tells lies will not be retained here to guide me.
8 Every morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land, wiping out all evildoers from the LORD’s city.
The Prayer
You have picked me
- a cistern of destruction
- a vessel to rightfully receive your wrath
And instead you have made me
- a lamp of your grace
- a temple of your mercy
- a receiver of your compassion
Because
- the Spirit rests and dwells in me
- the Son lives in my heart
- the Father have made your home in me
For I will worship you
- all of my days
- because you have chosen me
- a man fit for destruction
- cleansed me and washed me
- and made me yours
For as long as you are with me
- I will forever be saved
- because your works are perfect
- your faithfulness is certain
- and your love is steadfast
I praise you for your mercy
- and kindness
- for all of my days
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 102 Forever
The Psalm
Psalm 102 (CSB)
A prayer of a suffering person who is weak and pours out his lament before the LORD.1 LORD, hear my prayer; let my cry for help come before you.
2 Do not hide your face from me in my day of trouble. Listen closely to me; answer me quickly when I call.
3 For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is suffering, withered like grass; I even forget to eat my food.
5 Because of the sound of my groaning, my flesh sticks to my bones.
6 I am like an eagle owl, like a little owl among the ruins.
7 I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
8 My enemies taunt me all day long; they ridicule and use my name as a curse.
9 I eat ashes like bread and mingle my drinks with tears
10 because of your indignation and wrath; for you have picked me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like a lengthening shadow, and I wither away like grass.
12 But you, LORD, are enthroned forever; your fame endures to all generations.
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her— the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants take delight in its stones and favor its dust.
15 Then the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory,
16 for the LORD will rebuild Zion; he will appear in his glory.
17 He will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their prayer.
18 This will be written for a later generation, and a people who have not yet been created will praise the LORD:
19 He looked down from his holy heights— the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth—
20 to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to set free those condemned to die,
21 so that they might declare the name of the LORD in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
22 when peoples and kingdoms are assembled to serve the LORD.
23 He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.
24 I say, “My God, do not take me in the middle of my life! Your years continue through all generations.
25 Long ago you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away.
27 But you are the same, and your years will never end.
28 Your servants’ children will dwell securely, and their offspring will be established before you.”
The Prayer
My wars
- I rage against you
- I have trespasses against you
- I have sin mightily against you
- I have rejected everything that you are
- I have thought, "I can sin but there is no God and he does not care."
But you looked upon me
- my foolishness
- my iniquity
- my rebellion
- and did the only thing that you are capable of.
You saved me
- you spared my life
- you revealed your Son
- and you gave me your heart
- and your Spirit
- and your grace
- and your mercy
- and your glory
- and repentance
- and faith
- and love.
And you do it everyday
- now until forever
- because I am yours
- you are mine
- forevermore.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 103 Forgiving
The Psalm
Psalm 103 (CSB)
1 My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.2 My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits.
3 He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He revealed his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, all his angels of great strength, who do his word, obedient to his command.
21 Bless the LORD, all his armies, his servants who do his will.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all the places where he rules. My soul, bless the LORD!
The Prayer.
So what then can I say?
So what then can I do?
All I can do is simply thank you.
So from the bottom of my heart,
I thank you for giving me strength.
Thank you my Father God.
Thank you my Christ Jesus.
Thank you my Holy Spirit.
You judged me faithful.
You appointed to Your service.
Despite my dishonoring and blaspheming,
Your holy name,
despite my persecution and hatred
those who love you,
despite my perverted and violent opposition
towards you,
Still
I only received mercy
because I was lost
I was lame
I was deaf
I was blind
I was stupid
I was ignorant
I was evil
I was dead
and I was not looking and could not look for you whatsoever.
But Your beautiful, sweet and tender
love, mercy and grace
overflowed for me
overwhelmingly
undeservedly
ill-deservingly
with your unbroken faithfulness
and your relentless love
that can only be by You,
for You,
through You,
my Christ Jesus my Lord my Savior.
These words
out of my heart
are true
and with all of my hope and dreams
and desires and wishes
that these words would be sweet to your ears.
I know
that you came in this world
to rescue your people
to pull them out of despair
to give your people life
to save them from their sins
to bring them to you
evil sinners
at war with you
All of us
And I lead this group.
I am the foremost
I am their chief
I am their victor
I am their champion of those who would face Your terrifying wrath!
Yet,
in this reason
that Your grace abounds all the more
that Your mercy renews every morning
that Your love never ceases
that You
my Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ
might display
Your perfection, beauty, tenderness, quickness,
Your love, mercy, grace, patience
for all of those who You call Yours
and those would believe upon Your holy name for life forever.
This is why I will sing
to my God of the everlasting to the everlasting
my Triune
my Father
my Son
my Holy Spirit
my immortal
my invisible
my Only One
my Creator
my Sustainer
my Merciful
my Peace
my Grace
my Faith
my Messiah
my Immanuel, God with Us
my Blessed
my Living Word
my Christ
my Son of God
my Fellow Heir
my Second Adam
my Kinsman Redeemer
my Beginning
my Means
my End
my Majesty
my Truth
my Way
my Life
my Wisdom
my Teacher
my Rescuer
my Promise
my Calling
my Fulfillment
my Abundance
my Host
my Governor
my High Priest
my Prophet
my Apostle
my Sufferer
my Messiah
my Servant
my Son of Man
my Glorified
my Power
my Gospel
my Guide
my Elector
my All-Sufficient
my Lion of Judah
my Worthy Lamb who was slain
my King of all kings
my Lord of all lords
my Commander
my Ruler above all
my Name above all Names
my Wonderful Counselor
my Mighty God
my Everlasting Father
my Prince of Peace
my Holiness
my Righteousness
my Justice
my Faithfulness
my Mercy
my Grace
my Friend
my Confidence
my Pastor
my Elder
my Brother
my Assurance
my Redeemer
my Rock
my Salvation
my All in all
my Exalted
my Glorious
my Beloved
my Joy
my Song
my Love
my Jesus Christ, King, Lord, Savior and Messiah
my Father, my Father, my Abba, my heart
my Holy Spirit, my comfort, my peace, my gift, my breath.
So I will be so very careful to
worship,
sing,
praise,
glorify,
exalt,
proclaim,
honor,
dedicate,
and love
You alone.
I pray this desperately and joyfully,
in the beautiful,
sweet,
precious,
most tender,
loveliest,
most worthy,
dearest name of
Your Son.
His name is
the Lord Jesus Christ.
And with every bit of my soul
body
strength
mind
heart.
I will praise and bless your holy name
forever.
I cannot believe that you would be so mindful of me.
You have seen me in the fallen state
- and you took pity on me.
You know that I could not save myself
- and I was good as dead.
I was once foolish and led astray
- enslaved by my sin and my desires.
But you sent your Son
- to come rescue me
- to save me from death
- to capture me
- and make me yours.
You are the lover of my soul
- and the king of my heart.
You are my portion and my rock
- forever.
I make no claim to myself
- I am yours.
Be glorified today.
My sins have been massive
- there is none that have out-sinned me
- for anger, I took joy in rage
- for lust, I have consumed all perversion
- for lying, every word out of my mouth was deceit.
But worst of all
- I pretend to be nice and kind
- but inside, I was the opposite
- and thought I had everyone fooled
- because if people knew the real person
- the one in my mind and heart
- they would not like me
- and they would despise me
- and have nothing to do with me.
And I have lost friends
- and loved ones
- because of who I really was.
But you knew me
- you saw straight through me
- and in my cold heart
- was the root of evil
- that continuously thought evil thoughts
- always.
But you love me
- and you excavated my old heart
- and gave me yours
- sealed me with your Spirit
- renewed my mind
- opened my eyes
- and my ears
- and unmute my tongue.
And the infection
- the cancer
- the disease
- that was eating my soul?
- Your purged it
- cleansed me
- and made me a completely new person.
For all of my
- troubling sin
- wicked perversion
- grotesque behavior
- slothfulness
- anger
- I should have perish
- I should be under the wrath of your Son
- I should have been counted with the worthless.
I should have
- because everything about me
- was at war with you.
But you have been my God
- before I was even a thought in my mother's womb
- you have molded time and space
- and your Son entered into creation
- to save a wretched outcast like me.
You have delivered me from sin
- and you have removed my transgressions
- but you have not gone back in time
- and removed the hurt I have caused
- and the hurt and pain that I have endured.
You alone
- have made it worthwhile
- the evil I have felt and dealt
- you have turned it into good
- because your Son died on the cross
- to reconcile creation to himself
- for good.
I praise you
- because you alone
- have loved me.
You have made me a blessed man
- I am wealthy than the wealthiest combined
- I am stronger than a thousand strongmen
- I am wiser than Solomon.
Because I have you
-
you are my King Jesus
-
you are my everything
-
everything in this life
-
if I have a little or a lot
-
I have it all
-
because you are my portion and my lot.
-
If I am weak or I am strong
-
I have it all
-
because you are the Almighty.
-
If I am insane or brilliant
-
I have all wisdom
-
because you give without hesitation.
In you, my Christ
- my Father has given me so much
- that heaven and earth
- could give me
- no more.
No matter what sin
- and evil is against me
- you are always
- my Lord and my God
- forever.
There is no wickedness left
- on this world
- by mankind
- that can rail against me
- because I have you alone
- forever.
But it is not the trespasses of the world
- that will cause me to fall away
- it is my own depravity
- that will cause me to wander.
But you have given me
- your Son's righteousness
- and now
- you are my hope and stay.
- I have you
- because
- you have me
- forever.
Be exalted, O Lord
- in my life
- today.
There was a time
- when I thought I knew of your word
- because I glanced through the pages
- or I took a couple weeks of intently reading
- and then crown myself
- an expert on what you have said.
But I was foolish
- and always disobedient
- to what you have told me to do.
But if my eyes were opened
- and my ears were unstopped
- and my heart was soft
- and my mind was renewed
- and my soul alive
- and your Spirit was in me.
Then I would have heard one word
- from your lips
- and been transformed
- and been made whole
- and would have believed.
And I would have known
- your sweetest mercies
- your whelming grace
- your unending love
- and your kindness
- and forgiveness
- for my wrongdoings.
But now I know
- and you are
- and I am yours
- and you are mine
- forever.
I bear witness
- with my entire life
- with my heart
- that you are this kind
- and this merciful
- and this gracious
- and this loving
- to a wretch like me.
Look at my sins!
- they are too numerous to count
- they are too vile to mention
- they are too great to be forgiven
- they are cause for your great wrath.
I was the chief of sinners
- and done more evil in your sight
- than anybody could imagine.
But you came to me
- you shown mercy to me
- and you lifted me up
- out of death
- and into life
- and into your presence
- and into your family
- and into your kingdom
- and into your glory
- forever.
You have always been kind
- and compassionate
- and merciful
- and good to me.
I praise you
- you are my God.
I have spent my entire life
- warring against you
- fighting you
- sinning against you
- ignoring you
- pretending to be good
- when I was corrupted
- to the core.
With all of my life
- I have sinned against you
- lied to my fellow man
- lusted after women
- and anger towards children.
I was an walking abomination
- and a living idol maker
- and a friend to Satan
- and a servant to the world
- and a slave to my own desires.
I was a blasphemer
- persecutor
- arrogant
- violent man
- towards you.
I was foolish
- disobedient
- deceived
- enslaved by various passions and pleasures
- living in malice and envy
- hateful
- detesting every one else.
I was dead in my trespasses and sins
- and walked according to the ways of this world
- and was ruled by the ruler of the power of the air
- my spirit working in the disobedience
- lived with my own fleshly desires
- carrying out the inclinations of my flesh and thoughts
- and by born nature
- rightfully
- a child of wrath.
I have made it my livelihood
- to resist your grace.
But what was your response?
You did not destroy me
- you did not cast me to hell
- you did not leave me to my own corruption.
Instead
- you were kind to me
- you sent your Son
- my Savior
- my Redeemer
- because you love me
- you saved me
- the opposite of everything I have ever done
- and you were merciful to me
- you washed me clean
- you made me new
- you gave me your Spirit
- you justified me
- you gave me grace
- you made me a co-heir
- you gave me hope
- you gave me eternal life.
Instead
- you strengthen me
- you consider me faithful
- you appoint me to the ministry
- you give me mercy
- you give me more grace
- you give me more faith
- you give me more love
- you give me more hope
- you saved me
- a sinner
- the worst of them
- and you give me more mercy
- so that in me
- as the worst of them
- you might demonstrate your extraordinary patience
- as an example to those who would believe in you
- for eternal life.
Instead
- you were rich in mercy to me
- you were great in love to me
- you made me alive with Christ
- even though I was dead in sin
- you saved me by grace
- you raised me up with Christ
- you seated me with Christ in the heavens
- so that in the coming ages
- you might display the immeasurable riches of your grace
- through your kindness to me in Christ Jesus
- for you gave me salvation
- for you gave me grace
- for you gave me faith
- you made me your poem
- your masterpiece
- your workmanship.
Instead
- you shown me the path of life
- you gave me the fullness of joy
- you gave me pleasures forevermore.
Because you have given
- your only begotten Son
- Jesus Christ
- my Lord
- Son of God
- who is God.
This is why
- I will proclaim
- I will sing
- I will praise
- I will boast
- you are the King of ages
- you are immortal
- you are invisible
- you are the only God
- you are worthy of honor
- you are worthy of glory
- you are worthy of praise
- you are worthy of adoration
- you are worthy of worship
- forever and ever.
My sins
- deserve the worst of your wrath
- the deepest hells
- the worst consequences.
And I had suffered
- through my own sins
- here on my earth.
In your great holiness
- you could have left me to rot
- you could have hardened my heart
- fashioned me into a vessel of wrath
- prepared me for destruction
- and left me to my own devices
- and died
- and judged me forever
- and hated me forever.
I was the worst sinner
- the chief of treason.
In no ways
- did I do one thing
- to get you to notice me
- to get you to love me
- and care for me
- to give me grace
- to grant me mercy.
But
- because you are rich in mercy
- you lavish me with grace upon grace
- and you love me
- you saw my condition
- and you knew I was going to die
- That is why
- you sent your Son
- to snatch from the pit of hell
- and sit me at your dinner table
- forever and ever.
Who is like, Lord?
- And who can compare to you?
- You alone are worthy.
You are high
- far above the earth
- you alone are exalted
- far above
- all of my idols.
But infinite distance
- that you are from me
- because of my sin
- and wickedness
- and trespasses
- and iniquities
- and the thoughts
- that are in my mind
- and the pull
- in my heart
- continually
- to pull away from you
- and do evil consistently.
But that infinite measurement
- is the exact amount
- of your faithful love
- towards me.
How do I know?
- You sent your Son
- and he traveled the distance
- and he bridges the gap
- so that I will be saved by you
- adopted by you
- loved by you
- and be with you
- forever.
My Lord
- you are high
- above all the earth
- you are exalted
- far above
- all of my gods.
And I will worship you
I will exalt you
I will love you.
And with everything
- within me
- I will praise
- your glorious name
- forever
- and
- ever.
My mind and heart and soul are continually filled and constantly abounding in sin--every source of my being is filled with wickedness towards you.
I see that Christ, in his divinity and humanity, is perfect towards you.
But I know you dwell in me and yet, my flesh still wages war against you.
But look at what you have told me:
I have infinitely removed your transgressions from you.
All of this crap in me? You have removed every bit of my crap eternally from me.
I know this because your Son died and bleed for me.
I will always praise your glorious name!
I have one thing to say.
I see my love and my affections
- swell for you
- and all I want more
- than anything
- is to see your face
- and be with you.
This
- that you have done in me
- could only be you
- thank you
- my God.
For all of my sins
- and my wickedness
- and my evil
- my pride
- my hubris
- my arrogance
- my lust
- my selfishness
- my self-centeredness
- my anger
- my wrath
- my hatred
- my bitterness
- my resentment
- my jealousy
- my envy
- my greed
- my gluttony
- my sloth
- my laziness
- my apathy
- my indifference
- my lack of love
- my lack of compassion
- my lack of mercy
- my lack of grace
- my lack of forgiveness
- my lack of kindness
- my lack of gentleness
- my lack of self-control
- my lack of faith
- my lack of hope
- my lack of joy
- my lack of peace
- my lack of patience
- my lack of goodness.
My ultimate failings.
You know this about me
- and yet you love me
- and you sent your Son
- to live and die for me
- so that I might die and live with you
- forever.
In my life
- be glorified
- today.
I am not here for long at all.
And I wish I had loved you all of my life.
But I know I will love you for the rest of my life.
Come get me soon.
I love you.
Once invisible now revealed
- from faith to faith.
And when you appeared
- you saved me.
You plucked me out of time and death
And entered me into your precious joy.
Forever and ever.
I have never kept your covenant
- I have never observed your precepts
- I have tried and failed
- I struggle and continue to fail
- I have fallen all the way short of your glory.
But this covenant you have made
- you have made with not with me
- but for me
- and you made this promise
- with the only one who could keep it
- your only begotten Son
- Jesus Christ
- Son of God who is God
- forever past and forever future.
You keep us
- because he alone has fulfilled the covenant
- he alone has kept the precepts
- and I am in him
- and he is in me
- forever.
Blessed be your holy name forever and ever.
For all of my days
- I will bless your name
- Lord God my Father
- from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours alone
- is the greatness
- and the power
- and the glory
- and the victory
- and the majesty
- for everything that exists
- in the heaven
- in the earth
- and under the earth
- is yours.
Yours is the kingdom
- and you are exalted
- far above
- all other gods.
Whatever provision
- and riches
- and honor
- and glory
- that I am might hold
- has come completely
- and totally
- from you alone.
Any ounce of power
- and strength
- and might
- and grace
- that I think I have
- is from your hand
- you alone make great
- and give strength to all.
Because you are God alone
- I thank you
- and I praise your
- glorious name
- forever.
Who am I
- and what are these people
- who think we can give something to you
- when you do not need anything
- and you are not served by our hands and strength.
For everything
- comes from you alone
- and we are only giving
- what you have given us.
We pilgrims
- and aliens
- sojourning
- and wandering
- through this earth
- just like all of our forefathers before us
- Our days here
- are like a shadow
- and we are desperately
- without hope.
I know you
- you have seen me
- from eternity past
- and found me wanting
- and dead
- and running from you
- and you are only pleased
- with what is right
- so you have sent your Son
- to live so I could die
- and to die so that I can live
- and to live again so I can be with you
- and to ascend so I can be in his charge
- for all of my days
- with you.
Lord God
- of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
- my fathers,
- make your home in me
- and your Spirit to dwell in me
- because Christ lives in me
- and bring me
- all the way home.
For yours alone
- is the kingdom
- and the power
- and the glory
- forever and ever.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 104 Providing
The Psalm
Psalm 104 (CSB)
1 My soul, bless the LORD! LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with majesty and splendor.2 He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe, spreading out the sky like a canopy,
3 laying the beams of his palace on the waters above, making the clouds his chariot, walking on the wings of the wind,
4 and making the winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
5 He established the earth on its foundations; it will never be shaken.
6 You covered it with the deep as if it were a garment; the water stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke the water fled; at the sound of your thunder they hurried away—
8 mountains rose and valleys sank— to the place you established for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross; they will never cover the earth again.
10 He causes the springs to gush into the valleys; they flow between the mountains.
11 They supply water for every wild beast; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky live beside the springs; they make their voices heard among the foliage.
13 He waters the mountains from his palace; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of your labor.
14 He causes grass to grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, producing food from the earth,
15 wine that makes human hearts glad— making his face shine with oil— and bread that sustains human hearts.
16 The trees of the LORD flourish, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests; storks make their homes in the pine trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the cliffs are a refuge for hyraxes.
19 He made the moon to mark the festivals; the sun knows when to set.
20 You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals stir.
21 The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises; they go back and lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work and to his labor until evening.
24 How countless are your works, LORD! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small.
26 There the ships move about, and Leviathan, which you formed to play there.
27 All of them wait for you to give them their food at the right time.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your breath, they are created, and you renew the surface of the ground.
31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works.
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles; he touches the mountains, and they pour out smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him; I will rejoice in the LORD.
35 May sinners vanish from the earth and wicked people be no more. My soul, bless the LORD! Hallelujah!
The Prayer
You have been
- throughout my life
- my only source
- only provision
- for all my needs
- my wants
- and my desires
I know
- that I need many things
- in order to survive
- till the next day
But you O Lord
- have provided
- what I truly need
- is you
- and that is why
- you have given me
- your only begotten Son
- that is why
- you have made your home in me
- that is why
- your Almigthy Spirit
- dwells in me
- for all times
I love you, Lord
- and all that is within me
- I will be bless your holy name
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 105 Wondrous
The Psalm
Psalm 105 (CSB)
1 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples.2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell about all his wondrous works!
3 Boast in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
5 Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced,
6 you offspring of Abraham his servant, Jacob’s descendants—his chosen ones.
7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments govern the whole earth.
8 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he ordained for a thousand generations—
9 the covenant he made with Abraham, swore to Isaac,
10 and confirmed to Jacob as a decree and to Israel as a permanent covenant:
11 “I will give the land of Canaan to you as your inherited portion.”
12 When they were few in number, very few indeed, and resident aliens in Canaan,
13 wandering from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another,
14 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their behalf:
15 “Do not touch my anointed ones, or harm my prophets.”
16 He called down famine against the land and destroyed the entire food supply.
17 He had sent a man ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They hurt his feet with shackles; his neck was put in an iron collar.
19 Until the time his prediction came true, the word of the LORD tested him.
20 The king sent for him and released him; the ruler of peoples set him free.
21 He made him master of his household, ruler over all his possessions—
22 binding his officials at will and instructing his elders.
23 Then Israel went to Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.
24 The LORD made his people very fruitful; he made them more numerous than their foes,
25 whose hearts he turned to hate his people and to deal deceptively with his servants.
26 He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed his miraculous signs among them and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and it became dark— for did they not defy his commands?
29 He turned their water into blood and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land was overrun with frogs, even in their royal chambers.
31 He spoke, and insects came— gnats throughout their country.
32 He gave them hail for rain, and lightning throughout their land.
33 He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their territory.
34 He spoke, and locusts came— young locusts without number.
35 They devoured all the vegetation in their land and consumed the produce of their land.
36 He struck all the firstborn in their land, all their first progeny.
37 Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold, and no one among his tribes stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they left, for the dread of Israel had fallen on them.
39 He spread a cloud as a covering and gave a fire to light up the night.
40 They asked, and he brought quail and satisfied them with bread from heaven.
41 He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a stream in the desert.
42 For he remembered his holy promise to Abraham his servant.
43 He brought his people out with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy.
44 He gave them the lands of the nations, and they inherited what other peoples had worked for.
45 All this happened so that they might keep his statutes and obey his instructions. Hallelujah!
The Prayer
I look upon your face
- I know that you are glorious
- and there is no end to your majesty
- and there is limit to your love
- for me.
And from who you are
- you thought of me
- you loved me
- you made a promise to redeem me
- and you created me
- and you gave me your heart
- and your Spirit
- and you gave me your Son
- and you redeemed me
- and you saved me.
I will glorify your name
- in all of the earth.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 106 Everlasting
The Psalm
Psalm 106 (CSB)
1 Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.2 Who can declare the LORD’s mighty acts or proclaim all the praise due him?
3 How happy are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times.
4 Remember me, LORD, when you show favor to your people. Come to me with your salvation
5 so that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of your nation, and boast about your heritage.
6 Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have done wrong and have acted wickedly.
7 Our ancestors in Egypt did not grasp the significance of your wondrous works or remember your many acts of faithful love; instead, they rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.
8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his power known.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert.
10 He saved them from the power of the adversary; he redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
11 Water covered their foes; not one of them remained.
12 Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.
13 They soon forgot his works and would not wait for his counsel.
14 They were seized with craving in the wilderness and tested God in the desert.
15 He gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.
16 In the camp they were envious of Moses and of Aaron, the LORD’s holy one.
17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the assembly of Abiram.
18 Fire blazed throughout their assembly; flames consumed the wicked.
19 At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped the cast metal image.
20 They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.
21 They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt,
22 wondrous works in the land of Ham, awe-inspiring acts at the Red Sea.
23 So he said he would have destroyed them— if Moses his chosen one had not stood before him in the breach to turn his wrath away from destroying them.
24 They despised the pleasant land and did not believe his promise.
25 They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the LORD.
26 So he raised his hand against them with an oath that he would make them fall in the desert
27 and would disperse their descendants among the nations, scattering them throughout the lands.
28 They aligned themselves with Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods.
29 They angered the LORD with their deeds, and a plague broke out against them.
30 But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stopped.
31 It was credited to him as righteousness throughout all generations to come.
32 They angered the LORD at the Waters of Meribah, and Moses suffered because of them,
33 for they embittered his spirit, and he spoke rashly with his lips.
34 They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them
35 but mingled with the nations and adopted their ways.
36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
37 They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.
38 They shed innocent blood— the blood of their sons and daughters whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; so the land became polluted with blood.
39 They defiled themselves by their actions and prostituted themselves by their deeds.
40 Therefore the LORD’s anger burned against his people, and he abhorred his own inheritance.
41 He handed them over to the nations; those who hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies oppressed them, and they were subdued under their power.
43 He rescued them many times, but they continued to rebel deliberately and were beaten down by their iniquity.
44 When he heard their cry, he took note of their distress,
45 remembered his covenant with them, and relented according to the abundance of his faithful love.
46 He caused them to be pitied before all their captors.
47 Save us, LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, so that we may give thanks to your holy name and rejoice in your praise.
48 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Hallelujah!
The Prayer
You are the my prosperity!
- what else do I need or want?
- I have flee to my own desires and passions
- and they have left me
- wanting.
I have a void in my heart and soul
- and I have search the entire earth
- and its riches and pleasures
- and it is as affective
- at satisfying
- as a drop of water
- can fill all of space and time.
It does nothing.
You, my God, are infinite
- and you are the only one
- you was willing and able
- and from the definition of love
- came into my heart
- and made your home there
- forever.
You are my satisfaction!
- because
- you are my God
- forever.
And I love you
- and all that is within me
- I will bless your holy name
- always.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 107 All-in-all
The Psalm
Psalm 107 (CSB)
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.2 Let the redeemed of the LORD proclaim that he has redeemed them from the power of the foe
3 and has gathered them from the lands— from the east and the west, from the north and the south.
4 Some wandered in the desolate wilderness, finding no way to a city where they could live.
5 They were hungry and thirsty; their spirits failed within them.
6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; he rescued them from their distress.
7 He led them by the right path to go to a city where they could live.
8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity.
9 For he has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things.
10 Others sat in darkness and gloom— prisoners in cruel chains—
11 because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the counsel of the Most High.
12 He broke their spirits with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their chains apart.
15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity.
16 For he has broken down the bronze gates and cut through the iron bars.
17 Fools suffered affliction because of their rebellious ways and their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food and came near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent his word and healed them; he rescued them from their traps.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity.
22 Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices and announce his works with shouts of joy.
23 Others went to sea in ships, conducting trade on the vast water.
24 They saw the LORD’s works, his wondrous works in the deep.
25 He spoke and raised a stormy wind that stirred up the waves of the sea.
26 Rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths, their courage melting away in anguish,
27 they reeled and staggered like a drunkard, and all their skill was useless.
28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet. Then he guided them to the harbor they longed for.
31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.
33 He turns rivers into desert, springs into thirsty ground,
34 and fruitful land into salty wasteland, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into a pool, dry land into springs.
36 He causes the hungry to settle there, and they establish a city where they can live.
37 They sow fields and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest.
38 He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; he does not let their livestock decrease.
39 When they are diminished and are humbled by cruel oppression and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
41 But he lifts the needy out of their suffering and makes their families multiply like flocks.
42 The upright see it and rejoice, and all injustice shuts its mouth.
43 Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the LORD’s acts of faithful love.
The Prayer
You are my forever
- Jesus
- Lamb of God
- and only your name
- is worthy of praise
- forever.
You are my covenant
- my rescuer
- my redeemer
- my portion
- and my destiny.
Who is like you
- O Lord
- that while my own sins
- and the sins of others
- keep seeking my death
- and despair,
- you keep pulling me out
- and bringing me closer
- to your heart?
You have rescued me
- not just seven
- but beyond seventy times seven.
Who is like you, O My God?
- I will worship you
- for all of my days.
- I will praise your holy name
- with all that is in me
- I will bless your name
- forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 108 Exalted
The Psalm
Psalm 108 (CSB)
A song. A psalm of David.1 My heart is confident, God; I will sing; I will sing praises with the whole of my being.
2 Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn.
3 I will praise you, LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
4 For your faithful love is higher than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5 God, be exalted above the heavens, and let your glory be over the whole earth.
6 Save with your right hand and answer me so that those you love may be rescued.
7 God has spoken in his sanctuary: “I will celebrate! I will divide up Shechem. I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, and Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.
9 Moab is my washbasin; I throw my sandal on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.”
10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
11 God, haven’t you rejected us? God, you do not march out with our armies.
12 Give us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless.
13 With God we will perform valiantly; he will trample our foes.
The Prayer
I faced my absolute enemies
- they are crouching
- waiting for me to slip and fall
- so that they can pounce
- and devour my heart and soul
And I have fallen
- a million times
- this week
- this day
- this hour
- I am helpless
- the dogs
- they chew on my bones
But all that I know
- is that your Son
- bled and died for me
- and has put these dogs
- to open shame
- I am in Christ alone
- and I am safe
No matter what evil befalls me
- I will sing praises to your name
- O Lord
- because you alone are worthy
- and worthy to be praised
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 109 Merciful
The Psalm
Psalm 109 (CSB)
For the choir director. A psalm of David.1 God of my praise, do not be silent.
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues.
3 They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me, but I continue to pray.
5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6 Set a wicked person over him; let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer be counted as sin.
8 Let his days be few; let another take over his position.
9 Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children wander as beggars, searching for food far from their demolished homes.
11 Let a creditor seize all he has; let strangers plunder what he has worked for.
12 Let no one show him kindness, and let no one be gracious to his fatherless children.
13 Let the line of his descendants be cut off; let their name be blotted out in the next generation.
14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and do not let his mother’s sin be blotted out.
15 Let their sins always remain before the LORD, and let him remove all memory of them from the earth.
16 For he did not think to show kindness, but pursued the suffering, needy, and brokenhearted in order to put them to death.
17 He loved cursing—let it fall on him; he took no delight in blessing—let it be far from him.
18 He wore cursing like his coat— let it enter his body like water and go into his bones like oil.
19 Let it be like a robe he wraps around himself, like a belt he always wears.
20 Let this be the LORD’s payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil against me.
21 But you, LORD, my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name’s sake; because your faithful love is good, rescue me.
22 For I am suffering and needy; my heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade away like a lengthening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak from fasting, and my body is emaciated.
25 I have become an object of ridicule to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.
26 Help me, LORD my God; save me according to your faithful love
27 so they may know that this is your hand and that you, LORD, have done it.
28 Though they curse, you will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice.
29 My accusers will be clothed with disgrace; they will wear their shame like a cloak.
30 I will fervently thank the LORD with my mouth; I will praise him in the presence of many.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy to save him from those who would condemn him.
The Prayer
I am not the one
- who is upright
- and blameless
I am the one
- who is wicked
- full of malice
- and anger
- and unholiness
- and unrighteousness
- blameful
- in all of my ways.
I am the sinful one
- who wars against you
- who battles against your holy name
- who trespasses with every beat of my heart
- I am the one who is guilty
- and deserving of your great wrath.
Nonetheless
- you saw me in my sin
- and you loved me
- you saw me as your enemy
- and set out
- not to destroy me
- but to save me
- not just spared from your wrath
- but to be your child
- forever and ever.
I know this
- because you have sent
- your only begotten Son
- to live and die for me
- so I can die and live with you
- forever and ever.
And I know this
- because your Holy Spirit
- dwells in me
- never to leave me
- but to bear witness with my Spirit
- that I belong to you
- and you belong to me
- forever and ever.
I will always fail
- but you are the strength of my heart
- and my portion forever.
Save me, Lord
- I am in need of saving.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 110 Conquerer
The Psalm
Psalm 110 (CSB)
A psalm of David.1 This is the declaration of the LORD to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”
2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion. Rule over your surrounding enemies.
3 Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
4 The LORD has sworn an oath and will not take it back: “You are a priest forever according to the pattern of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his anger.
6 He will judge the nations, heaping up corpses; he will crush leaders over the entire world.
7 He will drink from the brook by the road; therefore, he will lift up his head.
The Prayer
I was a long rejector
- of your great gospel
- a treason traitor
- of your great rule
- a magnificient hater
- of your great love
- a terrible sinner
- of your great holiness.
But you have conquered
- my greatest and only enemy
- my own sin
- and have put my sin to open shame
- because you have taken my sin upon yourself
- and exposed yourself to open shame
- for my sake
- for my sake
- you died
- so I might live to you forever.
Be glorified
- in my life
- today.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 111 Great
The Psalm
Psalm 111 (CSB)
1 Hallelujah! I will praise the LORD with all my heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.2 The LORD’s works are great, studied by all who delight in them.
3 All that he does is splendid and majestic; his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered. The LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He has provided food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works by giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are truth and justice; all his instructions are trustworthy.
8 They are established forever and ever, enacted in truth and in uprightness.
9 He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awe-inspiring.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his instructions have good insight. His praise endures forever.
The Prayer
You have sent redemption
- to me
You have kept your promise
- to me
You have been compassionate
- and merciful
- to me
Because you have given me
- your precious Son
- Jesus Christ
- forever and ever.
I will worship you
- and praise you alone
- for you name is great
- and greatly to be praised.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 112 Light
The Psalm
Psalm 112 (CSB)
1 Hallelujah! Happy is the person who fears the LORD, taking great delight in his commands.2 His descendants will be powerful in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright. He is gracious, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good will come to the one who lends generously and conducts his business fairly.
6 He will never be shaken. The righteous one will be remembered forever.
7 He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is assured; he will not fear. In the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
9 He distributes freely to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted in honor.
10 The wicked one will see it and be angry; he will gnash his teeth in despair. The desire of the wicked leads to ruin.
The Prayer
When you sent your Son
- to open my eyes
- to open my ears
- to unmute my tongue
- to open my mind
- to make his home in my heart.
I see the light of the world
- and I no longer love the darkness.
I am your child forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 113 Loving
The Psalm
Psalm 113 (CSB)
1 Hallelujah! Give praise, servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.2 Let the name of the LORD be blessed both now and forever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the LORD be praised.
4 The LORD is exalted above all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God— the one enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap
8 in order to seat them with nobles— with the nobles of his people.
9 He gives the childless woman a household, making her the joyful mother of children. Hallelujah!
The Prayer
YOU HAVE BEEN MERCIFUL TO ME!
YOU HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS TO ME!
YOU HAVE BEEN SO LOVING TO ME!
I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU AND ONLY YOU!
I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU AND ONLY YOU!
I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU AND ONLY YOU!
I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU AND ONLY YOU!
HOW DID YOU RESPOND TO MY WICKEDNESS?
YOU SENT YOUR SON TO SAVE ME FROM MY GRIEVOUS SINS!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
I will always forget your love for me.
But you will never stop loving me
- because you never started loving me.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 114 Saving
The Psalm
Psalm 114 (CSB)
1 When Israel came out of Egypt— the house of Jacob from a people who spoke a foreign language—2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel, his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled; the Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills, like lambs.
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled? Jordan, that you turned back?
6 Mountains, that you skipped like rams? Hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool, the flint into a spring.
The Prayer
YOU HAVE BEEN MERCIFUL TO ME!
YOU HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS TO ME!
YOU HAVE BEEN SO LOVING TO ME!
I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU AND ONLY YOU!
I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU AND ONLY YOU!
I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU AND ONLY YOU!
I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU AND ONLY YOU!
HOW DID YOU RESPOND TO MY WICKEDNESS?
YOU SENT YOUR SON TO SAVE ME FROM MY GRIEVOUS SINS!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
YOU LOVE ME!
I will always forget your love for me.
But you will never stop loving me
- because you never started loving me.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 115 Trustworthy
The Psalm
Psalm 115 (CSB)
1 Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your faithful love, because of your truth.2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.
5 They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot make a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them.
9 Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the LORD— small and great alike.
14 May the LORD add to your numbers, both yours and your children’s.
15 May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
16 The heavens are the LORD’s, but the earth he has given to the human race.
17 It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any of those descending into the silence of death.
18 But we will bless the LORD, both now and forever. Hallelujah!
The Prayer
I have cling mightily
- to my worthless idols
- to my wicked deeds
- to my selfish desires
- to my own righteousness
And you
- you alone
- have rescued me
- from the pit I have dug
- from the sin I have committed
- from the death I have earned
- from the hell I have deserved
In my little life
- be glorified
- I have nowhere else to turn
- you alone
- have the words
- to eternal life
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 116 Compassionate
The Psalm
Psalm 116 (CSB)
1 I love the LORD because he has heard my appeal for mercy.2 Because he has turned his ear to me, I will call out to him as long as I live.
3 The ropes of death were wrapped around me, and the torments of Sheol overcame me; I encountered trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “LORD, save me!”
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.
6 The LORD guards the inexperienced; I was helpless, and he saved me.
7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
8 For you, LORD, rescued me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I believed, even when I said, “I am severely oppressed.”
11 In my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”
12 How can I repay the LORD for all the good he has done for me?
13 I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 The death of his faithful ones is valuable in the LORD’s sight.
16 LORD, I am indeed your servant; I am your servant, the son of your female servant. You have loosened my bonds.
17 I will offer you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the LORD’s house— within you, Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
The Prayer
YOU
HAVE
SAVED
ME!
SO I
WILL
BLESS
YOUR
HOLY
NAME
FOREVER!
AMEN!
Praying Through: Psalm 117 Glorified
The Psalm
Psalm 117 (CSB)
1 Praise the LORD, all nations! Glorify him, all peoples!2 For his faithful love to us is great; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Hallelujah!
The Prayer
For all of my life
- and all of my days
- I will sing of your praises
- for you alone have been so good to me
- you alone have loved me
- and you alone have saved me from my wickedness.
For all that is in me
- I will bless your glorious name
- forevermore.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 118 You Are God
The Psalm
Psalm 118 (CSB)
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.2 Let Israel say, “His faithful love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His faithful love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD say, “His faithful love endures forever.”
5 I called to the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and put me in a spacious place.
6 The LORD is for me; I will not be afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?
7 The LORD is my helper; therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humanity.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in nobles.
10 All the nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I destroyed them.
11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I destroyed them.
12 They surrounded me like bees; they were extinguished like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I destroyed them.
13 They pushed me hard to make me fall, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
15 There are shouts of joy and victory in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand performs valiantly!
16 The LORD’s right hand is raised. The LORD’s right hand performs valiantly!”
17 I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD disciplined me severely but did not give me over to death.
19 Open the gates of righteousness for me; I will enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the LORD’s gate; the righteous will enter through it.
21 I will give thanks to you because you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
23 This came from the LORD; it is wondrous in our sight.
24 This is the day the LORD has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.
25 LORD, save us! LORD, please grant us success!
26 He who comes in the name of the LORD is blessed. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 The LORD is God and has given us light. Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks. You are my God; I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.
The Prayer
You alone are good
- lovely
- and pure
- fairest of all
- most beautiful
- most holy
- most righteous
- most just
- most merciful
- most gracious
- most loving
- most kind
- most gentle
- most patient
- most faithful
- most true
- most wise
- most powerful
- most glorious
- most high
- most exalted
- most worthy
- most wonderful
- most awesome
- most majestic
- most excellent
- most perfect
- and most beautiful.
For you alone are God alone.
So what then can I say?
So what then can I do?
All I can do is simply thank you.
So from the bottom of my heart,
I thank you for giving me strength.
Thank you my Father God.
Thank you my Christ Jesus.
Thank you my Holy Spirit.
You judged me faithful.
You appointed to Your service.
Despite my dishonoring and blaspheming,
Your holy name,
despite my persecution and hatred
those who love you,
despite my perverted and violent opposition
towards you,
Still
I only received mercy
because I was lost
I was lame
I was deaf
I was blind
I was stupid
I was ignorant
I was evil
I was dead
and I was not looking and could not look for you whatsoever.
But Your beautiful, sweet and tender
love, mercy and grace
overflowed for me
overwhelmingly
undeservedly
ill-deservingly
with your unbroken faithfulness
and your relentless love
that can only be by You,
for You,
through You,
my Christ Jesus my Lord my Savior.
These words
out of my heart
are true
and with all of my hope and dreams
and desires and wishes
that these words would be sweet to your ears.
I know
that you came in this world
to rescue your people
to pull them out of despair
to give your people life
to save them from their sins
to bring them to you
evil sinners
at war with you
All of us
And I lead this group.
I am the foremost
I am their chief
I am their victor
I am the most vile
I am the most wicked
I am the greatest sinner
I am the champion of those who would face Your terrifying wrath!
Yet,
in this reason
that Your grace abounds all the more
that Your mercy renews every morning
that Your love never ceases
that You
my Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ
might display
Your perfection, beauty, tenderness, quickness,
Your love, mercy, grace, patience
for all of those who You call Yours
and those would believe upon Your holy name for life forever.
This is why I will sing
to the God of the everlasting to the everlasting
the Triune
the Father
the Son
the Holy Spirit
the immortal
the invisible
the Only One
the Creator
the Sustainer
the Merciful
the Peace
the Grace
the Faith
the Messiah
the Immanuel, God with Us
the Blessed
the Living Word
the Christ
the Son of God
the Fellow Heir
the Second Adam
the Kinsman Redeemer
the Beginning
the Means
the End
the Majesty
the Truth
the Way
the Life
the Wisdom
the Teacher
the Rescuer
the Promise
the Calling
the Fulfillment
the Abundance
the Host
the Governor
the High Priest
the Prophet
the Apostle
the Sufferer
the Messiah
the Servant
the Son of Man
the Glorified
the Power
the Gospel
the Guide
the Elector
the All-Sufficient
the Lion of Judah
the Worthy Lamb who was slain
the King of all kings
the Lord of all lords
the Commander
the Ruler above all
the Name above all Names
the Wonderful Counselor
the Mighty God
the Everlasting Father
the Prince of Peace
my Holiness
my Righteousness
my Justice
my Faithfulness
my Mercy
my Grace
my Friend
my Confidence
my Pastor
my Elder
my Brother
my Assurance
my Redeemer
my Rock
my Salvation
my All in all
my Exalted
my Glorious
my Beloved
my Joy
my Song
my Love
my Jesus Christ, King, Lord, Savior and Messiah
my Father, my Father, my Abba, my heart
my Holy Spirit, my comfort, my peace, my gift, my breath.
So I will be so very careful to
worship,
sing,
praise,
glorify,
exalt,
proclaim,
honor,
dedicate,
and love
You alone.
I pray this desperately and joyfully,
in the beautiful,
sweet,
precious,
most tender,
loveliest,
most worthy,
dearest name of
Your Son.
His name is
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Psalm 119
1 How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the LORD’s instruction!
2 Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.
4 You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept.
5 If only my ways were committed to keeping your statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep your statutes; never abandon me.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.
10 I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
12 LORD, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
17 Deal generously with your servant so that I might live; then I will keep your word.
18 Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction.
19 I am a resident alien on earth; do not hide your commands from me.
20 I am continually overcome with longing for your judgments.
21 You rebuke the arrogant, the ones under a curse, who wander from your commands.
22 Take insult and contempt away from me, for I have kept your decrees.
23 Though princes sit together speaking against me, your servant will think about your statutes;
24 your decrees are my delight and my counselors.
25 My life is down in the dust; give me life through your word.
26 I told you about my life, and you answered me; teach me your statutes.
27 Help me understand the meaning of your precepts so that I can meditate on your wonders.
28 I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word.
29 Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me your instruction.
30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set your ordinances before me.
31 I cling to your decrees; LORD, do not put me to shame.
32 I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding.
33 Teach me, LORD, the meaning of your statutes, and I will always keep them.
34 Help me understand your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart.
35 Help me stay on the path of your commands, for I take pleasure in it.
36 Turn my heart to your decrees and not to dishonest profit.
37 Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm what you said to your servant, for it produces reverence for you.
39 Turn away the disgrace I dread; indeed, your judgments are good.
40 How I long for your precepts! Give me life through your righteousness.
41 Let your faithful love come to me, LORD, your salvation, as you promised.
42 Then I can answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
43 Never take the word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in your judgments.
44 I will always obey your instruction, forever and ever.
45 I will walk freely in an open place because I study your precepts.
46 I will speak of your decrees before kings and not be ashamed.
47 I delight in your commands, which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and will meditate on your statutes.
49 Remember your word to your servant; you have given me hope through it.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction: Your promise has given me life.
51 The arrogant constantly ridicule me, but I do not turn away from your instruction.
52 LORD, I remember your judgments from long ago and find comfort.
53 Fury seizes me because of the wicked who reject your instruction.
54 Your statutes are the theme of my song during my earthly life.
55 LORD, I remember your name in the night, and I obey your instruction.
56 This is my practice: I obey your precepts.
57 The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep your words.
58 I have sought your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to your decrees.
60 I hurried, not hesitating to keep your commands.
61 Though the ropes of the wicked were wrapped around me, I did not forget your instruction.
62 I rise at midnight to thank you for your righteous judgments.
63 I am a friend to all who fear you, to those who keep your precepts.
64 LORD, the earth is filled with your faithful love; teach me your statutes.
65 LORD, you have treated your servant well, just as you promised.
66 Teach me good judgment and discernment, for I rely on your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
68 You are good, and you do what is good; teach me your statutes.
69 The arrogant have smeared me with lies, but I obey your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are hard and insensitive, but I delight in your instruction.
71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes.
72 Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding so that I can learn your commands.
74 Those who fear you will see me and rejoice, for I put my hope in your word.
75 I know, LORD, that your judgments are just and that you have afflicted me fairly.
76 May your faithful love comfort me as you promised your servant.
77 May your compassion come to me so that I may live, for your instruction is my delight.
78 Let the arrogant be put to shame for slandering me with lies; I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you, those who know your decrees, turn to me.
80 May my heart be blameless regarding your statutes so that I will not be put to shame.
81 I long for your salvation; I put my hope in your word.
82 My eyes grow weary looking for what you have promised; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83 Though I have become like a wineskin dried by smoke, I do not forget your statutes.
84 How many days must your servant wait? When will you execute judgment on my persecutors?
85 The arrogant have dug pits for me; they violate your instruction.
86 All your commands are true; people persecute me with lies—help me!
87 They almost ended my life on earth, but I did not abandon your precepts.
88 Give me life in accordance with your faithful love, and I will obey the decree you have spoken.
89 LORD, your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness is for all generations; you established the earth, and it stands firm.
91 Your judgments stand firm today, for all things are your servants.
92 If your instruction had not been my delight, I would have died in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts, for you have given me life through them.
94 I am yours; save me, for I have studied your precepts.
95 The wicked hope to destroy me, but I contemplate your decrees.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your command is without limit.
97 How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long.
98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers because your decrees are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the elders because I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path to follow your word.
102 I have not turned from your judgments, for you yourself have instructed me.
103 How sweet your word is to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth.
104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
106 I have solemnly sworn to keep your righteous judgments.
107 I am severely afflicted; LORD, give me life according to your word.
108 LORD, please accept my freewill offerings of praise, and teach me your judgments.
109 My life is constantly in danger, yet I do not forget your instruction.
110 The wicked have set a trap for me, but I have not wandered from your precepts.
111 I have your decrees as a heritage forever; indeed, they are the joy of my heart.
112 I am resolved to obey your statutes to the very end.
113 I hate those who are double-minded, but I love your instruction.
114 You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in your word.
115 Depart from me, you evil ones, so that I may obey my God’s commands.
116 Sustain me as you promised, and I will live; do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117 Sustain me so that I can be safe and always be concerned about your statutes.
118 You reject all who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is a lie.
119 You remove all the wicked on earth as if they were dross from metal; therefore, I love your decrees.
120 I tremble in awe of you; I fear your judgments.
121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Guarantee your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes grow weary looking for your salvation and for your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant based on your faithful love; teach me your statutes.
125 I am your servant; give me understanding so that I may know your decrees.
126 It is time for the LORD to act, for they have violated your instruction.
127 Since I love your commands more than gold, even the purest gold,
128 I carefully follow all your precepts and hate every false way.
129 Your decrees are wondrous; therefore I obey them.
130 The revelation of your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.
131 I open my mouth and pant because I long for your commands.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your practice toward those who love your name.
133 Make my steps steady through your promise; don’t let any sin dominate me.
134 Redeem me from human oppression, and I will keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow your instruction.
137 You are righteous, LORD, and your judgments are just.
138 The decrees you issue are righteous and altogether trustworthy.
139 My anger overwhelms me because my foes forget your words.
140 Your word is completely pure, and your servant loves it.
141 I am insignificant and despised, but I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your instruction is true.
143 Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but your commands are my delight.
144 Your decrees are righteous forever. Give me understanding, and I will live.
145 I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD. I will obey your statutes.
146 I call to you; save me, and I will keep your decrees.
147 I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in your word.
148 I am awake through each watch of the night to meditate on your promise.
149 In keeping with your faithful love, hear my voice. LORD, give me life in keeping with your justice.
150 Those who pursue evil plans come near; they are far from your instruction.
151 You are near, LORD, and all your commands are true.
152 Long ago I learned from your decrees that you have established them forever.
153 Consider my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instruction.
154 Champion my cause and redeem me; give me life as you promised.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not study your statutes.
156 Your compassions are many, LORD; give me life according to your judgments.
157 My persecutors and foes are many. I have not turned from your decrees.
158 I have seen the disloyal and feel disgust because they do not keep your word.
159 Consider how I love your precepts; LORD, give me life according to your faithful love.
160 The entirety of your word is truth, each of your righteous judgments endures forever.
161 Princes have persecuted me without cause, but my heart fears only your word.
162 I rejoice over your promise like one who finds vast treasure.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your instruction.
164 I praise you seven times a day for your righteous judgments.
165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes them stumble.
166 LORD, I hope for your salvation and carry out your commands.
167 I obey your decrees and love them greatly.
168 I obey your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before you.
169 Let my cry reach you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word.
170 Let my plea reach you; rescue me according to your promise.
171 My lips pour out praise, for you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue sings about your promise, for all your commands are righteous.
173 May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, LORD, and your instruction is my delight.
175 Let me live, and I will praise you; may your judgments help me.
176 I wander like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commands.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:1
The Psalm
Psalm 119:1 (CSB) How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the LORD’s instruction!
The Prayer
If I have kept your ways
- I would have been happy
- but I have not
- because I was born wicked
- led astray
- in and of sin
- far apart from you.
And sin continues to hunt me down
- and stalk me
- waiting to tear me to shreds
- my own sin
- devours me from the inside out
- infected my thoughts continuously
- breaking my heart over and over again.
Nevertheless
- you knew all of that
- because you seen the depths of my soul
- you have peered into my heart
- and have seen nothing but depravity
- weakness
- frailty
- sin
- unholiness
- unrighteousness.
My fathers
- sin mightily
- and I have inherited their worthless estate.
What shall I do?
Nothing
- I can do nothing
- I have nothing but all of my gross sin
- this is my offering
- my complete worst
- my abomination
- my sins against myself
- others
- You, O God.
You still know
- that I would never come to you
- never ask you for help
- never seek out salvation
- never repent of my sins
- continue in my sin unto death.
But you gave me yourself
- You came to me
- You sent your Son to live and die for me
- You sent your Spirit to raise me from the dead
- you gave me your heart
- all to do what?
To repent of my sins
- to turn my wickedness
- to turn to you
- to run to you
- to plead to you
- to save me from my sins.
And you have
- and you are
- and you will
- because I am yours
- and you are mine
- forever.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:2
The Psalm
Psalm 119:2 (CSB) Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart.
The Prayer
I have never been with you
- I have never sought you
- I have never chased after you
- I have never wanted you.
But you have have been with me
- you have sought me out
- you have ran after me
- you have loved me from always
- you have preserved me
- you have kept me close.
When I have sinned
- and I have strayed
- you held on tighter.
Be glorified in my life
- today.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:3
The Psalm
Psalm 119:3 (CSB) They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.
The Prayer
But I have have done everything wrong
- where do I even begin
- I was born in sin
- I lived in filth
- I knew sin since birth
- I lived in depravity since I was a child
- and I loved it
- and it comforted me
- and sin crushed me and grind my bones
- left me ashamed and confused.
I continually sinned against you
- I would even blasphemed your name and take it for granted.
How did you respond?
You saved me
- from the bottomless depths of my wickedness
- from the weight of my wretchedness
- from the despair of my worthlessness
- you saved me
- and you loved me.
There is none like you
- you are the only Holy One of God.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:4
The Psalm
Psalm 119:4 (CSB) You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept.
The Prayer
I have failed you
- time and time again
- I am so far from keeping your precepts
- I have broken all of your laws
- I live in this body death
- where can I go
- only to Sheol
- to sit under your deserving wrath.
But that not what you have determined
- you will not let me rot in hell
- you have not given me over to my own wickedness and worthlessness
- you have promptly and completely removed my sin
- and you placed upon your loving Son.
Your wrath
- placed on him
- he descended into hell
- for me
- but since he is the spotless Lamb who was slain
- not one stitch of infection of Satan and demons could grab onto.
Christ descended into hell--righteous, holy, and blameless
- he ascended from hell--holy, righteous, and blameless.
That death was mine
- now his life is mine.
I will praise your name forever.
Amen
Praying Through: Psalm 119:5
The Psalm
Psalm 119:5 (CSB) If only my ways were committed to keeping your statutes!
The Prayer
If I could
- even for a moment
- to perfect obey you
- I would
- exchange for everything I got
- to do so.
But all of what I have
- could not buy a ounce of righteousness.
So instead
- you gave everything
- that heaven and earth could hold
- your precious Son
- to be my Savior
- forever.
I will praise your holy name forever.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:6
The Psalm
Psalm 119:6 (CSB) Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all your commands.
The Prayer
My entire life
- is filled with shame
- and guild
- and regret
- and my sin
- is my own undoing
- I have been crushed
- I cannot handle
- the sheer amount of shame
- that has tortured my soul.
But your holy Son
- bore my grief
- bear my shame
- took on my guilt
- and received my only gift I could give to you
- my wickedness
- my depravity
- my sin.
Now I live unto you
- you are my holy God
- and my Lord
- forevermore.
And I love you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:7
The Psalm
Psalm 119:7 (CSB) I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous judgments.
The Prayer
Now that you have given me your Son
- your Spirit
- your Word
- your heart
- I can praise you
- I get to worship you
- I able to adore you
- I abide in you
- forever.
On this day
- be glorified.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:8
The Psalm
Psalm 119:8 (CSB) I will keep your statutes; never abandon me.
The Prayer
Your Son has kept your statutes
- He has saved me from my sin
- You have given me your heart
- The Spirit has dwells in me
- I belong to you
- Therefore you will never abandon me.
- Selah
Praying Through: Psalm 119:9
The Psalm
Psalms 119:9 (CSB) How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.
The Prayer
How can I keep my way pure?
- By trusting in you
- For your word says
- You are the way, the truth, and the life
- and
- if I believe the Son of God
- I will live forever
- if I do not believe the Son of God
- then your wrath remains upon me.
But then how do I believe in the Son perfectly?
- I cannot
- because I was born into sin
- I have to have someone who was born perfectly
- lived perfectly
- died without sin
- and because doing so
- rose again from death
- for me
- because I cannot believe perfectly.
But the same Christ
- whom I must trust for eternal life
- is the same Christ
- who lived and died for me.
Praise be the name of the Lord
- who is alone
- is worth to be praised and adored.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:10
The Psalm
Psalms 119:10 (CSB) I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands.
The Prayer
You are the one that gave me this heart
- and your Spirit
- and your Son
- with this faith
- and this repentance
- and this adoption
- with your righteousness
- and holiness
- and perfection.
You will never lose me
- because you bought me
- with a price.
I love you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:11
The Psalm
The Prayer
Psalms 119:11 (CSB) I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
This is where I need the most help
- you have given me a supernatural grace
- and a renewed mind
- and your heart
- and Spirit
- to understand
- what you have give me
- your blessed word.
I remember my darkest times
- and terrible chaos
- when I was at my weakest
- I still remember
- that I was your son
- and you have not abandoned me
If I do lose my mind
- I will never lose you
- keep me from sinning against you
- because it tears me away from you.
Come rescue me
- every time
- because you have always rescued me
Come Lord Jesus.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:12
The Psalm
Psalms 119:12 (CSB) LORD, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes.
The Prayer
First of all
- I could not possibly understand
- your word
- unless you made me a new creation
- given me your Son
- your Spirit
- your heart
- and a renew mind
- for that
- I will praise your holy name.
And you have been so good
- to give me
- teachers before me
- to instruct me in all your ways
- for that
- I will praise your holy name.
And you have given me
- vast provisions
- to purchase all the books
- not in all of my life
- would I enjoy reading and studying
- for that
- I will praise your holy name.
Put your word
- in my heart
- so I will not sin
- against your holy name.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:13
The Psalm
Psalms 119:13 (CSB) With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth.
The Prayer
I know of your justice
- and your terrifying wrath
- you do as you please
- in your good will
- you strike down the wicked
- and you perish your foes.
With my mouth
- I tremble to speak
- of your judgments
- for I am a sinner
- and I deserve your wrath.
Nevertheless
- I am obligated
- to speak to those
- who face your wrath
- for they do not believe
- to call upon the name of the Lord
- to look up upon him
- and see his lovely face
- and believe in him
- and they will be saved.
I will speak of your good news
- of your tender mercies
- of your grace leveling on grace
- of your steadfast love
- to your people
- whom you have saved
- from your just wrath to come.
Spirit
- give me the words
- because I am lacking in speech
- give me a tender heart
- to the captives
- and a shepherding heart
- to those who are precious in your sight.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:14
The Psalm
Psalms 119:14 (CSB) I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches.
The Prayer
If I had nothing
- no provisions
- no wealth
- no home
- no food
- I would have everything
- because I have your Son.
Because when I die
- I will behold his lovely face
- and live with you
- all the days of my life.
I will celebrate
- because I belong to you
- and you belong to me
- forevermore.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:15
The Psalm
Psalms 119:15 (CSB) I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways.
The Prayer
I do not have the intelligence
- nor the drive
- nor the will
- nor the discipline
- nor the effort
- nor the where-with-all
- nor the desire
- nor the wisdom
- to pursue your word
- to read your word
- to understand your word
- to comprehend your word
- to meditate on your word.
I don't got it in me.
Because if I did
- I would have read your word
- understand it
- and do what you say
- perfectly
- to the letter.
But I see mere parts of your word
- and in my finite comprehension
- fail to do every part.
If I understood
- I would have done
- but I do not understand
- and I sin against you.
Nonetheless
- I have your Word
- and he dwells in me
- and your Spirit
- makes me alive
- my heart to love
- comes from you.
I am weak and feeble
- ignorant and foolish
- but you have saved me
- from my own sins and depravity
- once and for all
- forever.
I love you.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:16
The Psalm
Psalms 119:16 (CSB) I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
The Prayer
Every word
- from your mouth
- has resurrected my soul
- from death
- to life.
For that
- I will praise your holy name.
Amen.
Praying Through: Psalm 119:17
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:18
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:19
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:20
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:21
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:22
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:23
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:24
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:25
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:26
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:27
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:28
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:29
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:30
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:31
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:32
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:33
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:34
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:35
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:36
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:37
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:38
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:39
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:40
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:41
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:42
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:43
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:44
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:45
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:46
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:47
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:48
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:49
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:50
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:51
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:52
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:53
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:54
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:55
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:56
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:57
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:58
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:59
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:60
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:61
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:62
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:63
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:64
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:65
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:66
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:67
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:68
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:69
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:70
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:71
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:72
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:73
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:74
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:75
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:76
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:77
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:78
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:79
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:80
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:81
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:82
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:83
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:84
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:85
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:86
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:87
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:88
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:89
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:90
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:91
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:92
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:93
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:94
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:95
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:96
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:97
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:98
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:99
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:100
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:101
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:102
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:103
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:104
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:105
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:106
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:107
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:108
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:109
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The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:110
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:111
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:112
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The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:113
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:114
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:115
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:116
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:117
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:118
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Psalm 119:119
Praying Through: Psalm 119:120
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:121
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:122
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:123
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:124
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:125
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:126
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:127
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:128
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:129
The Psalm
The Prayer
Praying Through: Psalm 119:130
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:131
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:132
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:133
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:134
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:135
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:136
The Psalm
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:137
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:138
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:139
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:140
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:141
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:142
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:143
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:144
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:145
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:146
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:147
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:148
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:149
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:150
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:151
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:152
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:153
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:154
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:155
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:156
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:157
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:158
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:159
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:160
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:161
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:162
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:163
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:164
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:165
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:166
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:167
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:168
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:169
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:170
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:171
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:172
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:173
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:174
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:175
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Praying Through: Psalm 119:176
The Psalm
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Matthew: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
So why start up a new series? Do I need another series like I need another hole in my head? Perhaps.
We moved to Kentucky from Oklahoma in early 2022 with my in-laws coming with. I started this series in anticipation that we might not find a local church instantly and wanted to be prepared from the jump not going to church for a long while. Keeping it all the way real with you: I knew my in-laws would be slow going to church and wanted to provide the word of God to them. 1
We did end up finding a church April and have been faithfully attending. It was God's grace I started this series and his grace, I will finish it.
An Update
I need y'all to look at God! What he started, he will finish!
I just finished teaching my first series at my church, Reforming Truth (Lexington, KY) and was giving some thought on what my next series will be.
Matthew seems as natural as the next step because:
- The end of Ruth is the beginning of Matthew. That is, the genealogy of Jesus.
- Still building on and running with what the elders were teaching through: Chad Bird's The Christ Key.
- I have a truckload of resources on Matthew. (See below.)
- Lastly, I prepped the entire book of Matthew already. I just need to write it out.
The Resources
It Goes Without Say
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries & Books
I don't have a personal insightful recommendation on the following. I just wanted to have a stack of resources that I can check and draw from if I need to.
Calvin's Commentaries.
John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
I mention this because in my go-to mobile Bible Study App, Olive Tree, Calvin's Commentaries are my go-to Commentary text of choice when I need clarification on the go. You can get the entire digital set for your phone (and computer) for about $40 from Olive Tree! (Or catch it on sale for $20 like I did.)
The Christ Key
Chad Bird.
1517 Publishing. July 30, 2021.
Goodreads
This book should not have been as controversial in my local church as you would think. But it was. I will spare you the details but suffice to say, our little church became quickly aware of terms like and the astute differences between historical-grammatical and redemptive-historical hermeneutics. I became Calvinistic just a few months after God saved me so I have always had this understanding because I sat under Reformed or Calvinist teachers. But imagine if you did not grow up in church learning that all of Scripture is about Jesus. Then all of sudden, all of the Scripture is about Christ. That type of revelation could be a shock to the system. If you are not familiar with redemptive-historical hermeneutics, I recommend this book as an excellent primer.
Matthew: An Expositional Commentary
R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. October 29, 2019.
Goodreads
If Sproul wrote it, 9.9/10 I am going to read it, use it, quote it, and recommend it. This volume is no exception.
Matthew: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 22) (The New American Commentary)
Craig L. Blomberg.
Holman Reference. May 1992.
Goodreads
I am familiar with Blomberg. And I do like this series. This will also be referenced.
ESV Expository Commentary: Matthew–Luke (Volume 8)
Dan Doriani (Author)
Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., & Jay Sklar (Editors)
Crossway. September 7, 2021.
Goodreads
So, I got the first three volumes released back a few years ago. Now they are up to 11 volumes. Also, I just created a budget that allows me to purchase one commentary per paycheck. (Bivocational is the providence of God.)
The authors are top notch. This will be referenced for sure.
Matthew (EBTC).
Charles L. Quarles.
Lexham Academic. 2023.
Goodreads
Note: despite the published date, I am writing this on October 15, 2022. In short, God provided quickly. Praise be to God. And as of writing this, my in-laws have not found a church. But I do want to praise my God because for the last two weeks, they have been popping out of bed to get to church. Praise be to God!
Matthew 1
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
2 Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Aram,
4 Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon,
5 Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse,
6 and Jesse fathered King David. David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,
7 Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, Abijah fathered Asa,
8 Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, Joram fathered Uzziah,
9 Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, Amon fathered Josiah,
11 and Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel, Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel fathered Abiud, Abiud fathered Eliakim, Eliakim fathered Azor,
14 Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, Achim fathered Eliud,
15 Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, Matthan fathered Jacob,
16 and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.
19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her
25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
Matthew 1:1 Jesus Christ is the Good News
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 1:1 (CSB) An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham
The Devotion
The Bible is about Jesus Christ. Now, why would we say that? Especially when we crack open the Bible, start at the beginning, Genesis 1 and read straight through all the way to Malachi chapter 4 verse 6 and we never see not word stitched together to form neither 'Jesus' nor 'Christ'. How can the largest part of this book be about Jesus Christ and never mentions the Christ.
The Old Testament, all 39 books, are filled with history, explanation, promises, prophecies, poems, literature, and wise sayings. But at the center, at the core, at the meaning of the passages of the Old Testament was one thing: the gospel--that is, the good news of God.
We read in the beginning in Genesis where God made everything perfect including Adam and Eve, our original parents. However, Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy their lives--and believe me, Satan did that perfect.
Look at the response of the Almighty God. God, well within his rights, could have up and did a reset on creation--which was now falling apart at the seams. He did not. He could have easily killed the serpent, Adam, and Eve--for he promised and explained that if we disobey, we would died. He did not kill them. He could have come down to wage war with flaming swords, head on fire, tattoos on his thigh and cloak dipped in blood to spill out his wrath on Satan and mankind (Revelation 21). He did not come down with wrath.
How did God respond to our sin and the breaking of his good creation and the death of his very good imagebearers?
The Good News: God comes into our lives
Genesis 3:8–15 (CSB)
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
The Good News: God calls us
9 So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
The Good News: God shows you the state of your heart and soul
10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
11 Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
The Good News: God wants you see what he sees
12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”
13 So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
The Good News: God does not blameshift and make excuses like our now sin-filled parents
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life.
The Good News: God lays out the consequences of our sin in this world
For women, life will be brutally difficult. Men, life is going to be brutally difficult. You will painfully work and then you will die.
Yet...
The Good News: God promises he will come to make it right
To the serpent:
15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
This is the first instance in the Bible of the preaching of the gospel. Despite our sin, wickedness, and death, God counters all of that with no judgment, no death, no anger, no wrath, no reset--he counters it with the simple preaching of the gospel.
The name, "Jesus" and the title, "Christ", will not appear for over 23,000 verses.
What you will get in those 23,000 verses are promises of Christ. What you will get is foreshadows of him. What you will get is prophecies and preaching and proclamations of the Messiah who is to come.
What you will also get is more of our sin, our wickedness, our worthlessness, our chaos, and our death.
The more you read from Genesis to Exodus through Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, through the Psalms, into Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations--our death because our sin is most apparent.
And maybe, by the time you get the to the Prophets and unto the end of the Old Testament. Especially reading through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel all the way to Malachi. When you see the judgments called upon wicked nations and the people of God being sent into exile. When you keep seeing the gospel proclaimed and the Messiah prophesied and God will make right, but where is he? Every engagement with the Old Testament is like the Apostle Paul asking himself in the Romans 7:24:
Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?
Turn the page. Look at the division between the Old and New Testament. Know that God did not speak for 400 years. But he did not forget his people. He did not go back on his promise. He cannot lie. He is faithful.
Turn the page.
Look down and read the good news:
Matthew 1:1 (CSB) An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham
This is the account, this is the book of the genealogy, the bloodline, the long game of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.
Jesus Christ was always the good news. Jesus Christ is the good news. Jesus Christ is forever the good news. Because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.
Matthew 1:1-6 Jesus Christ is Our Perfection
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 1:1–6 (CSB)
1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:2 Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Aram,
4 Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon,
5 Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse,
6 and Jesse fathered King David. David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,
The Word
Ephesians 1:4-8 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
The Devotion
Here was the game plan of God to rescue his people: send his Son.
But he would not do it out of thin air or out of the clouds, although he is God and he could certainly do that.
He was going to send his Son to be "with us" and in a way, through us. This was from the very beginning:
So from this first gospel preaching, we knew that our Messiah would be born into this world. But try to imagine how we would send the Savior?
He would have to be born wealthy, with resources, within a perfect bloodline with people fit to be royalty.
He would be born of royalty (that is a future teaching) but a bloodline not worthy of such prestige.
Look at the list of his family:
- Abraham gives his wife out not once but twice for fear of his own life
- Commits adultery because he did not trust the promises of God
- his son, Isaac, does the same thing
- his son, Jacob, whose name means "trickster", steals his brother's inheritance and runs for the hills
- his son, Judah, sleeps his daughter-in-law, whom she was dressed up as a temple prostitute, and impregnating her with twins
- A prostitute
- A widow who used to be a child-sacrificing demon worshiper whose descendants were born out of incest
- a finally, a king who would rape a woman and then when she gets pregnant, turns and murders her husband and several of his own men to cover up his sin
The lineage of Christ is anything but sparkling clean. It is scandalous. It is filled with sinners. The deplorable. The depraved. The wicked.
But this elaborate plan by the Father and the Son--why would they include such vile people in the family tree of the Messiah?
But whom did Christ come for? The righteous? The wealthy? The healthy? The perfect ones?
Mark 2:16-17 (CSB) When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? ” When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
No. He came for the sinners, The deplorable. The depraved. The wicked.
Romans 5:8-9 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
We are no longer under the weight of being perfect because we are not and we would be crushed by those expectations. We must obey the law but we have always fallen way way short. Christ came as our Perfection so that, in fulfilling the obedience of the law, we are then saved by God and we get to obey God because why? We have been made perfectly righteous by the Perfect Law Keeper.
Until you know and trust Christ, you have no hope of obeying him. You must be born again into his family--so that only then you get to obey and enjoy God forever.
Matthew 1:7–12 Jesus Christ is Our Lineage
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 1:7–11 (CSB)
7 Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, Abijah fathered Asa,8 Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, Joram fathered Uzziah,
9 Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, Amon fathered Josiah,
11 and Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
The Devotion
The Promise
2 Samuel 7:8-16 (CSB) “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the LORD of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the earth. I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘The LORD declares to you: The LORD himself will make a house for you. When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’”
The Curse
Jeremiah 22:24–30 (CSB)
24 “As I live”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“though you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would tear you from it.25 In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread, who intend to take your life, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans.
26 I will hurl you and the mother who gave birth to you into another land, where neither of you were born, and there you will both die.
27 They will never return to the land they long to return to.”
28 Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered pot, a jar no one wants? Why are he and his descendants hurled out and cast into a land they have not known?
29 Earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD!
30 This is what the LORD says: Record this man as childless, a man who will not be successful in his lifetime. None of his descendants will succeed in sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah.
The Fulfillment
Luke 3:23–32 (CSB)
23 As he began his ministry, Jesus was about thirty years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, son of Heli,24 son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,
25 son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,
26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,
27 son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,
28 son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,
29 son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,
30 son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,
31 son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,
32 son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon,
The Workaround
Numbers 36 (CSB) The family heads from the clan of the descendants of Gilead — the son of Machir, son of Manasseh — who were from the clans of the sons of Joseph, approached and addressed Moses and the leaders who were heads of the Israelite families. They said, “The LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the Israelites. My lord was further commanded by the LORD to give our brother Zelophehad’s inheritance to his daughters. If they marry any of the men from the other Israelite tribes, their inheritance will be taken away from our fathers’ inheritance and added to that of the tribe into which they marry. Therefore, part of our allotted inheritance would be taken away. When the Jubilee comes for the Israelites, their inheritance will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry, and their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of our ancestral tribe.”
So Moses commanded the Israelites at the word of the LORD, “What the tribe of Joseph’s descendants says is right. This is what the LORD has commanded concerning Zelophehad’s daughters: They may marry anyone they like provided they marry within a clan of their ancestral tribe. No inheritance belonging to the Israelites is to transfer from tribe to tribe, because each of the Israelites is to retain the inheritance of his ancestral tribe. Any daughter who possesses an inheritance from an Israelite tribe must marry someone from the clan of her ancestral tribe, so that each of the Israelites will possess the inheritance of his fathers. No inheritance is to transfer from one tribe to another, because each of the Israelite tribes is to retain its inheritance.”
The daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD commanded Moses. Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, married cousins on their father’s side. They married men from the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained within the tribe of their father’s clan.
These are the commands and ordinances the LORD commanded the Israelites through Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.
Matthew 1:12-16 Jesus Christ is Our Messiah
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 1:12–16 (CSB)
12 After the exile to Babylon Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel, Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel,13 Zerubbabel fathered Abiud, Abiud fathered Eliakim, Eliakim fathered Azor,
14 Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, Achim fathered Eliud,
15 Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, Matthan fathered Jacob,
16 and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.
The Devotion
Think through Abraham through David down to Joseph.
Think of the sins and the failures and the blood curses of the Christians before us.
Think of what Christ, as God Almighty, responding to the real needs of his people.
Think on the faith that God gave each one and it is the same faith for you and me.
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Galatians 3:16 (CSB) Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ.
The faith to believe God. The heart to love God. The mind of Christ. The Spirit to bond us to God.
Isaiah 61:1-3 (CSB) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and freedom to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of our God’s vengeance;
to comfort all who mourn,
to provide for those who mourn in Zion;
to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
festive oil instead of mourning,
and splendid clothes instead of despair.
And they will be called righteous trees,
planted by the LORD
to glorify him.
Christ knew who he was--even if people didn't believe him right away. The Triune God made these plans before Genesis 1:1. They didn't need for any of us to the right thing or make the right decision. God would do it. God has complete it because He sent His Son in the power of the Spirit.
God will give us a Deliverer. God will give us a Savior. God will give us the Anointed One--the Messiah of his people. One and done forever.
Matthew 1:17 Jesus Christ is Our God
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 1:17 (CSB) So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.
The Devotion
all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations;
The God of Abraham
Genesis 15:4-7 (CSB) Now the word of the LORD came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. He also said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
What did Christ say about this!
John 8:54-58 (CSB) “If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father — about whom you say, ‘He is our God’ — he is the one who glorifies me. You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don’t know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham? ”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”
The God of David
and from David until the exile to Babylon
2 Samuel 7:12-16 (CSB) When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”
What did Christ say about this?
Mark 12:35-37 (CSB) While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself says by the Holy Spirit:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet.’
David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son? ” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
The God of the Exiles
from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah
Jeremiah 29:10-14 (CSB) For this is what the LORD says: “When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place. For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the LORD’s declaration — “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you” — this is the LORD’s declaration — “and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you” — this is the LORD’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place from which I deported you.”
Christ is the plan.
Christ is our well-being.
Christ is our future.
Christ is our hope.
We call upon his name and we believe and we are saved.
We pray and he will listen to us.
We seek him with all of our heart, we will find him.
We are the exiles long departed from God.
Yet Christ is our God!
Matthew 1:18-20 Jesus Christ is Our Righteousness
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 1:18-20 (CSB) The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
The Devotion
So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
Christ is our Righteousness: We Have Failed in Keeping the Law
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
But the law was never intended to save us
Romans 8:1-4 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Christ is our Righteousness: God Came to Fulfill the Law
The law was holy and just. It always examines us and shows just how far we really we are from God
Matthew 5:17-20 (CSB) “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Romans 3:23 (CSB) or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Christ is our Righteousness: Christ was born to be our righteousness
Romans 3:21-24 (CSB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
In other words...
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Matthew 1:21 Jesus Christ is Our Savior
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
The Devotion
It is one thing to say Mary, who is pregnant at the time, to give birth. It is another thing to know the sex of the child--that he will be a son to Mary. Another presumptuous to tell the husband of the wife pregnant with not your kid what his name is. But the insane, crazy statement:
She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
See the audacity. Know the boldness. Feel the weight of this prediction.
Jesus will save his people from their sins.
Romans 1:16 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
We want to deal with the possibilities. "Oh, I hope my son knows Jesus." "I hope my neighbor knows Christ." When in reality, our hope is in the God, whom Isaiah called, "mighty to save". Not might save--not possibility of saving but will actually save us from our sins.
Jesus Christ, Son of God who is fully God, did not come to be born of of the virgin Mary, to live the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died in the hope of a mere possibility or that you and I might say "yes" to the Almighty God of the universe.
You and I were saved by God some 2000 years ago on a cross on Calvary. And the path to that cross started in the womb of Mary, the wife of Joseph, conceived by the Holy Spirit at the decree of the sovereign grace of God the Father.
Praise be to God!
Matthew 1:22-23 Jesus Christ is Our Immanuel
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 1:22-23 (CSB) Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,
which is translated “God is with us.”
The Devotion
Attiyq Youm: The Ancient of Days
Daniel 7:9 (CSB) “As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.
El Chuwl: The God Who Gave You Birth
Isaiah 43:1-4 (CSB) Now this is what the LORD says — the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel — “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior. I have given Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place. Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you, I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life.
El Deah: The God of Knowledge
1 Samuel 2:3 (CSB) Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him.
El Elyon: The God Most High
Psalms 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods.
El Olam: The Everlasting God
Psalms 90:1-2 (ESV) Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
El Roi: The God Who Sees
Genesis 16:13 (CSB) So she named the LORD who spoke to her: “You are El-roi,” for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me?
El Shaddai: God Almighty
Genesis 17:1-2 (CSB) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless. I will set up my covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you greatly.”
Elohim: The Creator
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Jehovah (Yahweh): The Self-Existent One
Exodus 3:13-14 (CSB) Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name? ’ what should I tell them? ” God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
Jehovah-Bore: The LORD Creator
Psalms 33:6 (CSB) The heavens were made by the word of the LORD, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth.
Jehovah-Jireh: The LORD Our Provider
Genesis 22:12-14 (CSB) Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide, so today it is said, “It will be provided on the LORD’s mountain.”
Jehovah-Nissi: The LORD Our Banner
Exodus 17:12-15 (CSB) When Moses’s hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his army with the sword.
The LORD then said to Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua: I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek under heaven.”
And Moses built an altar and named it, “The LORD Is My Banner.”
Jehovah-Rapha: The LORD Our Healer
Psalms 103:1-5 (CSB) My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits. He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Jehovah-Rohi: The LORD Our Shepherd
Psalms 23:1 (CSB) The LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need.
Jehovah-Sabbaoth: The LORD of Hosts
1 Samuel 17:45 (CSB) David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel — you have defied him.
Jehovah-Shalom: The LORD is Peace
Judges 6:23-24 (CSB) But the LORD said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.” So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. It is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites today.
Jehovah-Shammah: The LORD is There
Ezekiel 48:35; also Psalms 139:7-8 (CSB) Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The LORD Our Righteousness
Genesis 15:6 (CSB) Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Immanuel: God is with us.
Romans 1:1-4 (CSB) aul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for
the gospel of God — which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures — concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead.
Matthew 1:24-25 Jesus Christ is Our Grace
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 1:24-25 (CSB) When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
The Devotion
What I am about to show you might sound like a stretch at first. But I want you and me not to glance over these two little verses before we get to Chapter Two.
I want us not only to see God in his word but to see God’s grace in the life of Joseph and Mary in order for them to do His will.
When Joseph woke up
Our tomorrow is never a guarantee by God.
For:
Proverbs 27:1 (CSB) Don’t boast about tomorrow,
for you don’t know what a day might bring.
Let us give thanks to God for he has given us grace!
he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him.
God gives all grace for you to obey him. For:
Ezekiel 36:24–27 (CSB) “ ‘For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Let us give thanks to God for he has given us grace!
He married her
Before the sin entered into our world, we were blessed with a few things: love, righteousness, holiness, rest, work, and marriage. These were gifts of God. For:
Genesis 2:24 (CSB) This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.
Let us give thanks to God for he has given us grace!
but did not have sexual relations with her
In obey God, we never have to disobey God. Joseph was bethroth to her and would be her husband. Joseph was holy because God is holy. He never had disobey in order to glorify God.
Let us give thanks to God for he has given us grace!
until she gave birth to a son.
Joseph and Mary was given a son that was not their own in so many ways. Mary didn’t want it this way but God spoke and she was called. Joseph didn’t want it this way. But God spoke and he was called. And they were given the grace to do his will.
Let us give thanks to God for he has given us grace!
And he named him Jesus.
Did they know what they were getting into? No, not all the way. Mary and Joseph desired to be obedient and wanted to please God. They didn’t see the entire full picture but they didn’t have to. God gives the grace for us to do his will.
Let us give thanks to God for he has given us grace!
Matthew 2
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.
5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:
6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”
9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.
11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
13 After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt.
15 He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.
16 Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.
17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
18 A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, because those who intended to kill the child are dead.”
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother, and entered the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee.
23 Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 2:1-12 Jesus Christ is Our Ruler
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 2:1–12 (CSB)
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod,wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem,2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.
5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:
6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”
9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.
11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
The Devotion
People want a king and not the King
1 Samuel 8:4-7 (CSB) So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the LORD. But the LORD told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.
A line of sinful kings yet God establishes
The satanic worship of the wise men
The madness of Herod & the madness of the pharaoh Romans 9
The reserved worship for God
To the Jew first (Mary & Joseph) and to the Greek (Gentiles of the Wise Men)
2 Samuel 7:16 (CSB) Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.
God promises this through will be established forever before David rapes Bathsheba and murders Uriah.
Jesus is born and he is King of kings
Jesus was born under the grotesquely evil King Herod. That was not a mistake.
Who set King Herod to rule?
Daniel 2:19-21 (CSB) The mystery was then revealed to Daniel in a vision at night, and Daniel praised the God of the heavens and declared:
May the name of God
be praised forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to him.
He changes the times and seasons;
he removes kings and establishes kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those
who have understanding.
Jesus Christ, son of God, who is God, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and he is ruling and reigning over all creation--born to a poor, working class, family under the tyranny of a evil king.
God established the throne of David. Despite the brokenness of our world, God stopped at nothing to save his people from their sins.
And it starts with completing what he promised to David so many centuries before.
The three strange gifts
Gold A gift for a king. Jesus is our king.
Frankincense - used in Jewish worship. The frankincense was used in the temple worship. It was a gift for a priest. The aroma and fragrance of the prayers of His people to God. Jesus is our great high priest.
Myrrh - used in burial. Jesus is our sacrifice.
Matthew 2:13-18 Jesus Christ is Our Eternal Word
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 2:13–18 (CSB)
13 After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.”14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt.
15 He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.
16 Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.
17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
18 A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.
Jeremiah 31:15 (CSB) This is what the LORD says: A voice was heard in Ramah, a lament with bitter weeping— Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children because they are no more.
The Devotion - The Gift of Worship
John 10:14-18 (CSB) “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Matthew 26:52-54 (CSB) Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels? How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?
One of the things that we might have a hard time comprehending is the eternal word of God. When we speak about something we want to do, we say it, then do it, and then it will be true.
God does not operate in that way.
What He says, in any moment of time, is true not only for the moment it was spoken and forever in the future but any moment prior to that moment.
Think of all the Old Testament saints--by definition, these are all the saints prior to the cross of Christ. How were they saved? How were all the believing Jews were saved?
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.
This first instance of the gospel was given to our first parents: Adam and Eve. From that moment, God does not change it but he reveals more of promise--the good news that He will make it everything right with himself who along is good and right and true and holy.
The fullness of the gospel was not completed until Jesus died on the cross. But the details of the gospel did not have to be realized by any of the Old Testament saints.
Romans 3:25-26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God, is the Eternal Word. When God speaks, it is true, will always be true, and was forever true from before the beginning.
We know that his promises are always yes and amen. Because God as declared his good news, we believe and therefore, we are counted as righteousness in the sight of God. Now, our prayers--our words to God are not ignored, dismissed, or merely "one ear and out the other", but our words are a sweet aroma to God. God hears us so hard, he inhales our every word and thought.
Matthew 2:19-23 He Numbers Our Days
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 2:19-23 (CSB) After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, because those who intended to kill the child are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother, and entered the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
The Devotion - The Gift of Myrrh
We read Revelation 21 and know that Christ could have come in full glory? But why in the most vulnerable state?
Christ at his infancy and most vulnerable. Yet, he was not ready to give his life up to save ours. That time has not come. It will only come if God brings it to past.
No matter the danger he was in, Christ remain invincible. The Evangelist George Whitefield said it best:
We are immortal until our work on earth is done.
Job 14:5 (CSB) Since a person’s days are determined
and the number of his months depends on you,
and since you have set limits he cannot pass,
Hebrews 9:27 (CSB) And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment —
If the days of Christ are numbered, how can we be anything less? If we are in Christ, we remain invincible until God's work is done and he brings us home.
Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, did not live a life without fear or alarm. From while he was in his mother's womb, he lived a dangerous life. But His days were numbered until the moment He perfectly saved His people from their sins.
We must always bear in mind the purpose of God, in training his Son, from the commencement, under the discipline of the cross, because this was the way in which he was to redeem his Church. He bore our infirmities, and was exposed to dangers and to fears, that he might deliver his Church from them by his divine power, and might bestow upon it everlasting peace. His danger was our safety: his fear was our confidence.
John Calvin. Commentary on Matthew.
Like Christ, our works of God have been laid out for us by God. Go and complete that work to the glory of God.
Matthew 3
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2 and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”
3 For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!
4 Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him,
6 and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
7 When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.
9 And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
10 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”
15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.
16 When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”
Matthew 3:1-6 Jesus Christ is Our Proclamation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 3:1–6 (CSB)
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea2 and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”
3 For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!
4 Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him,
6 and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
The Devotion
Christ has not commanded you to do anything you can do in your own power. He is calling sinners to repentance--that is you and me. Unbelievers cannot repent of their sins unless the Triune God dwells in them and have been given a new heart and the gift of repentance by God himself.
Acts 11:18 (CSB) When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”
2 Timothy 2:25 (CSB) instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
Hebrews 12:17 (CSB) For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance, though he sought it with tears.
Christ sums it all up:
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
You and I--the elect, saved, and adopted children of God--are called by God, empowered by God, indwelt by God, transformed by God, raised from death by God, made alive by God, given eyes to see, ears to hear, renewed mind to understand, a tongue unmute, and oh yea, the Eternal Almighty Spirit and the Only Begotten Son of God. Within this, you have been given the faith to believe in God. Within that, you have been given the gift of repentance in order to turn away from your sins and turn back to God.
Christ has come to you and me so that we can repent from our sins and turn and follow him.
You must be born again!
Matthew 3:7-12 Jesus Christ is Our Repentance
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 3:7–12 (CSB)
7 When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.
9 And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
10 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”
The Devotion
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
If we are command by God empowered by God to turn to God and be with God, don't think for a moment that you and I can obey God without God. It is impossible.
John 15:5 (CSB) “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.
I saw a disturbing poll just the other day. It was on the Internet so it must be true. Evangelicals were asked a basic question, "What is more prevalent problem im the church: the carnal 'Christian' who claims faith and yet goes on continuing to sin or is it is the legalistic 'Christian' who claims to be believes but strives to gain favor with God?" What do you think our brothers and sister said? You guessed it! "Oh the carnal Christian. There are church pews that are filled with those who come rolling in on the Sunday morning fresh from the strip clubs the night before."
The church never thinks that legalism is an issue within the church because why? Here is the unsaid reason, "At least people are doing good things and not bad things." And do not misunderstand me: that is a good thing when it comes to the order and chaos of our lives. But does doing good things earn you any favor with God? We all know the correct answer but how do we live and think and give mercy to one another.
We all thing that legalism is not an issue but Christ called legalists, "brood of vipers", "hypocrites", "whitewashed tombs", "vipers", and the Almighty God proclaiming "woe to you". (Matthew 23)
We, as mankind, give a free pass to legalism. In the eyes of Jesus Christ, the legalist and the carnal man are one and the same. They are both dead in their sins and trespasses. They are both in need of a Savior. They are both in need of repentance. They are both in need of the Holy Spirit. They are both in need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus Christ is Our Satisfaction
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 3:13–17 (CSB)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”
15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.
16 When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”
The Devotion
My brother and sister, you will never hear, "Depart from me, you worker of lawlessness!"
Because only the workers of lawlessness are so foolish in their pride and legalistic efforts to extract the blessings of God without God himself. They are so wicked and sinful, they would dare approach the throne of grace and proclaim to God, "Look at me! See what I have done!"
You, my beloved, will stand before the throne. You will see the Christ lifted on high. Your eternal Savior and your blessed Messiah! And he will be at the right hand of your heavenly Father. You cannot speak! You stand in the presence of whom the angels rightfully proclaim, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!"
But how can you defend yourself? How can you make account for yourself? You see, you are not worthy to declare such things.
You are going to need someone who is worthy and holy and righteous to be your declaration and defense.
Romans 8:16 (CSB) The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,
1 John 5:6–8 (CSB) Jesus Christ—He is the One who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.
1 John 2:1 (CSB) My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One.
The blessed Triune God will be your declaration. The Spirit is your adoption and bond with God. Your Father will declare for all of creation to know, "THIS IS MY CHILD IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED!"
This is when Christ descends from his judgment thorn, runs over to you, gather you up in his robe and in arms, and proceeds to pass the final judgment:
"NO CONDEMNATION! Come and enter into the joy of your Master!"
Psalm 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
Matthew 4
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.
12 When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.
13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
16 The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
18 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.
19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them.
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
24 Then the news about him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And he healed them.
25 Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus Christ is Our Word
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 4:1–11 (CSB)
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.
The Devotion
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Christ is Our Word: We Hear God Speak
If an unbeliever picked up this Bible, will they hear God speak?
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. For
who has known the Lord’s mind,
that he may instruct him?
But we have the mind of Christ.
The answer is: unless the Triune God regenerates that unbeliever, exchanges their heart, the Holy Spirit dwells in them, Christ is with them and the Father has made his home in them, then the answer is no. The Spirit certainly moves and does as he pleases--he will work on all people in various ways. John 3 does not let us discount that.
But to you and I, believers in God, we have the perfect words of God because we have the perfect Son of God.
I know I am mixing Greek here but bear with me.
John 1:1–5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Romans 10:14-17 (CSB) How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Let me stress this: stop straining to hear the audible voice of God. Christ himself called the Scriptures 'the mouth of God'. This is why we extol the ordinary means of grace--the preaching of the word with the administration of the sacraments. We sit under the preached word of God because Christ himself called the word of God the mouth of God. Let the weight of that sink in.
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
Christ is Our Word: God Belongs to Us
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
We have the Christ. We have the Triune God because the Father gave us his only begotten son. Why are we even to test God when we already have the Christ? Before you could even turn to God and ask for God to get God, you had God in order to ask God for God.
There is no testing. And if Romans 8:17 and Hebrews 1:1-2 are true:
Romans 8:17 (CSB) and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Hebrews 1:1–2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
In other words, if Christ is the heir of everything and we are co-heirs with Christ, that literally means we are co-heirs of everything. We have the Christ! That means we have it all. What can the devil tempt us with with? Something not everything? We have the Christ! He is our All-in-all. How can one be tempted with something not everything when Christ has given us everything!
In Christ, you have given me so much that heaven and earth could give me no more.
The Valley of Vision.
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.
Christ is Our Word: We Belong To God
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (CSB) Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
The Son of God was ransomed for us and we were bought with a price--the only begotten Son of God.
Romans 1:20-23 (CSB) For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
We have all exchanged the glory of God for something not God. This is the great exchange for sin.
How did God respond?
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
1 John 4:9–10 (CSB) God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:19 (CSB) We love because he first loved us.
Christ came down took our sin and exchanged back for his righteousness, holiness, and glory.
We wanted more sin not God. But God will receive the reward for his suffering. That is us! We are his reward. Christ great exchanged our sin for himself.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We shall not worship any other gods because we belong to God. Can you and I ever do this perfectly? No. We were born sons of Adam and we will always struggled mightily with idolatry until we see his face.
God knew that. God knew us. That is why he sent his Son to live the perfect life of worship to the Father so that we can be counted as righteous in him.
Praise his holy name forever.
Matthew 4:12-17 Jesus Christ is Our Preacher
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 4:12–17 (CSB)
12 When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
16 The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
The Devotion
Christ is Our Preached Word: We Now Seen A Great Light
When I have heard and read and understood, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near," I thought, 'This is a command to unbelievers because God is real, and he is here in his Son, Jesus Christ. Just do it!"
But look at the text one more time. "Repent." Why? "Because the kingdom of heaven has come near." Okay, who has the kingdom of heaven come near to? The people once living in darkness and it is just not people living in darkness but those who lived in darkness that have now seen a great light.
Why is that distinction so important?
John 1:4-13 (CSB) In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
We know these things? What are you driving at?
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
So tell me, dear Christian. The command to repent is given by God. But who can see the light and who can see the kingdom of God? Only those who are born again. So who among us has the capacity to repent of their sins? Only those who are born again.
This command to repent is given to those who have been given the gift and ability to repent--which is every person who has been born again.
Don't believe me about the gift of repentance? Look at the word:
Acts 11:18 (CSB) When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”
2 Timothy 2:25 (CSB) instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
Hebrews 12:17 (CSB) For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance, though he sought it with tears.
Revelation 2:21 (CSB) I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.
For any of us to do the supernatural good work of repentance and turning to Jesus Christ as our only means of salvation, we must be born again. No amount of works, no good amount of effort, no good feelings. no good things--prayer, fasting, giving, serving, reading Bible, attending church regularly--and make no mistake, all of those are good things. But none of those things can make us born again. Only God can do that.
Brother and sister in Christ, have you sinned? We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God! If you have been given faith in Christ, that means that the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now dwells in you. At the exact same time, you have a new heart from the Father, and in turn, desires for God. Because all of that is true and you can't separate the work of God into little bits--it is a complete, perfect package deal--then my friend, you have the gift of repentance. You have the ability to repent of your sins and turn to Christ.
Is this a command of God? Yes! And also, is this a cause to celebrate because God gives us both the ability and the desire to repent? Yes! Look at what God has done in our lives. When we sin, we have fallen, we find ourselves in the trappings of grief and despair because we struggle sin, and we cry out, "WHO CAN WASH AWAY MY SIN? NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!
But... but... how do we know if we have repented of our sins perfectly? I feel like I have but sin keeps crouching for me--seeking to devour me? My beloved, you cannot do anything perfect? God gives gifts and we fumble with them like a two old trying to put together the massive over 7500 piece Millennium Falcon Lego Set. How do you think we are going to use God's gifts? Not perfectly. That is more of the reason why God sent us his only begotten Son to live, to die, to conquer death by his resurrection and to ascend to the right hand of the Father--for us.
John 1:14–18 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
My precious loves--we have the Christ! We have the Christ! Now his perfect obedience is ours. We get to rejoice and be glad in him!
Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus Christ is Our Calling
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 4:18–22 (CSB)
18 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them.
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
The Devotion
Matthew 4:23-25 Jesus Christ is Our Ministry
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
The Text
Matthew 4:23–25 (CSB)
23 Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.24 Then the news about him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And he healed them.
25 Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
The Devotion
Matthew 5
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:1-3 Jesus Christ is Our Kingdom
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:4 Jesus Christ is Our Comfort
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:5 Jesus Christ is Our Inheritance
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:6 Jesus Christ is Our Wholeness
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:7 Jesus Christ is Our Mercy
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:8 Jesus Christ is Our Vision
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:9 Jesus Christ is Our Adoption
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:10 Jesus Christ is Our Persecuted
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:11 Jesus Christ is Our Account
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:12 Jesus Christ is Our Place
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:13 Jesus Christ is Our Salt
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus Christ is Our Light
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus Christ is Our Obedience
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:21-26 Jesus Christ is Our Avenger
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:27-30 Jesus Christ is Our Sparing of Our Lives
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:31-32 Jesus Christ is Our Covenant
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus Christ is Our Oath
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus Christ is Our Revenger
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus Christ is Our Reconciliation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 6
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 6:1-5 Jesus Christ is Our Reward
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 6:5-13 Pray Like This--An Introduction
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:5-15 (CSB) “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
“Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.“For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.
How not to pray
Don't pray to get attention
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
It does not matter how eloquent or loud or wordy your prayers might be. They are your words to God's ears. Think about that.
If you did pray in public (blessing over a meal or praying for healing or ending a meeting) what would it look like for you to use simple phrases? Jesus did it. Why couldn't we do the same? Don't be afraid of what others might think about you.
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
This is between you and God. This is a precious, private time between you and the Creator of the Universe.
Go and examine the Gospels. Notice how many times does Jesus have to get away, escape, and departed to be himself. We know what he was doing. Christ was praying and speaking with the Father. Don't you think that if you had the perfect relationship with another person for all of your life and all of sudden, you had to go away and be apart from them for about 30 years. How much would you miss them? Jesus, who was in perfect relationship and communion with the Father, missed his Father terribly. Christ desperately tried to balance between ministry and his prayer life. I know that not one person in here, myself include, wrestle between prayer and ministry. Yet, prayer is the heaviest lifting.
do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words
Look at what Jesus is saying. He is not referring to Gentiles in the sense of non-Jews but rather, unbelievers. In other words, Jesus says the prayers of the unbeliever are empty. They are void. They are without meaning.
In complete contrast to the empty prayers of the unrighteous, what we are going to read later on in the series, is that both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit intercede with our prayers and intercede for us, according to the will of the Father.
Romans 8:26-27 (CSB) In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him
We do not have to beg God for what we need. He is God. He alone knows the depths of our hearts, our minds, and our circumstances. He is our good Father in heaven. All we must do is simply ask and he will provide what is good for us.
Pray
In this series, I want you to write down and pray prayers based on what you have learned to today.
Matthew 6:9a Pray Like This--Do What He Does
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:9 (CSB) Therefore, you should pray like this
Luke 11:1 (CSB) He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”
Do What He Does
First, believe and trust in God
How do you do that? First, God has to do the work in order for you to believe and trust in him.
Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
All of the Sunday School, seminary, church services, being a preacher's kid, read all the theology books, consistent on your daily Bible readings--none of that will get you to love and worship God. God will have to change your heart and change your mind first.
Now, if you don't believe and trust in God, and you still want to pray to Him. Go for it. But you are going to have to ask for something first.
Luke 11:9-13 (CSB) “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
What is the point?
God is the ultimate good. Go to God and ask for God. When you do that, you will get God.
You have to have God first before you can pray to him. How do you pray to God when you don't have God? That doesn't make sense.
Second, note that Jesus, our Lord and Savior prayed
Matthew 14:22-23 (CSB) Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone.
Matthew 19:13-15 (CSB) Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After placing his hands on them, he went on from there.
Matthew 26:36-41 (CSB) Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 6:12-16 (CSB) During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. When daylight came, he summoned his disciples, and he chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Luke 9:28-29 (CSB) About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
John 17:9-19 (CSB) I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours. Everything I have is yours, and everything you have is mine, and I am glorified in them. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I was protecting them by your name that you have given me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture may be fulfilled. Now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy completed in them. I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. I sanctify myself for them, so that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
Last, pray because God told us to pray
Matthew 6:5-9
5 Whenever you pray...
6 But when you pray...
7 When you pray....
9Therefore, you should pray like this...
Matthew 9:35-38 (CSB) Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”
Matthew 18:15-20 (CSB) “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”
Matthew 26:41 (CSB) Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 11:24-25 (CSB) Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”
Mark 13:14-20 (CSB) “When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house, and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!
“Pray it won’t happen in winter. For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of creation until now and never will be again. If the Lord had not cut those days short, no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect, whom he chose.
Luke 6:27-28 (CSB) But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 18:1-8 (CSB) Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up. “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect people. And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
“For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’”
Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Pray
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CSB) Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I don't care how you get it done. If you need to set ten reminders on your phone. Do it. You need to set 100 alarms. Do it. Install a thousand apps. Do it. Pray once. Pray several times throughout the day. Do it.
If you stop praying for a while, get back on the horse. Don't grieve over not praying. Just pray.
“I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach. - Charles Spurgeon
Some of y'all act like prayer doesn't work.
James 1:5-8 (CSB) Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
That's called double-mindedness. Don't pray if you don't think God will answer. You pray because you know that God will answer.
Let me give you a real life example.
I know this little old lady. Lived to about 88 years old. Love the Lord her God. Was blessed with a husband, three boys and adopted a little girl. This little old lady prayed every day and every night that God would save her family.
Husband lost his good sense and ran away with some other woman. This lady promptly drove to Phoenix in their family station wagon, picked his sorry butt up and brought him home. A few months later was diagnosed with prostate cancer and passed away after that diagnosis pretty quickly.
The little old lady continued to pray.
Their youngest son was the worst kind of human being. Porn absolutely wrecked his life. So much so, he sexually abused his own children, got caught, and then got sent to prison for about 400 years before he died in prison.
The little old lady continued to pray.
And then his son (her grandson), while thank God did not hurt any children, did the lion's share of his own sexual immorality. You might be thinking, "Lion's share? How can you top adultery and child molestation?" Her grandson was introduced by his dad to porn at the age of 5. And it had gripped his heart for all of his life. His addiction became so crippling that he went to go work in the porn industry just as the internet was coming online. Websites, servers, photos, videos, recruiting--whatever it took in order to feed his wicked heart.
Yet, the little old lady continued to pray.
How did God respond to this little old pray who prayed for years... up until a half a century?
After yanking her husband back from Phoenix, her husband came to know Christ and repenting of all his sins. Shortly thereafter, around 42 years old, he died from cancer and went to be with the Lord.
Her son, who was rotting away in prison, wasn't saved by Christ until he was 56--20 some odd years after being in prison. God gripped his heart so hard, that he gave up what little he had to be with God. Even his supposed future freedom. When he was finally up for parole, he declined. When the board asked him why, he simply stated, "There are many men in this place who are in darkness. I have the light of God in me. If I leave, who will show them the light of Christ? Therefore, I have to stay." He continued to do ministry for a few more years until he went to be with the Lord.
Her grandson, foolishly thought he was saved from damnation and death just because he had said some sinner's prayer when he was 8 years old. Never mind the fact that he was dealing in so much porn and living the most depraved, sexual immoral life with no repentance. But then, right before his 32nd birthday, God grabbed a whole of this man's heart. This man laid everything down and repented before God. Did the young man's life suddenly became awesome and easy? Nope. But this man knew he belonged to God and God belonged to him forever.
This little old lady, by God's sweet grace, got to see each of her prayers answered before she went to be with God.
If this story sounds a little bit personal, because it is. That little old lady was my grandma. Her name is Frances and her husband's name was Jack. Her youngest son in the story, who ended up dying while doing ministry in prison? His name was Joseph.
His oldest son, the grandson in the story, is me. I am Joseph Jr.. I was the grandson with the crippling porn addiction and the jacked up, messed up life to show for it.
My grandma contended for our lives. And each of us Louthan men went to the utter extremes of sin and depravity to find out that none of that was remotely satisfying. We have sinned way more than the average man. Yet, I know for a fact that God is the mighty one who saves. God asks in Isaiah, "Is my arm too short to save anyone?" I promise you cannot out sin the salvation of God.
So when Christ commands us to "go and pray", we pray because that is when we get to see the glory of God.
The Prayer
I hear Your words. You have given me a new heart, and now I gladly receive Your words. It is because You gave me a new heart, it is now that I can do what You have commanded me to do.
My Lord and my God, You have taught me and shown me what it is like to speak to our Father. Your instruction, Your communion, Your relationship, Your bond with the Father is on display here for me to see and learn as the example. It is so evident in the Gospels that you missed your Father so very much and took every opportunity to go and talk with him.
Sometimes when I am so happy and joyful, I will forget to spend time with you. Sometimes when I am in sin, I am too scared to go to my God. Sometimes I am too apathetic and I do not care to go to God. Sometimes I worry, I am anxious, and I tend to trust in what I can do or what I can see before my eyes instead of believing in Him who has already done the work. Lord, please help me do what You do because at that time with my Father is so precious and so good. Lord, help me do what You do because no other god can help me. You alone are the One True God. Lord, help me do what You do because Father, Son, and Spirit are One and because all that You have done, You are now in me and with me. Because of You, You are mine, and I am Yours always.
Help me not to deprive of my time with you. Help me do what You do.
Matthew 6:9b Pray Like This--Our Father in Heaven
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:9b (CSB) Our Father in heaven
Our Father In Heaven
Thus far in the Lord's instruction, Jesus Christ has helped and encourage us to pray like him. Let me sum up Christ's teaching on prayer:
- you must believe and trust in God
That is it. That is the message.
So this teaching in prayer is assuming that you do believe and trust in the Holy One of God. Otherwise, your prayers are nothing but babble.
With all of the major religions in the world, nothing sets apart Christianity more so than the forgiveness of sins, being made right-standing with God by God, and the fact that we have access to the Father as a child would to their own dad.
Even the other faiths that began with Abraham: Jewish and Muslim. For those of the Jewish faith, they have an strong, prevailing faith that God is indeed our Father for those who believe. But without Christ, it is wholly incomplete. To the Muslim and in the Koran, Allah is never referred to as Father.
Christ proclaims that for us to come to the Father, we must believe and trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
John 20:11-18 (CSB) But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?”
Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.”
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
See what the Risen Christ says to Mary in verse 17:
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
In other words, Jesus is telling Mary: "I must ascend to the Father and it will be at that moment that you will have God as your Father." (This is on Easter Sunday which he departs for a little while. What happens on Easter weekend is a whole other Doctrine series.)
You behold God? You trust in his Son? Here is what you gain as having God as Father:
You are alive
Romans 8:12-13 (CSB) So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
You are being led by the Spirit of God
Romans 8:14 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.
Hebrews 12:5-11 (CSB) And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:
My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly
or lose heart when you are reproved by him,
for the Lord disciplines the one he loves
and punishes every son he receives.
Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
You don't get to descend back into slavery
Romans 8:15a (CSB) For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.
You are adopted by God and you get to cry to God as Father
Romans 8:15b Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
You are defended by God in front of God to the glory of God
Romans 8:16 (CSB) The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,
You are now co-heirs (or another way to put it, joint heirs) with the One whom is heir of all things
Romans 8:17-18 (CSB) and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—
Hebrews 1:1-2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
You will suffer like Christ
Romans 8:17b-18 -if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
You will look like Christ
Romans 8:28-29 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Psalms 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
You will be glorified in Christ
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Psalms 16:5-11 (CSB)
LORD, you are my portion
and my cup of blessing;
you hold my future.
The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I will bless the LORD who counsels me—
even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
I always let the LORD guide me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad
and my whole being rejoices;
my body also rests securely.
For you will not abandon me to Sheol;
you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
You reveal the path of life to me;
in your presence is abundant joy;
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
The Prayer
You have told me this so that I may know this: I can now come to the Father. My Father is mindful of me, and His will has already dictated our relationship to be so. You have done all the work. The Spirit bears witness with my Spirit that I am a child of God. This same Spirit that raised You from the grave dwells in me. As the Holy Spirit lives in me, He gives me the power, the right and privilege to go and be with the Father.
Father, I cannot think of You like some cruel, ruthless, thoughtless, mindless man voided of compassion and love. I dare not compare You in light of an earthly father. You are exalted and high and lifted up, all earthly fathers held in the view of You. You, O God, are good and do nothing but good.
Your faith is given to me and with this new heart You have given me, I now get to trust in You when Christ says, “Our Father is our perfect Father in heaven.” That means You are perfect in love, perfect in compassion, perfect in mercy, perfect in grace, perfect in judgment, holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness.
You, my Father in heaven, are high and lifted up above all other gods and all over the earth. You are the Triune God who is in the perfect community and perfect love, sufficient and satisfying in Yourself and needed no one else and nothing else. You are the Creator God who sees all and knows all.
You are all around the earth, and Your glory fills the earth. You are all-powerful, never to be limited to what You can and cannot do.
For I am certain: You are holy, far above our tragic depravity and our laughable idols; You are so far and distant as You cannot dare not to look upon our sins.
This is so very true: I am a stranger before you and lost as our Fathers were. Likewise, my days on the earth are like a shadow, and there was no hope. But, despite my horrific sin, my wicked thoughts, my desperately sick heart, my numerous transgressions; my gruesome pride; and in spite of me being so far away from You, You loved me so much that You thought of me from eternity past. Because You wanted me to be with You, You sent Your Son to do whatever it takes to bring me to You.
And You Son did it, perfectly, by your Spirit. Jesus Christ did so by giving over His perfect, spotless life for my cancerous, sin-infested, death-filled life. He did so by taking on Your just punishment that was meant for me and then poured out his blood to clean away all of my sins, wickedness, iniquities, transgressions, and evil. And it is by Your Spirit and by Your will, Your Son rose from death.
Why did You save me? I have not a clue. I did nothing to deserve Your gracious and everlasting love, even less so, Your undivided attention.
All I know is that I was once lost, now found; once blind, now I can see; once dead; now fully alive in You. All because of what You have done.
I love You, my God.
Matthew 6:9c Pray Like This--Hallowed Be Your Name
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:9c (CSB) your name be honored as holy
Hallowed Be Your Name
God is holy
Isaiah 6:1-4 (CSB) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another:
Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies;
his glory fills the whole earth.
The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.
God is forever holy
Revelation 4:8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
We are set apart to Him
Leviticus 20:26 (CSB) You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be mine.
We are made holy because he is holy
Isaiah 6:5-7 Then I said:
Woe is me for I am ruined
because I am a man of unclean lips
and live among a people of unclean lips,
and because my eyes have seen the King,
the LORD of Armies.
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said:
Now that this has touched your lips,
your iniquity is removed
and your sin is atoned for.
Now we get to be holy because He is holy
1 Peter 1:14-16 (CSB) As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
We are completely different than those who do not believe
1 Peter 2:6-10 (CSB) For it stands in Scripture:
See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and honored cornerstone,
and the one who believes in him
will never be put to shame.
So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,
The stone that the builders rejected—
this one has become the cornerstone,
and
A stone to stumble over,
and a rock to trip over.
They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
This call to holiness is the gospel to us
1 Peter 1:22-25 (CSB) Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. For
All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
The Prayer
Because You are my good Father in heaven, I get to say this:
You are holy.
You are far above, far from all of my sin, and the sins of the world.
You shine the brightest. You are the most glorious. Your holiness is a fire unquenched. Your holiness rejects and vomits out all of my trespasses.
Our sins, our trespasses, our wickedness, our transgressions and our iniquities keep us infinitely far for You.
Before You, we are complete strangers.
Before You, we are children who sit under Your just and necessary wrath.
Before You, we are dead.
Yet, oh how good and wonderful that You sent Your Son across that infinite separation through the shattered cosmos and into our broken lives as Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God to be not only fully God but also fully man.
For it is Him who has made the way back to You!
Now that we get to be with You, Your Son shows us how to pray and Your Spirit prays with us. Apart from Your sovereign grace, the bloodshed and broken body of Your Son on that cross and the power of Your Spirit, not only did I not know You but I actively waged war against Your holy name.
But because Jesus Christ, Your Son, and my Savior, laid out the path to You, I get to enjoy Your presence. Because of Your Son’s life, death and resurrection, the absolute truth is that we get to fully enjoy You forever and ever.
And because of Your Spirit’s awesome power, You claim us to be Yours forever.
You have always known me and You will always know me. You will not forget me nor forsake me. You have always loved me and you will always love me. You are so good to me and you will not stop being good to me.
How glorious is Your Name!
Amen.
Matthew 6:10c Pray Like This: On Earth As It Is In Heaven
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:10c (CSB) on earth as it is in heaven
On Earth As Is It In Heaven
Psalms 73:21-28 (ESV)
When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
Effectiveness of the Will of God on Earth
What is the will of man?
Simply put, the ability to make a decision or one's desire. Now, whether that decision has been made whimsically, under duress, emotionally, forcefully, or even, supernaturally, the will of man is a powerful force.
However, mankind, for the most part, will tend to judge the will of mankind incorrectly due to sin. And let me explain what I mean.
We have esteemed our wills more highly than we ought. In other words, what we want and desire takes precedence over others' desires. Common in conflict for one side to win over the other. But because of sin, quite often we don't consider the other person's desires. That leads to pride, haughtiness, and narcissism--the universe revolves around me. The world is a movie about me and I am the star of the show.
Some of us have esteemed own wills too low and we that will lead to stress and anxiety. We think it is humility and it is not. Our own desires have a proper place within all relationships.
More so, we have thought too much of the will of others. Carried out to its end, and we rightfully call that "fear of man" and "pleasing man rather than God.
Is the will of God absolute in the heavens?
Yes.
While the happenings of the heavens are not commonly exposed to us here on earth, once in a great while, God will tell us what happened:
Luke 10:17-20 (CSB) The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you. However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
We know that God created the heavens and the earth. In that, all the heavens and the earth belong to God. But let me ask another question:
Is the will of God absolute here on earth?
When it comes to doing what he says he will do, absolutely so:
Isaiah 55:10-11 (CSB)
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return there
without saturating the earth
and making it germinate and sprout,
and providing seed to sow
and food to eat,
so my word that comes from my mouth
will not return to me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
When it comes to the salvation of His people, the answer is absolutely yes.
Romans 9:25-28 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea,
I will call Not My People, My People,
and she who is Unloved, Beloved.
And it will be in the place where they were told,
you are not my people,
there they will be called sons of the living God.
But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,
Though the number of Israelites
is like the sand of the sea,
only the remnant will be saved;
since the Lord will execute his sentence
completely and decisively on the earth.
And
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
If the will of God is not absolute here on earth as it is in heaven, he ceases to be God. Just pick and think upon an attribute of God. Omnipotence, holiness, righteousness, love, just, mercy, wrath, grace--if he is less than perfect in those things here on earth, He would not be God.
We can contend for the free will of man and use the arguments that "we are not robots". Yet, if the will of man is so free, why can't mankind freely choose God and obey God?
I have yet to find one single passage in the Bible where man obeyed first and then God saves:
Genesis 6:5-9 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.
Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.
These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
Ezekiel 36:25-28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
We misjudge our own wills and the wills of others. Because of sin, we often misjudge the will of God.
But the will of God is absolute:
Isaiah 55:9 (CSB) “For as heaven is higher than earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
So since we have firmly established the will of God in the heavens and on earth, one question remains:
What are we praying for?
Or in another way: why do we pray at all if the will of God is a sure thing?
Is it to take away suffering? No, God promises that we will suffer. Christ suffered. We are "little Christs". The disciple always looks like the teacher. How are we to avoid suffering when Christ did not avoid it:
Luke 24:25-27 (CSB) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Luke 21:10-19 (CSB) Then he told them, “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be violent earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to bear witness. Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time, for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you. You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. By your endurance, gain your lives.
Acts 9:15-16 (CSB) But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
And yet, we must keep our suffering in proper perspective:
Romans 8:18 (CSB) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
Is it for riches? No! The Lord God knows what we need.
Matthew 5:44-46 (CSB) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
Proverbs 30:8-9 (CSB) Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me.
Give me neither poverty nor wealth;
feed me with the food I need.
Otherwise, I might have too much
and deny you, saying, “Who is the LORD?”
or I might have nothing and steal,
profaning the name of my God.
Luke 11:9-13 (CSB) “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?
Is it for love and romance? No. There is nothing in the Bible that suggests that God is here to make sure you marry. Don't quote 1 Corinthians 7 to me. Go and read the Bible and understand what it means to have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you.
So, then what are we praying for? We pray because...
We need to see how far are we from the glory of God
Psalms 73:21-28 (ESV)
When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
We pray because...
We constantly need to hear the good news of Christ Jesus
Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
We pray because...
We must change our minds to know that there is nothing on this earth besides God that will fill our hearts and souls and desires and longings
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
We pray because...
We need his Son, the fullness of His Spirit and his grace in order to do his will and what he has commanded us to do
For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
The Prayer
We are far from you.
We need to hear from you.
Tell us your good news and give us you, O God so we can turn our hearts back to you.
I have nothing on earth that satisfies eternity within me.
My Christ, draw me close, keep me near, and give me grace to preach your good news for as long as I live.
Amen
Matthew 6:10a Pray Like This, Your Kingdom Come
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:10a (CSB) Your kingdom come
Your Kingdom Come
Matthew 16:13-16 (CSB) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Christ Lived the Perfect Life that Everyone Should Have
Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB)
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Christ Has Died--Therefore He Has Conquered All of Our Enemies
Ephesians 6:10-13 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
Fear
Romans 8:14-15 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
Sin
Romans 6:6-11 (CSB) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Satan and demons
Colossians 2:9-15 (CSB) For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Hell
Matthew 16:17-20 (CSB) Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.” Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah.
Death
Romans 8:7-11 (CSB) The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
In His Perfect, Redeeming, Conquered Kingdom, we are now more than conquerors through him who loved us
Romans 8:35-39 (CSB) Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Prayer
You have perfectly obeyed our Father in heaven. I believe and trust in you. You are my Savior.
You have remove my fear--place my affections and awe in you alone.
You have freed me from sin--keep me from sin.
Satan and demons have been conquered--keep me from their fiery arrows.
You have not abandoned me in Hell, you will not let me see corruption--keep me in your presence where there is only life, fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore.
Death is a conquered foe--I am forever alive in you because you dwell in me.
Amen.
Matthew 6:10b Pray Like This, Your Will Be Done
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:10b (CSB) Your will be done
Your Will Be Done
Ephesians 1:11-14 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
This is not making God do what we want him to do
19th Century American Evangelist Charles Finney studied a few doctrines in his lifetime--like any Christian who has seriously thought through the Bible. Now, depending on how well you pay attention in church, this might not be the first time hearing his name. In mentioning in his name, I usually gets two polarizing responses:
- "Greatest Christian since Paul" mostly from more big movements within 20th century Evangelicalism and definitely, within the non-denomination megachurches and places like Bethel
- "The worst heretic since Judas and is a poison to all of Evangelicalism" - Those statements usually come from more orthodox camps
I have heard both opinions and yes, my own opinions tend to land on one side. My opinions on the man is not important. For a more excellent summary on the ministry of Charles Finney, check out chapter 2 from Iain Murray's book on revival, "Pentecost Today?".
For the good and bad influence that Charles Finney has on today's Christians, this much is certain: there are many of our brothers and sisters who adamantly believe if you prayed hard enough, prayed long enough, believed hard enough, did the right things, and have enough faith, that you could change the mind of God and get God to do your will.
Now, let me be fair: defenders of this belief would not claim to thwart the will of God. But ultimately, that is what you end up trying to do. Why is that so damaging is not because it is a feeble attempt at changing the will of God but because it assumes you are in control, which ultimately ends in the sin of witchcraft. Beyond that and more importantly, that is the very definition of legalism--the same back breaking yoke that Jesus Christ came to remove. In other words, let me do the right things in order to get the blessings of God that I want.
That does not work.
We are not here to line up the will of the Almighty God with our lives. But rather, as we are being conformed in the image of his Son, day by day, we are starting to line up our own will within the will of God--so that He and I will become one.
We are halfway through this teaching on prayer. So, for today, instead of teaching you a bunch of doctrinal facts, I want you to try to pray with what you know about God so far.
I usually don't do this but today, I am going to make the exception and recite my written prayer here.
The Prayer
I am but a little kid. And I don't know much.
But I know you are holy. you are my Father You know my needs Please provide for me.
Your kingdom is here because of what your Son has done bring me into your presence because of what your Son has done
Lord, I have spent my entire life doing what I want to do and when I come to you now I still want to do what I want to do
But would you make me look like your Son just as you promised you would so that I can want what you want just as your Son did.
For me to do anything you want I have to be filled with your Spirit give me your Son's Spirit the same one that raised Him from the dead and convicts me of everything your Son has commanded.
Amen.
Matthew 6:11 Pray Like This: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:11 (CSB) Give us today our daily bread.
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
God knows what we need before we ask. He is our good Father in heaven. He provides for the birds in the air and the flowers in the field. How are we any less?
He knows that we need food and water and housing.
But that is to survive for the day.
What about to live forever and never die?
We need to not perish
John 6:22-27 (CSB) The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw there had been only one boat. They also saw that Jesus had not boarded the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone off alone. Some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.”
John 4:13-14 (CSB) Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.”
Who can give us this food that we will never go hungry again or this water so we may never thirst? Who can fix what is broken so we will never perish but have everlasting life?
We need to believe in Jesus Christ
John 6:28-34 (CSB) “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked.
Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”
“What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
We need Jesus Christ
John 6:35-40 (CSB) “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again. But as I told you, you’ve seen me, and yet you do not believe. Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
We need to obey Christ as Lord and King because He is Lord and King
John 6:41-42 (CSB) Therefore the Jews started grumbling about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
We are chosen by God for God to worship God
John 6:43-46 (CSB) Jesus answered them, “Stop grumbling among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father.
John 1:12-13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
Christ is our daily bread
John 6:47-52 (CSB) “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
At that, the Jews argued among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
Christ alone is the giver of the fullness of life
John 6:53-59 (CSB) So Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, because my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna your ancestors ate—and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.”
He said these things while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
John 10:10 (CSB) A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
Everybody wants to be truly alive--not everybody wants to believe
John 6:60 (CSB) Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?”
But Christ already said that his word gets taken away, choked up, or burns in the afternoon sun.
Luke 8:11-14 (CSB) “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.
Acts 17:32 (CSB) When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.”
There is no where else to go but God
John 6:61-71 (CSB) Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”
Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray him.
The Prayer
Today, save me.
Amen
Matthew 6:12,14-15 Pray Like This: Forgive Us--Help Us to Forgive
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.Matthew 6:14-15 (CSB) “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.
Forgive Us--Help Us to Forgive
How can we forgive: God forgives and saves us
Hebrews 8:10-12 (CSB) For this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen,
and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know the Lord,”
because they will all know me,
from the least to the greatest of them.
12 For I will forgive their wrongdoing,
and I will never again remember their sins
How can we forgive: God loves and saves us
1 John 4:7-10 (ESV) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
How can we forgive: God gives grace upon grace--we get to give grace upon grace
Matthew 18:21-35 (CSB) Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?”
22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.
Don't be like me and try to take this literal. When I was first saved by God, all of this anger and bitterness came to the surface. I actually thought this:
"Okay, for everyone who has hurt and betrayed me, let me see, 70 times 7 is 490 times... so, if I forgive them once a day for about a year and a season (because they have the audacity to exist and never say they are sorry), then I can stop forgiving them.
How can we forgive: we are not God
Go to the beginning in the book of Genesis. Joseph, initially left for dead, sold into slavery, falsely accused, falsely imprisoned, only to be rescued to save His people from death. (Oddly familiar, don't you think?)
His brothers were so afraid that Joseph, being the most powerful person in the land, would take his power and rightfully crush his brothers into smithereens.
But look at how Joseph responds:
Genesis 50:19-21 (CSB) But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. 21 Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
How can we forgive: we are not defined and identified by the sins committed against us
Jesus Christ, he who knew no sin who became sin for us, who all the Jews and all the Gentiles, continuously sin against him while he was here on the earth. Beaten, scorned, abused, spat upon, hung upon a cross, stripped naked, as his body bled out with feces and urine leaked from his body--put to open shame among all of mankind.
But he never not once exacted his rightful wrath on anyone. Instead, look at what he does.
Luke 23:32-34 (CSB) Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him. When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
I can remember for most of my life how I would so easily be able kill my dad with my bare hands because he raped and molested me. I wanted to kill him because he shamed me and humiliated me and made me not a whole person. I spent my entire life hoping to be able to take vengeance into my own hands. I hated my dad. But God, being rich in mercy, saved me.
While he rotted in prison, I reached out to him and forgave him because I knew all too well the forgiveness of God for my wickedness and sins.
It didn't mean I have to trust my dad. All I needed to do is forgive him and release him to God. I got to forgive him and everybody who has ever hurt me because I was no longer defined by their sins against me. In other words, I was not shame-filled, lust-filled, rape victim that became a crippling porn addict--I am a son of God.
The Prayer
You have forgiven everything.
Help us to forgive others.
Amen.
Matthew 6:13 Pray Like This: Deliver Us From Evil
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:13 (CSB) And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
If we are going to pray like the Son of God because we are sons of God, we have to listen and obey what he says.
When Christ told us to pray for our daily bread, I contended to you that it was more than just our nourishment and our physical needs. They are so important--no one is denying that and Christ said it himself in verse 8:
your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
But what do really need? We need Christ. And we need him every day.
Why do we pray for the indwelling of God every day?
In order to be forgiven of our sins and to forgive other sins against us, who do we need? We need God.
Do we sin everyday? Do people sin against us everyday? Don't overthink it, justify it, or blame others. The answer is yes. Then go to God every day.
But in this lesson, Christ tells us to pray for two more things. First...
Do Not Bring Us Into Temptation
I would say there are four cornerstone passages that every person who has been to church for a while has heard at least once in their life.
Now, instead of focusing on the nuances and trying to see what God will or will not do, disregard that. Stop hyper-focusing on that. What I want you to keep in mind who Christ is and his heart for us when we are tempted.
Christ is merciful
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB) No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.
Christ is good
James 1:13-15 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
Christ is vulnerable
Hebrews 4:14-15 (CSB) Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Christ is for us
Hebrews 2:17-18 (CSB) Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
But Deliver Us From the Evil One
What is evil?
or to ask it in another way, "Is all sin evil? Is all evil sin?
We are called to flee from sin
We read in 1 Corinthians 10 that we are not going to experience something extraordinary temptation, and God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond your limits, and also provides a way out so that you will bear it. But look at the next commandment with God faithfully for you:
Flee from idolatry
1 Corinthians 10:14 (CSB) So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
Flee sexual immorality
1 Corinthians 6:18 (CSB) Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.
Flee from greed
1 Timothy 6:10-11 (CSB) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11 But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
Flee from anger, unfaithfulness, wickedness, hate, foolishness, and ignorance
2 Timothy 2:22-23 (CSB) Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels.
God is with us and will deliver us from the evil one
How is God with us to fight temptation and sin?
It is true that Christ crucified on the cross has put Satan and demons to open shame. But do not be naive nor fooled into thinking that they are not a worthy adversary that wants nothing more to drag your life down into the pit of hell along with them.
You must know we are not fighting against imagebearers of God but rather, against all demonic forces.
Look at what Paul instructs us to do in Ephesians 6:
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
But you will not be doing this alone. You and I are vulnerable half-hearted weaklings that have fallen into the snares of the enemy time and time again.
God commands you to fight. But just like David slew Goliath and the David's mighty men went on to slay the giants in the land, God will be with us to fight.
Trust in God because God is our strength because he is the Almighty God.
Ephesians 6:10-17 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
Trust in God because God gives you truth and righteousness
14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest,
Trust in God because God gives you his gospel which is His power in salvation
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.
Trust in God because God gives you faith to protect you from the attacks of the enemy
16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Trust in God because God has saved you to himself and he gives you his word
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.
What do we get to do?
Turn from evil and rejoice in the goodness of God
Proverbs 29:6 (CSB) An evil person is caught by sin,
but the righteous one sings and rejoices.
Turn from evil and delight in the righteousness of God
Psalms 17:3 (CSB) You have tested my heart;
you have examined me at night.
You have tried me and found nothing evil;
I have determined that my mouth will not sin.
When you turn to God and believe and trust in him, that same righteousness belongs to you.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Turn from sin, run with boldness and audacity to Christ and confess your sins
Jeremiah 36:3 (CSB) Perhaps when the house of Judah hears about all the disaster I am planning to bring on them, each one of them will turn from his evil way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”
When you do so, look at what you find:
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
You like that? God is faithful and righteous and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Not letting you stew in your your filth. Instant. Now. Quick as a wink he will forgive you.
Here is more gifts you get when you turn to God.
Hebrews 4:16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
God gives mercy and God gives grace to help us in our time of need.
I have seen this play out in two ways in my own life. When I was first saved by God, the porn habit vanished. I was doing deep erasures of my server hard drives. And people in IT and Data Recovery know what this means: I would delete my terabyte drives of all the porn I had stored up every since the Internet became public 7 times over and then rewrite my drives with 1s and 0s. I knew how to recover such data and I knew how to erase data.
But has God was growing and maturing me to look more like his Son, the temptations starting to creep back. And what I have noticed is when I gave into temptation to look at porn, shockingly enough, I tending to make some really god-awful life-changing decisions that lead me to despair, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Never not once would I blame God for that. God was not tempted me. None of my sin is his fault. He was always with me. Never forsake me. Even spare my life over and over again and kept calling me to himself over and over again.
The Prayer
Help us. We need you.
Amen.
Matthew 6:13b Pray Like This: Yours is The Kingdom, O Lord
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Pray Then Like This
Matthew 6:13b (KJV) For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Yours is The Kingdom, O Lord
1 Chronicles 29:10-18 (ESV) Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.
The Prayer
So what then can I say?
So what then can I do?
All I can do is simply thank you.
So from the bottom of my heart,
I thank you for giving me strength.
Thank you my Father God.
Thank you my Christ Jesus.
Thank you my Holy Spirit.
You judged me faithful.
You appointed to Your service.
Despite my dishonoring and blaspheming,
Your holy name,
despite my persecution and hatred
those who love you,
despite my perverted and violent opposition
towards you,
Still
I only received mercy
because I was lost
I was lame
I was deaf
I was blind
I was stupid
I was ignorant
I was evil
I was dead
and I was not looking and could not look for you whatsoever.
But Your beautiful, sweet and tender
love, mercy and grace
overflowed for me
overwhelmingly
undeservedly
ill-deservingly
with your unbroken faithfulness
and your relentless love
that can only be by You,
for You,
through You,
my Christ Jesus my Lord my Savior.
These words
out of my heart
are true
and with all of my hope and dreams
and desires and wishes
that these words would be sweet to your ears.
I know
that you came in this world
to rescue your people
to pull them out of despair
to give your people life
to save them from their sins
to bring them to you
evil sinners
at war with you
All of us
And I lead this group.
I am the foremost
I am their chief
I am their victor
I am their champion of those who would face Your terrifying wrath!
Yet,
in this reason
that Your grace abounds all the more
that Your mercy renews every morning
that Your love never ceases
that You
my Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ
might display
Your perfection, beauty, tenderness, quickness,
Your love, mercy, grace, patience
for all of those who You call Yours
and those would believe upon Your holy name for life forever.
This is why I will sing
to the God of the everlasting to the everlasting
the Triune
the Father
the Son
the Holy Spirit
the immortal
the invisible
the Only One
the Creator
the Sustainer
the Merciful
the Peace
the Grace
the Faith
the Messiah
the Immanuel, God with Us
the Blessed
the Living Word
the Christ
the Son of God
the Fellow Heir
the Second Adam
the Kinsman Redeemer
the Beginning
the Means
the End
the Majesty
the Truth
the Way
the Life
the Wisdom
the Teacher
the Rescuer
the Promise
the Calling
the Fulfillment
the Abundance
the Host
the Governor
the High Priest
the Prophet
the Apostle
the Sufferer
the Messiah
the Servant
the Son of Man
the Glorified
the Power
the Gospel
the Guide
the Elector
the All-Sufficient
the Lion of Judah
the Worthy Lamb who was slain
the King of all kings
the Lord of all lords
the Commander
the Ruler above all
the Name above all Names
the Wonderful Counselor
the Mighty God
the Everlasting Father
the Prince of Peace
my Holiness
my Righteousness
my Justice
my Faithfulness
my Mercy
my Grace
my Friend
my Confidence
my Pastor
my Elder
my Brother
my Assurance
my Redeemer
my Rock
my Salvation
my All in all
my Exalted
my Glorious
my Beloved
my Joy
my Song
my Love
my Jesus Christ, King, Lord, Savior and Messiah
my Father, my Father, my Abba, my heart
my Holy Spirit, my comfort, my peace, my gift, my breath.
So I will be so very careful to
worship,
sing,
praise,
glorify,
exalt,
proclaim,
honor,
dedicate,
and love
You alone.
I pray this desperately and joyfully,
in the beautiful,
sweet,
precious,
most tender,
loveliest,
most worthy,
dearest name of
Your Son.
His name is
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus Christ is Our Strength
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus Christ is Our Intimacy
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus Christ is Our Treasure
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 6:22-23 Jesus Christ is Our Sight
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 6:24 Jesus Christ is Our Master
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 6:25-32 Jesus Christ is Our Peace
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 6:33 Jesus Christ is Our Everything
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 6:34 Jesus Christ is Our Tomorrow
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 7
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus Christ is Our Judgment
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 7:6 Jesus Christ is Our Precious Gift
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 7:7-11 Jesus Christ is Our Answer
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 7:12 Jesus Christ is Our Justice
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 7:13 Jesus Christ is Our Path
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 7:14-20 Jesus Christ is Our Root Cause
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus Christ is Our Witness
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus Christ is Our Rock
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 7:28-29 Jesus Christ is Our Supreme Authority
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 8
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 8:1-4 Jesus Christ is Our Expiation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 8:5-13 Jesus Christ is Our Object of the Faith
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus Christ is Our New Creation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 8:18-22 Jesus Christ is Our Moment
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus Christ is Our Creator
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 8:28-34 Jesus Christ is Our Triumph
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 9
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 9:1-8 Jesus Christ is Our Forgiver
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 9:9-13 Jesus Christ is Our Effectual Call
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 9:14-17 Jesus Christ is Our Longing
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 9:18-26 Jesus Christ is Our Revivification
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 9:27-31 Jesus Christ is Our Eye Opener
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 9:32-34 Jesus Christ is Our Lord
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus Christ is Our Compassion
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 10
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 10:1-15 Jesus Christ is Our Commissioner
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 10:16-20 Jesus Christ is Our Innocence
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 10:21-25 Jesus Christ is Our Contrast
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
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The Devotion
Matthew 10:26-31 Jesus Christ is Our Entire Worth
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 10:32-39 Jesus Christ is Our Acknowledgment
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 10:40-42 Jesus Christ is Our Servitude
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 11
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 11:1-15 Jesus Christ is Our Absolute Prophetic
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 11:16-24 Jesus Christ is Our Qualifier
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 11:25-27 Jesus Christ is Our Unveiling
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 11:28 Jesus Christ is Our Sinlessness
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 11:29 Jesus Christ is Our Humility
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 11:30 Jesus Christ is Our Easy
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 12
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 12:1-8 Jesus Christ is Our Absolute Rest
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 12:9-14 Jesus Christ is Our Rebuilding
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 12:15-21 Jesus Christ is Our Servant
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 12:22-32 Jesus Christ is Our Uniter
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 12:33-37 Jesus Christ is Our Root
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
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The Devotion
Matthew 12:38-42 Jesus Christ is Our Sign
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 12:43-45 Jesus Christ is Our Conservation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 12:46-50 Jesus Christ is Our Family
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 13:1-9 Jesus Christ is Our Seed
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13:10-17 Jesus Christ is Our Wisdom
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13:18-23 Jesus Christ is Our Explanation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus Christ is Our Harvester
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13:31-33 Jesus Christ is Our Growth
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13:34-35 Jesus Christ is Our Revealer
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13:36-43 Jesus Christ is Our Predestination
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13:44-46 Jesus Christ is Our Greatest Riches
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13:47-50 Jesus Christ is Our Set Apart
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13:51-52 Jesus Christ is Our Storage
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 13:53-58 Jesus Christ is Our Rejection
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 14
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 14:1-12 Jesus Christ is Our End
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus Christ is Our Intercession
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus Christ is Our Apart From Sin
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 14:34-36 Jesus Christ is Our Mistake
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 15
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 15:1-9 Jesus Christ is Our Elder
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 15:10-20 Jesus Christ is Our Purification
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus Christ is Our Elector
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 15:29-31 Jesus Christ is Our Maker
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 15:32-39 Jesus Christ is Our Benevolence
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 16
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 16:1-12 Jesus Christ is Our Way
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus Christ is Our Truth
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 16:21-23 Jesus Christ is Our Life
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 16:24-28 Jesus Christ is Our Connection
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 17
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 17:1-13 Jesus Christ is Our Glorification
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 17:14-20 Jesus Christ is Our Welcome Home
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 17:21-23 Jesus Christ is Our Absolute Reality
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 17:24-27 Jesus Christ is Our Alienship
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 18
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 18:1-9 Jesus Christ is Our Glory
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 18:10-14 Jesus Christ is Our Rescuer
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 18:15-20 Jesus Christ is Our Restoration
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus Christ is Our Absolver
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 19
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 19:1-12 Jesus Christ is Our New Heart
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 19:13-15 Jesus Christ is Our Smallness
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 19:16-22 Jesus Christ is Our Heart
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 19:23-30 Jesus Christ is Our Impossibility
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 20
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus Christ is Our Profit
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 20:17-19 Jesus Christ is Our Compensation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 20:20-28 Jesus Christ is Our Ransom
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 20:29-34 Jesus Christ is Our Realization
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 21
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 21:1-11 Jesus Christ is Our Honor
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 21:12-13 Jesus Christ is Our Purifying
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 21:14-17 Jesus Christ is Our Praise
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 21:18-22 Jesus Christ is Our Resolution
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 21:23-27 Jesus Christ is Our Authority
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus Christ is Our Understanding
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 21:33-45 Jesus Christ is Our Cornerstone
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 22
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus Christ is Our Invitation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 22:15-22 Jesus Christ is Our Bridge
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 22:23-33 Jesus Christ is Our Completion
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 22:34-40 Jesus Christ is Our Greatest
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 22:41-45 Jesus Christ is Our Prophetic Fulfillment
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 23:1-7 Jesus Christ is Our Faith
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23:8-12 Jesus Christ is Our Exaltation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23:13-14 Jesus Christ is Our Entrance
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23:15 Jesus Christ is Our Relief
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23:16-22 Jesus Christ is Our Promise
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23:23-24 Jesus Christ is Our Alleviation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23:25-26 Jesus Christ is Our Cleanse
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23:27-28 Jesus Christ is Our True Beauty
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23:29-32 Jesus Christ is Our One Death
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23:33-36 Jesus Christ is Our No Condemnation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 23:37-39 Jesus Christ is Our Projection
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 24
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 24:1-2 Jesus Christ is Our Prophet
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 24:3-8 Jesus Christ is Our King
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 24:9-14 Jesus Christ is Our Priest
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 24:15-28 Jesus Christ is Our Preservation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 24:29-31 Jesus Christ is Our Revealed Glory
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 24:32-35 Jesus Christ is Our Nearness
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 24:36-44 Jesus Christ is Our Immediacy
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 24:45-51 Jesus Christ is Our Reason
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 25
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus Christ is Our Bridegroom
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus Christ is Our Commander
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 25:31-34 Jesus Christ is Our Shepherd
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 25:35-46 Jesus Christ is Our Judge
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 26:1-5 Jesus Christ is Our Treason
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26:6-16 Jesus Christ is Our Verdict
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26:17-25 Jesus Christ is Our Outright Lies
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26:26-30 Jesus Christ is Our Arrangement
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26:31-35 Jesus Christ is Our Abundant Love
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26:36-39 Jesus Christ is Our Prayer
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26:40-43 Jesus Christ is Our Intercessor
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26:44-46 Jesus Christ is Our Willing Sacrifice
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26:47-56 Jesus Christ is Our Righteous Anger
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26:57-68 Jesus Christ is Our Accusation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 26:69-75 Jesus Christ is Our Denial
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 27:1-14 Jesus Christ is Our Repudiation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:15-26 Jesus Christ is Our Scapegoat
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:27-31 Jesus Christ is Our Mockery
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:32 Jesus Christ is Our Shame
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:33 Jesus Christ is Our Darkness
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:34 Jesus Christ is Our Refusal
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:35 Jesus Christ is Our Disregard
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:36-37 Jesus Christ is Our No Regard
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:38 Jesus Christ is Our Worthy Lamb that was Slain
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:39-40 Jesus Christ is Our Disbelief
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:41-44 Jesus Christ is Our Blasphemy
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:45-56 Jesus Christ is Our Death of Sin
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:57-61 Jesus Christ is Our Burial of Sin
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 27:62-66 Jesus Christ is Our Wasted Efforts
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 28
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?
Matthew 28:1-4 Jesus Christ is Our Rebirth
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 28:5-7 Jesus Christ is Our Good News
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 28:8-10 Jesus Christ is Our Forever Salvation
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 28:11-15 Jesus Christ is Our Choice
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus Christ is Our Great Commission
Trying to answer the question, "How is Jesus Christ our All-in-all?"
The Text
The Devotion
The Gospel of Mark: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
I still remember when I first did family devotions every Thursday night at dinner.
I would love to tell you that when we first started they were gentle, sweet, and quiet little angels who sat there, smiled, ate their peas, and then afterward, broke out in a stunning rendition of the classic hymn, "The Solid Rock".
Instead, when I announced what we were doing, it took our family a whole twenty minutes to get calmed down. The eye rolling. The sighing. The rejection. The adamant declarations of boredom. The gnashing of teeth. I wasn't offended by the reaction but I did have to wait until they settled down.
On that, I bust out with Mark 1:1. From that little verse, we discuss some very basic concepts and ideas. We wrestle with the deep things of God. After the end of the devotion, one of my sons remarked, "That's all? Man, I could have gone back to playing a long time ago!"
The next week, they all reminded each other, "Shhhh, guys! Remember, this will only take five minutes if we are quiet."
The point of that is the old cliché: "There nothing to it but to do it." Forget what your kids might think about you. You know what Christ has commissioned you and me to do: proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.
I intentionally picked Mark's Gospel to kick off our very first family devotion for two reasons. One, I tend to default teaching the Bible expositorily (explaining the text as you go through the Word) rather than topically. Two, Mark's Gospel is the best book to show what Christ has done for us and I thought showing what Christ has done for us and more precisely, what Christ has done in us would be more tangible with the minds of our young kids.
I have written these devotions before with just the text and some starter questions to get to the discussion started.
As for leading your family through devotions, don't think of outright preaching and teaching. Instead, we want to generate discussion. Do not worry about being able to teach. Instead, pray, read the text and think of good questions to spark conversations. In my experience, our best devotions are always the ones that are driven to the finish by the kids and not by me. God through his Word provides the topics. Me? I simply read the Bible and ask the questions. How easy is that?
"I sometimes wonder, my dear friends, if one of the questions—if one of the first questions—God would ask me at the day of judgment, as He assesses my life, is not going to be, ‘How well did you preach?’ but ‘What kind of father were you?’ ‘How faithful were you to the charges I gave you?’. That’s your first ministry, isn’t it? Not to be using your gifts here and there, in the church, here and there. Thank God that you do. But if you do that at the expense of your children’s spiritual well-being, you need to be absolutely convinced in your soul that you can do no other than leave your husband, wife, or children, ‘for the sake of the gospel’.”
Sinclair Ferguson. What Kind of Instrument Are You (in Relationship to Young People)?. (formerly Sin: A Dominion Ended: Romans). Audio.
The Resources
It Goes Without Say
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries
Calvin's Commentaries.
by John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
I mention this because in my go-to mobile Bible Study App, Olive Tree, Calvin's Commentaries are my go-to Commentary text of choice when I need clarification on the go. You can get the entire digital set for your phone (and computer) for about $40 from Olive Tree.
Mark: An Expositional Commentary
by R.C. Sproul.
Reformation Trust Publisher. 2011.
Goodreads
If you had to get just one commentary series to collect, get this one. There are just seven in the series with Luke was just released.
Easily read cover-to-cover.
Note: I noticed that the latest editions from Sproul's set since the Luke release are no longer part of the St. Andrew's Expositional Set that started with Mark, John, Romans, Matthew, 1 & 2 Peter, and Acts. I don't know why they drop the set name but since the passing of Dr. Sproul, it kind of makes sense. These commentaries are really a collection of Sproul's sermons put into book form, which is way easier said than done. Sermons are meant to be primarily preached audibly. To get them to be read in a book form takes an editor worth their chops along with the preacher to make sure everything is super clear in written form. -Ed.
New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark
by William Hendriksen.
Baker. 1981.
Goodreads
Sheer luck (aka sheer blessing from God) that I ran into a small incomplete set of Hendriksen's Commentaries at my local Half Priced Books. I have never heard of this guy and the only facts I could find out about him was from Wikipedia.
From the article:
In his influential work Israel and Prophecy, written a year after the 1967 war, and still in print, Hendriksen criticized the view, held by dispensationalists and Christian Zionists, that the Bible prophesies the return and restoration of the Jews to the land of Israel.1 Dispensationalist pastor Barry Horner describes Hendriksen's work as "a classic representation of replacement theology".2
Make no bones about it: it grieves me to the core that Dispensationalism is the auto-default eschatology of too many American Evangelical churches--including every single church I have ever attended in my life with the exception of the church I attend now. It saddens and frustrates me that I was born into a church that automatically taught a doctrine that was born within the 20th century. But, as with anything, theology and doctrine are to be taught and never assumed.
That said, that one little blurb in Wikipedia and knowing there was one (1) pastor who bucked against Rapture theology, William Hendriksen forever became 'my boy'.
The Gospel according to Mark: The English Text With Introduction, Exposition, and Notes (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)
by William L. Lane.
Eerdman's. 1974.
Goodreads
Incredible thorough and wonderfully written, Dr. Lane walks the reader masterfully through not only the Gospel but the perspective of the writer, John-Mark.
Mark (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, NT Volume 2)
Edited by Thomas C. Odin & Christopher A. Hall
IVP Academic. 2005.
Goodreads
I think this entire series is an excellent resource to have on hand if you can pony up the scratch. It's all fine and good to read guys from within the last few centuries. But how about reading commentary from within the first few centuries after the ascension of Christ. You ain't going to read anything shockingly new. But what you are going realize there is absolutely new under the sun and Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Mark (The Story of God Bible Commentary Series)
by Timothy G. Gombis.
Zondervan Academic. March 9th 2021.
Goodreads
Hendriksen, William (2007). Israel in prophecy. London: Wakeman, (Originally published by Baker Book House in 1968). p. 16. 2: Horner, Barry (15 January 2015). "The Reformed Eschatology of William Hendriksen" (PDF). Future Israel website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015
Mark 1:1 Jesus is the Good News
The Text
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The Devotion
The beginning
Who wrote Mark?
Who is Mark
Mark is said to be the writer for Peter
What does Mark write about?
Mark testifies about Christ Jesus
Each of the Gospels tells a different perspective about Jesus:
- Matthew - Jesus is King (Lion of Judah)
- Mark - Jesus is Servant (The Ox)
- Luke - Jesus is Man (The Human)
- John - Jesus is God (The Eagle)
In Mark, we are going to talk about all that Jesus did (like a Servant, like a hard working ox) for us, in us, and through us for the glory of God.
of the gospel
What is the gospel?
This is the good news—that God has done everything to save His people to Himself forever. All we need to do is trust in Him, believe in Him and love Him and know that everything He does is for His glory and our joy. If God is not out for His glory, we are never free to have joy. But since He is for His glory and His name sake and not just for us, we have the fullness of the freedom to love, worship and trust in Him joyfully. The Bible is not a bunch of rules. The Bible is all about Jesus Christ. The Bible speaks on who exactly God is, what He has done and what He will do.
The real question is:
Do you want in on the fun? Do you wanna come play and be in continuous awe, wonder, joy and love of His glory? Come on. Let"s go!
Jesus Christ
What we will see in Mark is basically little bitty tightly wounded passages that speak of all that God has done. Now, if you have read any part of the Old Testament, these little passages in Mark are merely the OT in bite size chicken nuggets, except they are much more tasty and actually good for you. In other words, you are going to see these little passages of "Jesus did this" and "Jesus did that" solidifying what God did in the OT.
Who is Jesus Christ?
Son of God
Ah what an audacious claim. In America, some of us were not blessed with good dads that love Jesus. Some of us got dads that were not so perfect and sometimes, there is a struggle not to compare God as Father in light of our earthly dads when in fact it should be the other way around. As we might struggle with that, the culture of the Middle East struggles with Jesus Christ as being the Son of God. That is highly offensive to them. How could Jesus Christ claim to be the Son of God. For Christ to be the Son of God is Christ declaring He is One with the Father.
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.
Yet, as Athanasius (early church father) so boldly declare:
The Son of God became man so that men might become sons of God.
Mark 1:2-6 Jesus is the Center of Our Lives
The Text
Mark 1:2-6 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.
The Devotion
Matthew 22:34-40 (CSB) When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Several hundred years before Jesus stepped foot on the earth, there was a man named Isaiah who was charged to foretell or prophesy about Jesus. But within that prophecy was another prophecy about a man named John that would "pave the way" for the Lord.
John was special in that he was the last prophet before the coming of Christ. But he was no more special than any believer in the Bible that is called to point our words, actions and our lives back to Christ.
Romans 12:1-2 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
If we are saved by God, we are saved then to God. Our lives are to be about God.
Matthew 16:24-28 (CSB) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Mark 1:7-8 Jesus Baptizes Us in the Holy Spirit
The Text
Mark 1:7-8 (CSB) He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Devotion
There are things we do in the church that are so important and so sacred. They are the utmost importance and these are things we should not do lightly. This is baptism and communion.
Communion is something that our church does every week. But do all people in the church take communion? No. Only those who believe, trust, and obey Jesus Christ as their God and Savior.
Likewise, does being baptized mean you are saved? Some churches say, "Yes!" But baptism is not a guarantee of what is going on in the heart but rather, bearing witness to what God has done in us. Look at what Paul writes in Romans 6 about what it means to be baptized:
Romans 6:1-5 (CSB) What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
Being saved by God is what God has done for you and in you. To put your faith, trust, belief, and obedience into Christ means that all of yours sins--past, present, future--are placed on the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. When Jesus was then buried in the tomb, he took those sins with him.
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christ, who is holy, perfect, and righteous and who has never sinned, is risen to life by the power of Holy Spirit who is God.
To be baptized in church in water is to tell the entire world that Christ has baptize me in the Holy Spirit. In other words, for us to say that the Holy Spirit is dwelling in me, that means that the Spirit has made me a child of God, and now I live to God forever.
Mark 1:9-11 Jesus is God
The Text
Mark 1:9-11 (CSB) He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”
The Devotion
If there are three people and just one God, how can all three persons be one God?
Three persons in this room does not have one will. Triune God does have one will.
The best way I explained the Triune God to my kids is explaining how my wife and I try to have one will but we do so imperfectly. That is why my wife and I have to talk all the time especially when it comes to connecting, becoming one, parenting, and running the house. Mom and Dad have to do talk all the time and sometimes we are not perfect in having one will—even less so when it comes to do the Father's will.
However, the Father, Son, and Spirit communicate perfectly, know perfectly, love perfectly, and therefore have one perfect will. They never have to argue, fight, or disagree. They can certainly discuss anything (and Father and Son do) but they all want the same thing and want the same way to get to that same thing. (This is most evident by the cross of Christ.)
Mark 1:12-13 Jesus is Led by the Holy Spirit
The Text
Mark 1:12-13 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
The Devotion
Romans 8:12-17 (CSB) So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Is Jesus human? Is Jesus God? Is Jesus Son of God?
Jesus is fully God. In the beginning, he was in perfect relationship with the Father and Spirit. When Jesus became a human, he stepped out of that glory and into our reality. He did set down his glory to become man. Because he was fully human like you and me, he was completely affected by the same things we were affected--sickness, disease, loss, death, life, marriages, relationships, work, play--all of life.
Luke 2:52 (CSB) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
But in order to do what God came to do, Jesus would have to be filled with God.
Because he is the Son of God who became human, He was filled with the Spirit of God and led by the Spirit of God.
Because we are human and if we love and trust God, that means God has given His Spirit in us in order for us to go and do ministry.
If Christ did it, it would not be different for us.
Mark 1:14-15 Jesus is the Good News
The Text
Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
The Devotion
When you read the other gospels, such as Matthew, you will get more of John the Baptist preaching, "Repent for the kingdom of God is near."
Yet, when John was done with paving the way for Christ, and then Christ started ministering--only with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Because Christ has arrived, the kingdom of God has arrived. Because Christ proclaimed the gospel of God, the kingdom of God is at hand.
Matthew 16:13-20 (CSB) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.” Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah.
Christ began the kingdom of God and Christ continues to build his kingdom. And he does so within his church.
There is no separation from his kingdom and his church.
Ephesians 3:8-13 (CSB) This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.
Mark 1:16-20 Jesus Rules and Reigns Over All the People
The Text
Mark 1:16-20 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
The Devotion
Acts 9:1-6 (CSB) Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul said.
“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
When we are saved, when we accept Jesus into our hearts and trust in Him and trust what he says, there are a ton of things that God did before we could even know who God is.
God knew you.
God loved you.
God created you.
God pursued you.
And God called you.
Just like the disciples here, Jesus Christ called them one by one, telling them to all, "Follow me." Likewise, when we heard about God for the first time and when we heard about what Jesus did for those who trust and believe in Him, His Holy Spirit was calling out to each other hearts, saying, "Follow me."
Mark 1:21-28 Jesus Rules and Reigns Over Satan and Demons
The Text
Mark 1:21-28 (CSB) They went into Capernaum, and right away he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. They were astonished at his teaching because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.
Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, “What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.
They were all amazed, and so they began to ask each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
The Devotion
Christ taught with authority because he has authority
John the Baptist was the last Old Testament prophet who preached that Christ had this authority:
John 1:29-34 (CSB) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ I didn’t know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him. I didn’t know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
The demons are captive to the authority of Christ because Christ is the Sovereign Lord over everything--including demons.
James 2:19 (CSB) You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.
Be confident in God's Word. If the Bible says it, it is as good as gold. It is as good as done.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
God's words are as sure as the rain that falls from the sky and soaks into the earth:
Isaiah 55:10-11 (CSB)
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return there
without saturating the earth
and making it germinate and sprout,
and providing seed to sow
and food to eat,
so my word that comes from my mouth
will not return to me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
God cannot and will never lie. The promises that he has in the Scriptures are yes and amen.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
God cannot sin. Therefore, God cannot lie. Be careful not to tempt your thinking that somehow you having the ability to sin gives you greater power than the Almighty God. The wages of sin is death. Christ gives eternal life. Do you see the difference?
Within that absolute authority, Christ has authority over Satan and demons
Mark 1:23And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”
And guess what happened?
26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.
Satan is not in charge of anything--not the air, not hell, not anything except demons. Christ is charge of everything. When Christ died on the cross, Satan, demons, hell, sin and death were defeated at that moment.
We do not live in a dualistic universe where the forces of good battle against the forces of evil where the forces of good barely win. We live in the kingdom of God where...
One, Christ has victory over Satan and demons
Colossians 2:15 (CSB) He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
The ESV puts it, "puts them to open shame."
Two, Christ has victory over death
Hebrews 2:14-16 (CSB) Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring.
Three, Christ has victory over hell
Philippians 2:9-11 (CSB)
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
And
Revelation 1:17-18 (CSB) When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Lastly, Christ has victory over sin
Hebrews 7:27-28 (CSB) He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.
And
Romans 6:8-11 (CSB) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Mark 1:29-34 Jesus Heals
The Text
Mark 1:29-34 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
The Devotion
Who made us?
Genesis 1:26-27 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
So God created man
in his own image;
he created him in the image of God;
he created them male and female.
Were our bodies suppose to get hurt? Were we suppose to get sick?
Genesis 1:31 (CSB) God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.
Why do we get sick? Why do we get bad dreams? Why does our tummies hurt?
Genesis 3:1-10 (CSB) Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
“No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
Who comes to heal the sick and takes away the pain?
Mark 1:32-34 (CSB) When evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick and demon-possessed. The whole town was assembled at the door, and he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
All healing is God alone.
If you are healed when you take medicine, where did the medicine come from?
1 Corinthians 3:18-23 (CSB) Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness; and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings of the wise are futile. So let no one boast in human leaders, for everything is yours— whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come—everything is yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
If you are healed when you go see the doctor, nurse or even go to the hospital, where did all doctor and nurses' smarts come from? Where did provision to build the hospital come from? Where does science come from?
Only God.
What if we die here on earth, do we still live?
If we trust, believe in Christ, we will live in perfect happiness with Him forever. That is faith.
Colossians 1:15-20 (CSB)
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together.
He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
For God was pleased to have
all his fullness dwell in him,
and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.
Mark 1:35-39 Jesus Prays
The Text
Mark 1:35-39 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
The Devotion
What is prayer?
Worship
Talking
Giving Thanks
Why do we pray?
We get to talk to our Father in heaven. We get to spend time with him. We get to kick it with him.
When you don't get to see your dad, do you miss him? When Jesus was here on earth, do you think he missed his Father?
Matthew 26:36-46 (CSB) When Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.
After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”
Mark 1:35 (CSB) Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying.
Mark 6:46 (CSB) After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray.
Luke 5:16 (CSB) Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.
Luke 6:12 (CSB) During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God.
Luke 9:28 (CSB) About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
Luke 11:1 (CSB) He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”
John 17:1-2 (CSB) Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.
How come we get to talk to the God?
Because all that Christ has done for us.
John 20:11-18 (CSB) But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”
Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?”
Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.”
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
Do you think Jesus helps us pray?
Matthew 6:5-15 (CSB) “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
“Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
“For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.
Do you think Jesus prays for us?
John 17:9 (CSB) “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.
Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Do you think the Holy Spirit helps us pray?
John 14:26 (CSB) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
Do you think the Holy Spirit prays for us as well?
Romans 8:26-27 (CSB) In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Just like Jesus always wanted to spend time with His Father, we get to spend time with our Father in Heaven. We get to call out to him like you guys call out your daddy. God will always have time to spend with you. He is never busy. He will always listen. You can just start talking and he hears you perfectly fine. Even if you can't speak, he can read your thoughts and see what's on your heart. He will always answer prayers:
Psalms 17:6 (CSB)
I call on you, God,
because you will answer me;
listen closely to me; hear what I say.
Mark 1:40-45 Jesus Accepts
The Text
Mark 1:40-45 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
The Devotion
Jesus calls us not as good people but as sinners
Mark 2:16-17 (CSB) When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
What will happen if you go to God and ask for God?
Luke 11:5-13 (CSB) He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
In other words, if we come to God, pray to God, ask God for God, he will always, completely, perfectly give us Himself.
No exception.
Mark 2:1-12 Jesus Forgives
The Text
Mark 2:1-12 (CSB) When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralytic— “I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.”
Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
The Devotion
Can God truly forgive us? Can we be truly healed?
The cross of Christ is the power to forgive sin and cure our diseases
Isaiah 53:4-6 (CSB)
Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,
and he carried our pains;
but we in turn regarded him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds.
We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the LORD has punished him
for the iniquity of us all.
When God completely removes our sin and we are with God for all of eternity, can we be hurt or sick again? Can we die again?
Isaiah 25:8 (CSB)
When he has swallowed up death once and for all,
the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears
from every face
and remove his people’s disgrace
from the whole earth,
for the LORD has spoken.
What has sin done to our lives? What has sin done to life?
Romans 6:23a (CSB) For the wages of sin is death...
What will Christ end up doing in order to forgive us of our sins?
Romans 3:21-26 (CSB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Hebrews 9:22 - 10:18 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said:
You did not desire sacrifice and offering,
but you prepared a body for me.
You did not delight
in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.
Then I said, “See—
it is written about me
in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, God.”After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says:
This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days,
the Lord says,
I will put my laws on their hearts
and write them on their minds,
andI will never again remember
their sins and their lawless acts.Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Mark 2:13-17 Jesus is the Good Doctor
The Text
Mark 2:13-17 (CSB) Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. Then, passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.
15 While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Devotion
Romans 3:10-12 (CSB) as it is written:
There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.
There are two ways of knowing this:
- In our heads but our hearts will either question it or deny it
- We believe this to our core and we need God.
Mark 2:18-22 Jesus is the Bridegroom
The Text
Mark 2:18-22 (CSB) Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins.”
The Devotion
Revelation 19:6-9 (CSB) Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying,
Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns!
7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.
8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”
Mark 2:23-28 Jesus is Our Rest
The Text
Mark 2:23-28 (CSB) On the Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to make their way, picking some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry —how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of the Presence —which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests —and also gave some to his companions?”Then he told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
The Devotion
Jesus gave us rest because He knew we needed rest and resting (naps, sleep, fun) are awesome. More than being awesome, our body, mind, and spirit needs to chill out everyone once in a while. Not all the time—but some of the time. Jesus gave Himself to us so that we wouldn't work so hard to be saved. Jesus did all of the hard work so that you can be saved to Him forever.
But more than for our physical, mental, and emotional, God provides rest for our spiritual selves. Let us see how this play out.
Mark 3:1-6 Jesus is Life
The Text
Mark 3:1-6 (CSB) Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a shriveled hand.
2 In order to accuse him, they were watching him closely to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath.
3 He told the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand before us.”
4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.
5 After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
6 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.
The Devotion
Christ comes to us and he knows our need
Mark 3:1-6 (CSB) Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a shriveled hand.
Sin waits to destroy us and does not give what we need
2 In order to accuse him, they were watching him closely to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath.
Genesis 4:5-7 (CSB) Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent?If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
Christ brings us into his mercy and grace
3 He told the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand before us.”
Sin only hardens the heart to no longer fear God and to sin all the more
4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.
Unrepentant sin only brings out the wrath of God
5 After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Faith, which is a gift from God, brings the love and salvation of God
He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
Hebrews 11:5-6 (CSB) By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
Sin steals, kills, and destroys us--Christ is the fullness of life
6 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.
Mark 3:7-19 Jesus is on Mission
The Text
Mark 3:6-19 (CSB) Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.
Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea,
8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing.
9 Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him.
10 Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him.
11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
12 And he would strongly warn them not to make him known.
13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him.
14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach,
15 and to have authority to drive out demons.
16 He appointed the Twelve: To Simon, he gave the name Peter;
17 and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”);
18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot,
19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
The Devotion
People wanted to kill Christ
6 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.
... but fail and fail again because Christ is life.
People wanted to make him king because Jesus provided what they needed--food and healing
7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea,
8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing.
... but Jesus had so much more to give. Jesus Christ gives eternal life to all that trust and obey him.
Despite the masses that wanted him to heal them, so few wanted to be his disciple
9 Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him.
10 Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him.
... but Jesus wants you to be with him.
Demons wanted to try to mess up the mission of God
11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
12 And he would strongly warn them not to make him known.
... but demons cannot mess up God's plan because Jesus completely rules over demons.
Jesus reveals the 12 Disciples that will walk with him, when others won't
13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him.
14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach,
15 and to have authority to drive out demons.
16 He appointed the Twelve: To Simon, he gave the name Peter;
17 and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”);
18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot,
19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Therefore, we are no less than the 12 disciples of Christ. We are to go and preach his good news and with his authority, expand His kingdom and press up against the gates of Hell.
Mark 16:14-16 (CSB) Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Jesus had just one mission: from his Father with the power of His Spirit, he came to earth to save His people
Mark 3:20-27 Christ is Stronger
The Text
Mark 3:20–27 (CSB)
20 Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat.21 When his family heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.”
22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
23 So he summoned them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished.
27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
The Devotion
John 14:27 (CSB) “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.
Christ came so that we can have peace--peace that is beyond all comprehension and beyond our understanding.
So many of us get confused when we hear this promise and rightfully so. We think that he has come to abolish all terrible circumstances and every single conflict. That is not what he came to do. For Christ said:
Matthew 10:34 (CSB) Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Is this an apparent contradiction?
No.
For his people and his people alone, he has come to bring peace within us. No matter what goes on in this post-Genesis 3 world and no matter what afflictions and persecution we might face, we will be okay because we will have God.
For those not his people, there is no assurance.
But because Christ is real and he was here and he is here and he dwells in us and we believe and trust in him, that will absolutely stir up a lot more conflict.
I am not just talk your co-workers or even perhaps your neighbor who votes differently than you. That is small potatoes. What about conflict with your parents or your siblings or even your kids because you follow God and they don't?
To some, even some of your closest loved ones, you might appear out of your mind
20 Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat.
21 When his family heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.”
To those who hate you anyways, they are going to try to vilify you
22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
When you are in Christ, all is well
23 So he summoned them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished.
Satan might be strong but he is not Almighty--Christ is the Almighty God
27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
Christ describing Satan as the strong man. That wasn't just a parable but a prophecy into the spiritual realm.
Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Mark 3:28-30 Listen to the Holy Spirit
The Text
Mark 3:28–30 (CSB)
28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter.29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
The Devotion
If you are trying to wrap your mind around whether or not you have blasphemed the Holy Spirit, let me stop right there.
If you are struggling with this, the answer is you have not because you have not permanently rejected the Holy Spirit to your dying day.
If you don't care whether or not you have blaspheme the Holy Spirit, you are going to hell. There is no two ways about it.
But what is Christ telling you and me to do in this passage?
Listen to the Holy Spirit.
Let me shortcut it another way: listen to God.
Listen to the Spirit: He proceeds from the Father and testifies about the Son
John 15:26-27 (CSB) “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
The Counselor counsels. You want to fulfill the Great Commission? Testify about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God who is God perfectly testifies about the Son of God who is God.
Listen to the Spirit: He preaches the truth of Christ
John 16:12-15 (CSB) “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.
Listen to the Spirit: He glorifies the Son of God
14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.
Listen to the Spirit: He will teach you everything that Christ has taught in his word
John 14:23-26 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.
25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
Listen to the Spirit: he convicts
John 16:5-11 (CSB) But now I am going away to him who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:About sin, because they do not believe in me;about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me;and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
He convicts the world of sin.
More so, He convicts us of our righteousness.
More so, He convicts Satan about the oncoming judgment for Him and his demons.
Listen to the Spirit: we are to be led by Him
Romans 8:14 (ESV) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Listen to the Spirit: helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us
Romans 8:26 (CSB) In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.
Listen to the Spirit: knows exactly what is on your heart and intercedes for you
Romans 8:27 (CSB) And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Mark 3:31-35 Jesus is Family
The Text
Mark 3:31–35 (CSB)
31 His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to him and called him.32 A crowd was sitting around him and told him, “Look, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside asking for you.”
33 He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
34 Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
The Devotion
Toughest news: those who believe in Christ have far less relationally with family members who do not believe in Christ.
Matthew 10:32–39 (CSB) “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.
Good news: because Christ saved us from our sins, he has inherited the world
Hebrews 1:1-2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Good news: because Christ has saved us from our sins, we are now chosen and adopted by God
Galatians 4:3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.
Good news: because Christ has chosen us and adopted us, we are now co-heirs with him who has inherited the world.
Romans 8:14-17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Mark 4:1-9 Jesus Teaches, How Do We Respond?
The Text
Mark 4:1–9 (CSB)
1 Again he began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around him. So he got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was by the sea on the shore.2 He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them,
3 “Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.
4 As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly, since the soil wasn’t deep.
6 When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce fruit.
8 Still other seed fell on good ground and it grew up, producing fruit that increased thirty, sixty, and a hundred times.”
9 Then he said, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
The Devotion
Jesus trying to explain on how we can and cannot hear God.
God speaks. We can hear but cannot comprehend sometimes.
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
God speaks very plainly. The gospel is plain. His power and his divine nature is obvious.
Why can't we understand it?
Romans 1:18-20 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
Discussions
- What needs to happen for us to understand and know God?
-
What needs to happen for us to believe in God?
-
Can we "naturally" understand the word of God? In other words, without the God revealing, is it possible to go to school to study the word of God all of your life and still not under the word of God?
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What must we do to understand God and his word and his gospel?
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What must we do to be saved?
Mark 4:10-13 Jesus is the Only Way to Behold God
The Introduction
Mark 4:10–13 (CSB)
10 When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve asked him about the parables.11 He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables
12 so that they may indeed look, and yet not perceive; they may indeed listen, and yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back and be forgiven.”
13 Then he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand all of the parables?
The Word
1 Corinthians 1:22-25 (CSB) For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
The Devotion
All of the schooling, teaching, catechism, preaching, words, books in the world will not get you to understand God.
All of the intelligence, wisdom, resources, and know-how in the world will not get to know God.
All of the successes, failures, achievements, recognitions, and work will not get you to behold your God.
In order for you and I to see the kingdom of God and his righteousness, God must swap out our hearts, renew our minds, pour his Spirit within us, and make us his.
In order for anybody to seek God, we must be born again.
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
This work is indeed outside of us. In every sense of the word, it is not natural but supernatural. We are wholly dependent on God to see God and be with him forever.
Mark 4:13-20 Jesus Sows, We Grow
The Text
Mark 4:13–20 (CSB)
13 Then he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand all of the parables?14 The sower sows the word.
15 Some are like the word sown on the path. When they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.
16 And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.
17 But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away.
18 Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,
19 but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word, welcome it, and produce fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.”
The Devotion
When we come to know and love and believe and trust in God, it doesn't happen in an instance. It might feel like it because before you knew and love God, you and I were dead in our trespasses and sins. When you come to life, it might feel all of sudden.
But what we see here is that the Son of God is scattering the seeds. Those seeds are the gospel of God. This gospel of Christ and him crucified.
And it is God who gives the growth. And when the Spirit saves a person, we now know that he has been working all of life--and believe this, way before you were even born--to bring you to the Father as you precious, chosen, loved child.
Mark 4:21-22 Jesus is the Light
The Text
Mark 4:21–22 (CSB)
21 He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?22 For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.
The Devotion
If we believe, trust, hope, and obey in Jesus Christ our Lord, do we keep it a secret or do we live this new life that we have received by God?
Mark 4:23-25 Jesus Gives More, Do We Receive?
The Text
Mark 4:23–25 (CSB)
23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.”24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and more will be added to you.
25 For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
The Devotion
When we go to God, what are we asking for?
Mark 4:26-29 Jesus Grows Us
The Text
Mark 4:26–29 (CSB)
26 “The kingdom of God is like this,” he said. “A man scatters seed on the ground.27 He sleeps and rises night and day; the seed sprouts and grows, although he doesn’t know how.
28 The soil produces a crop by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the full grain on the head.
29 As soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The Devotion
John 3:1–8 (CSB)
1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.2 This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.
8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Mark 4:30-32 Jesus Grows His Kingdom
The Text
Mark 4:30–32 (CSB)
30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it?31 It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown upon the soil, is the smallest of all the seeds on the ground.
32 And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the garden plants, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade.”
The Devotion
God does not need buildings, or organizations or even churches to build out his kingdom. He will use people, you and me, in order to build out his kingdom. For it is not buildings, organizations or churches that make up the Church but rather people—_his people—_that make up His Church and His Bride. Not that we are workers to build something grand but the fact that we are the kingdom and God builds his kingdom in us and through us. His work is perfect and will be completed in us and through us.
Matthew 16:13–20 (CSB)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.”
20 Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah.
Mark 4:33-34 Jesus is Lord of the Spiritual
The Text
Mark 4:33–34 (CSB)
33 He was speaking the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand.34 He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, he explained everything to his own disciples.
The Devotion
There are two types of revelation: general and special revelation in relation with how God choses to reveal himself to mankind.
Psalms 19:1-2 (CSB) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.
Romans 1:20 (CSB) For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
Paul will go on to say in Romans 1 that while God's invisible attributes are clearly seen, we suppress our knowledge of God because of born sin and sin choice nature.
Special revelation is God revealing himself in glory through the miraculous. Think of God and Moses, or God and Elijah with the prophets of Baal. The best example is Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now from there, anything in the supernatural realm is revealed by God himself. However our instincts might be honed--that is, whether we believe in the supernatural or not--details of the spiritual will only be revealed if God deems it so.
Are there times when something other than God reveals the supernatural? Yes and it involves angels and demons. Angels will reveal at the command of God. Demons will reveal--demonic oppression or possession--to mankind. But let me argue that demons are under the lordship not of Satan but ultimately under Lord Jesus Christ.
Mark 5:6-8 (CSB) When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
James 2:19 (CSB) You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.
Whether you believe in the spiritual and the supernatural, you are not going to know it by studying really hard. Ultimately God must reveal it first to you.
This is true with the spiritual. This is true with anything God gives us--the gospel, the Spirit, the Scriptures, and His Son--just to name a few.
1 Corinthians 2:10-16 (CSB) Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Mark 4:35-41 Jesus is Lord of the Material
The Text
Mark 4:35–41 (CSB)
35 On that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.”36 So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him.
37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.
38 He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
The Devotion
It stands to reason that just perhaps if Christ is Lord and God over the spiritual and supernatural, that Christ would rule over the earth--which I have called the Material as oppose to the Spiritual.
For:
Psalms 24:1-2 (CSB) The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD; 2 for he laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers
Psalms 47:1-3 (CSB) Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry. 2 For the LORD, the Most High, is awe-inspiring, a great King over the whole earth. 3 He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.
Psalms 57:5 (CSB) God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.
Psalms 72:18-19 (CSB) Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonders. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; the whole earth is filled with his glory. Amen and amen.
Isaiah 6:1-3 (CSB) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth.
Daniel 4:34-35 (CSB) But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified him who lives forever: For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
This being the case, then why don't the inhabitants of the earth bow and worship God?
The oft-automatic answer to this from most American Christians is the answer of free will. When good-intended Christians give this pat answer, I suspect they do answer with a sense of mercy and grace for those who do not believe and obey God.
Mercy and grace is kind and wonderful. But that isn't the correct answer at all. The real answer is sin--because we are born of Adam, we are born into sin and we continuously sin.
If "free will" is the answer that you want to instinctively give, ask yourself, "I am giving this answer because I think it is the right one, or the one I grew up always hearing, or am I afraid give the truth that God says on why we are not automatically born as sons of God?"
Examine yourselves. But then embrace the gospel of truth of Christ:
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The entire earth is under the dominion, lordship, power, sovereignty, rule, reign, judgment, mercy, grace, and love of Jesus Christ.
The Bible is bookend by two major events. The Garden of Eden and the New Jerusalem from the New Heavens descending on the New Earth.
But it is also bookended by the Fall of Mankind and the glorification of the people of God.
But just within that, it is bookended by the wrath and judgment of Christ on high: the Great Flood in Genesis 6 and Great and Final Judgment in the Revelation of Jesus Christ:
Revelation 14:19-20 (CSB) So the angel swung his sickle at the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses’ bridles for about 180 miles.
God promises in Genesis 9 that he will never flood the earth again by water. He never destroys the earth in that way never again. But he will fill a part of the earth with the blood of his enemies that runs so deep, blood will run as tall as three feet deep.
This world belongs to God. But he loved it so much that he sent his Son to live and die so that whosever believes and trust in him will never perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send his Son to condemn but to save the world through Him.
Mark 5:1-13 Jesus is Lord of Hell
The Text
Mark 5:1–13 (CSB)
1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.2 As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him.
3 He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain—
4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him.
7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!”
8 For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 “What is your name?” he asked him. “My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.”
10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.
11 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside.
12 The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”
13 So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.
The Devotion
If Christ has shown his power and knowledge in the heavens and on the earth, what does that say for under the earth--namely, what the Old Testament refers to as Sheol or what the New Testament refers to as Hades where Christ describes it as "where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched," and "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Curious. Why is it that God is the only one who can actually describe Hell?
Psalms 139:6-8 (CSB) This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. 7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB) Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 5:11-14 (CSB) Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! 13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Listen, Christ rules and reigns Hell. If you do not believe and obey the Son of God, the wrath of the Son remains on you. (John 3:36) That is hell.
Matthew 5:30 (CSB) And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Christ has given you and me the gospel command: repent and trust in him.
Christ has already subdued and conquered Satan and his demons:
Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Turn to Christ and confess that he is your all in all. Christ is building his church--and the gates that holds Satan, demons, and unbelievers will not be able to contain. But that doesn't mean you automatically get in.
Matthew 16:16-18 (CSB) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Mark 5:14-20 Jesus is the Lord of Salvation
The Text
14 The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened.
15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
16 Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs.
17 Then they began to beg him to leave their region.
18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him earnestly that he might remain with him.
19 Jesus did not let him but told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.”
20 So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.
The Devotion
This is exactly what Christ has commissioned every believer
Mark 16:15-16 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
I don't care if you are not a preacher, teacher, pastor nor evangelist. Are you a believer? Do you follow Christ? Do you obey Christ? Do you repent of sin? Then you are a saint.
As a saint, this is your commission: go and preach.
As a soldier, these are your orders: go and preach.
As a farmer, these is your work: go and preach.
As an athlete, this is your movement: go and preach.
We are commissioned because the fields are ripe with harvest
John 4:35-38 (CSB) “Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest. The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’I sent you to reap what you didn’t labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor.”
Acts 18:5-11 (CSB) When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself to preaching the word and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. When they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”So he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, along with his whole household. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized. The Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.”He stayed there a year and a half, teaching the word of God among them.
The fields are ripe for harvest. Oh in other words: Christ has many people in this city.
It is not about you becoming famous--this is all about Christ
John 4:39-42 (CSB) Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.”So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. Many more believed because of what he said. And they told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.”
Mark 5:21-24 Jesus is the Lord of Prayers
The Text
21 When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the sea.
22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet
23 and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live.”
24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against him.
The Devotion
Let your prayers be direct
Matthew 6:5-8 (CSB) “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
Let your prayers be out of your needs
James 5:13-18 (CSB)Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.
Let your prayers be for everyone
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (CSB) First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Let your prayers be in the Spirit
Ephesians 6:18 (CSB) Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
Let your prayers be constant
1 Thessalonians 5:15-22 (CSB) See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Rejoice always,pray constantly,give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies,but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.
Mark 5:25-34 Jesus is the Lord of Power
The Text
25 Now a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years
26 had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.
27 Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothing.
28 For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I’ll be made well.”
29 Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
30 Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But he was looking around to see who had done this.
33 The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.
34 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction.”
The Devotion
The power to create all of creation
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:3 (CSB) All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
The power to create light
Genesis 1:3-4 (CSB) Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.
The power to create life
Genesis 1:26-27 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.
Psalms 139:13-14 (CSB) or it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.
The power to create new creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
The power to create a new heart
Ezekiel 36:26 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
The power to create new life
John 1:4-5 (CSB) In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
John 3:5-8 (CSB) Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Mark 5:35-43 Jesus is the Lord over Death
The Text
35 While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36 When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”
37 He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother.
38 They came to the leader’s house, and he saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly.
39 He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.”
40 They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was.
41 Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up”).
42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was twelve years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.
43 Then he gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and told them to give her something to eat.
The Devotion
Christ alone who calls dead to life
Ezekiel 37:3 (CSB) Then he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I replied, “Lord GOD, only you know.”
Christ alone is the resurrection and the life
John 11:23-26 (CSB) “Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her. 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Christ alone saves us from death
Ephesians 2:3-7 (CSB) We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Christ alone abolishes death and brought everlasting life
2 Timothy 1:8-10 (CSB) So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Christ alone kills death
Revelation 20:14 (CSB) Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
Christ alone removes death
Revelation 21:4 (CSB) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Mark 6:1-6 Jesus is the Lord of Life
The Text
1 He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands?
3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.”
5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.
The Devotion
Christ Alone is to Live
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Christ Alone Can Make Us Alive
Acts 2:14–21 (CSB)
14 Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words.15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning.
16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
18 I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those days, both men and women and they will prophesy.
19 I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Christ Alone Calls Us to Live
Mark 10:17-22 (CSB) As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
Matthew 27:57-61 (CSB) When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Then Pilate ordered that it be released. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.
Mark 6:7-13 Jesus is the Lord of Preaching
The Text
Mark 6:7–13 (CSB)
7 He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits.8 He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts,
9 but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.
10 He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place.
11 If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
12 So they went out and preached that people should repent.
13 They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
The Devotion
Preaching Christ are not just empty words
Isaiah 55:10–11 (CSB)
10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat,11 so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
Preaching Christ is our commandment by Christ
Mark 16:14–18 (CSB)
14 Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen.15 Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
Preaching Christ so that others will believe
Romans 10:14-17 (CSB)
14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?
17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Preaching Christ is the supernatural, other-worldly act that we somehow get to be with God and do his work
1 Corinthians 1:18–25 (CSB)
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?
21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.
22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom,
23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God,
25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Preaching Christ is our ministry from Christ to Christ
Romans 15:14–21 (CSB)
14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.15 Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God.
18 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles,
19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.
20 My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation,
21 but, as it is written, Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.
Mark 6:14-29 Jesus is the Lord over Humanity
The Text
Mark 6:14–29 (CSB)
14 King Herod heard about it, because Jesus’s name had become well known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.”15 But others said, “He’s Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.”
16 When Herod heard of it, he said, “John, the one I beheaded, has been raised!”
17 For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.
18 John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19 So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not,
20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
21 An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee.
22 When Herodias’s own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
23 He promised her with an oath: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” she said.
25 At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter immediately.”
26 Although the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her.
27 The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison,
28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.
29 When John’s disciples heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.
The Devotion
Christ is creator of all life
John 1:1-5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
Christ is the source of of life
Colossians 1:15-20 (CSB) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Christ has appointed when and where we live
Acts 17:24-28 (CSB) The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’
Christ has appointed the number of our days
Psalms 139:16 (CSB) Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.
Hebrews 9:27-28 (CSB) And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Christ knows when we will pass away
Matthew 11:1-6 (CSB) When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns. Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”
Isaiah 35:5 (CSB) Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Isaiah 61:1 (CSB) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;
Mark 6:30-44 Jesus is the Lord of Provision
The Text
Mark 6:30–44 (CSB)
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught.31 He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
32 So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place,
33 but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
34 When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.
35 When it grew late, his disciples approached him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is already late.
36 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.”
37 “You give them something to eat,” he responded. They said to him, “Should we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
38 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39 Then he instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
42 Everyone ate and was satisfied.
43 They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish.
44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.
The Devotion
Christ knows your needs
Matthew 6:7-8 (CSB) When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
Christ alone is your provision
Matthew 6:25-34 (CSB) “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Psalms 16:5-6 (CSB) LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Christ alone is the source of our righteousness
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Christ alone is the source of our eternal life
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Mark 6:45-52 Jesus is the Lord over Sin
The Text
Mark 6:45–52 (CSB)
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.46 After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray.
47 Well into the night, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48 He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Very early in the morning he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them.
49 When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out,
50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded,
52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
The Devotion
Christ rightfully judges our sin
Genesis 7:20-23 (CSB) The mountains were covered as the water surged above them more than twenty feet. Every creature perished—those that crawl on the earth, birds, livestock, wildlife, and those that swarm on the earth, as well as all mankind. Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils—everything on dry land died. He wiped out every living thing that was on the face of the earth, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark.
Psalms 36:6 (CSB) our righteousness is like the highest mountains, your judgments like the deepest sea. LORD, you preserve people and animals.
Psalms 78:53 (CSB) He led them safely, and they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies.
Christ mercifully saves us from sin
Genesis 7:1 (CSB) Then the LORD said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.
Christ saves us to himself
49 When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out,
50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded,
52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
Mark 6:53-56 Jesus is the Lord of Time
The Text
Mark 6:53–56 (CSB)
53 When they had crossed over, they came to shore at Gennesaret and anchored there.54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized him.
55 They hurried throughout that region and began to carry the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
56 Wherever he went, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch just the end of his robe. And everyone who touched it was healed.
The Devotion
We know that Christ is the Lord over Humanity and in Acts 17 declares that he determines the times of our dwelling.
But it goes beyond that.
Christ created the heavens and the earth
John 1:1-2 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Christ is before the creation of the earth
Psalms 90:1-2 (CSB) Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation. 2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Christ is forever past and forever future
Revelation 1:8 (CSB) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 21:5-8 (CSB) Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Revelation 22:12-13 (CSB) “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Yet, Christ is here in you
Revelation 3:19-20 (CSB) As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Mark 7:1-7 The Word of God is Love
The Text
Mark 7:1–7 (CSB)
1 The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him.2 They observed that some of his disciples were eating bread with unclean—that is, unwashed—hands.
3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, keeping the tradition of the elders.
4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed. And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and dining couches.)
5 So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ceremonially unclean hands?”
6 He answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands.
The Devotion
The bent of mankind: more laws
Genesis 2:16-17 (CSB) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Genesis 3:1-3 (CSB) Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
The bent of Christ: more grace
John 1:14-18 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
The bent of Christ: more mercy
Matthew 12:1-8 (CSB) At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry: how he entered the house of God, and they ate the bread of the Presence—which is not lawful for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests? Or haven’t you read in the law that on Sabbath days the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
The bent of Christ: more rest
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The bent of Christ: more love
1 John 4:10-11 (CSB) Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.
Mark 7:7-13 The Word of God is Law
The Text
Mark 7:7–13 (CSB)
7 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands.8 Abandoning the command of God, you hold on to human tradition.”
9 He also said to them, “You have a fine way of invalidating God’s command in order to set up your tradition!
10 For Moses said: Honor your father and your mother; and Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.
11 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is corban’ ” (that is, an offering devoted to God),
12 “you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.
13 You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other similar things.”
The Devotion
His spoken word was in the beginning
Genesis 1:1-3 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
John 1:1-3 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
His spoken word created everything
Hebrews 11:1-3 (CSB) Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
His spoken word is perfect
Psalm 19:7–10 (CSB)
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
His spoken word is the examination of our hearts
Romans 7:7-8 (CSB) What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! But I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet. And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.
His spoken word is filled with power
Isaiah 55:11 (CSB) so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
His spoken word is how we are saved
Romans 10:14-17 (CSB) How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
His spoken word is hidden in the hearts of his people
Psalm 119:9–11 (CSB)
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.10 I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
Mark 7:14-23 The Word of God is Righteousness
The Text
Mark 7:14–23 (CSB)
14 Summoning the crowd again, he told them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand:15 Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
17 When he went into the house away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about the parable.
18 He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a person from the outside can defile him?
19 For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated” (thus he declared all foods clean).
20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.
21 For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders,
22 adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”
The Devotion
The word of Christ does not neglect the real matters of life
Matthew 23:23-24 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!
Matthew 9:12-13 (CSB) Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The word of Christ does not work from the outside in
Matthew 23:27-28 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
The word of Christ cleans from the inside out
Matthew 23:25-26 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.
1 John 1:5-10 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The word of Christ is the good news
1 John 2:1-2 (CSB) My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
Mark 7:24-30 The Word of God Saves
The Text
Mark 7:24–30 (CSB)
24 He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice.25 Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet.
26 The woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she was asking him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
27 He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
28 But she replied to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
29 Then he told her, “Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.”
30 When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.
The Devotion
When Christ calls us, we are chosen by him
Genesis 12:1-4 (CSB) The LORD said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
John 15:16 (CSB) You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
When Christ calls us, we come to him
Luke 5:27-28 (CSB) After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow him.
John 12:32-33 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
When Christ calls us, we are to die
Acts 9:3-6 (CSB) As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Matthew 16:24-28 (CSB) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship
When Christ calls us, we now live
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
When Christ calls us, we will be him forever
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Mark 7:31-37 Jesus Opens Our Ears So We Now Hear God
The Text
Mark 7:31–37 (CSB)
31 Again, leaving the region of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis.32 They brought to him a deaf man who had difficulty speaking and begged Jesus to lay his hand on him.
33 So he took him away from the crowd in private. After putting his fingers in the man’s ears and spitting, he touched his tongue.
34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”).
35 Immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly.
36 He ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more they proclaimed it.
37 They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
The Devotion
When God speaks in matters of the spiritual, supernatural, and the heart, there are no guarantees that Man will understand what is being said--not until God supernaturally gives us a new heart and His Spirit.
Not even the Disciples understood what was going on. They did not get it until the Spirit fell on them. Judas Iscariot was a faithful attender and heard every single one of Christ's sermons. Yet, he perished in his sin.
Mark 8:18-21 (CSB) Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told him. 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said. 21 And he said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
Luke 14:34-35 (CSB) “Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
Mark 4:21-25 (CSB) He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and more will be added to you. For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Yet, we know that when God speaks, it does exactly what it accomplishes. The Bible does not say it happens instantly.
For:
Isaiah 55:11 (CSB) so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.
and
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Christ is giving the gospel commandment: Repent for the kingdom of God is now.
If you do not understand, then cry out out to God that he will open your ears because you are deaf to absolute reality.
Revelation 2:17 (CSB) Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.
Mark 8:1-10 Jesus Feeds Us So We May Have Life
The Text
Mark 8:1–10 (CSB)
1 In those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He called the disciples and said to them,2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with me three days and have nothing to eat.
3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance.”
4 His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to feed these people?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked them. “Seven,” they said.
6 He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. So they served them to the crowd.
7 They also had a few small fish, and after he had blessed them, he said these were to be served as well.
8 They ate and were satisfied. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces.
9 About four thousand were there. He dismissed them.
10 And he immediately got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
The Devotion
This is so much more than Christ being able to feed and care for us.
God does do this in his perfect provision for:
Matthew 6:7-8 (CSB) When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
and
Matthew 6:29-32 (CSB) Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
The point is that we when we are spiritually dead and we are spiritually starving. For:
Matthew 5:6 (CSB) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
and
Matthew 6:33 (CSB) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
That righteousness that God tells you to speak? It has to be better and holier than anybody you have ever heard of:
Matthew 5:20 (CSB) For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
The fact is: no matter how holy you think you are or someone else you know, it's not enough. For:
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
and
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
You are going to need Jesus and his righteousness in order to live forever.
John 6:32-37 (CSB) Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again. But as I told you, you’ve seen me, and yet you do not believe. Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
and
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Mark 8:11–13 Jesus Changes Our Minds So We Now Understand God
The Text
Mark 8:11–13 (CSB)
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, demanding of him a sign from heaven to test him.12 Sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
13 Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.
The Devotion
Too many people, especially Christians, think that we can reasonably argue and help people logically come to the conclusion that Christ is God and He is one.
Logic and reason have left us and we cannot know the truth of God through just sound thinking. That is part of the Fall of Mankind. Because we are all have been born of and fallen from the glory of God, we naturally suppress the obvious things of God.
Romans 1:18-23 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
How to do we get past that mind and heart blocker? How can we suppress what we suppress?
1 Corinthians 2:6–16 (CSB)
6 We do, however, speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory.
Christ must change our minds: it is not the wisdom of man but God's hidden, mysterious wisdom
Look at verse 7: this was all set in place way before Genesis 1:1. You have problems with Election, Predestination of God? You might be in good company. The love of God and his wisdom is hidden and mysterious. Once we are expose to it, we long to know it and get more of it.
8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Christ must change our minds: His kingdom doesn't make sense in our world
Colossians 2:8-15 (CSB) Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Christ did not come in with power, glory, honor, and a massive angelic army waiting to lay waste to a race of depraved, wicked people. He came in low, vulnerable, little, weak, small, unknown--just like every one of else. He lived his life homeless, filled with tragedy, and yet perfectly in the law and glory of God. We didn't get the plan. Kings and rulers didn't get the plan. Satan and demons didn't get his plan. The plan is death so that we can live.
9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.
Christ must change our minds: this has always been the plan
God doesn't need to change him, his mind or his will to save his people from their sins. And here's the real kick: the plan has been perfectly executed. What Christ has done in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension was perfectly enough to save his people to the Father forever. One and done.
10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. > 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Christ must change our minds: you are not going to get this on your own
I don't care how smart you think you are or where you went to school or how many books you've read or how many times you've read the Bible. Unless the Holy Spirit reveals, you ain't going to know Him and his will.
All those times you thought you've figured out who God is? That was God revealing to you.
12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
Christ must change our minds: how are we to understand unless God gives understanding
This verse is the lynchpin. Paul is not just talking about the gift of salvation. For us to understand everything that has been freely given to us by God has to be by the Spirit of God dwelling in us.
Think of it. What has God given us? Life. Provision. Salvation. Redemption. His Spirit. His Son. Himself. His word. Repentance. Faith. Grace. Mercy.
All of it and so much more.
13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.
Christ must change our minds: that is why we must be careful in what we say
We are not to use our wisdom when speaking spiritual things to spiritual people. Spiritual people--believers. There are some who call themselves spiritual and have nothing to do with God. That is true--because they worship a demon.
1 Corinthians 10:20 (CSB) No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons!
14 But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
Christ must change our minds: we do not understand the spiritual without the Spirit of God
15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.
Christ must change our minds: if you have the Holy Spirit, you can evaluate everything
Unbelievers who suppress the truth in their depravity only see things blindly. God has opened our eyes so that we can see him and enjoy him and be with him forever.
16 For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Christ must change our minds: Christ has given us the three things...
- The Father's heart
- The Holy Spirit
- His own mind
We are new creation. We are born again. We get to live, move, and have our being in God alone.
Mark 8:14–21 Jesus Gives Us New Hearts So That We Might Receive God
The Text
Mark 8:14–21 (CSB)
14 The disciples had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat.15 Then he gave them strict orders: “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.
17 Aware of this, he said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts?
18 Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear? And do you not remember?
19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told him.
20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said.
21 And he said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
The Devotion
Brand new heart: Father's own
Ezekiel 36:24-28 (CSB) “‘For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
Brand new heart: Preaching of the word draws us or repeals us
Exodus 7:1-3 (CSB) The LORD answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother will be your prophet. You must say whatever I command you; then Aaron your brother must declare it to Pharaoh so that he will let the Israelites go from his land. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.
Romans 9:17 (CSB) For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.
Brand new heart: God sees what's going on in the heart
1 Samuel 13:13-14 (CSB) Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. It was at this time that the LORD would have permanently established your reign over Israel, but now your reign will not endure. The LORD has found a man after his own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what the LORD commanded.”
1 Samuel 16:7 (CSB) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the LORD sees, for humans see what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart.”
Brand new heart: God is tender in his mercies because you have his heart
2 Samuel 12:13-14 (CSB) David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Then Nathan replied to David, “And the LORD has taken away your sin; you will not die. However, because you treated the LORD with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”
Psalm 51:1–11 (CSB)
1 Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.
5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.
10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Brand new heart: It is part of the first and greatest commandment
Deuteronomy 6:5-6 (CSB) Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.
Brand new heart: God is your desire and he alone satisfies you
Psalms 37:4 (CSB) Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Psalms 73:25-26 (CSB) Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.
Luke 11:9-13 (CSB) “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Mark 8:22–26 Jesus Opens Our Eyes So That We Would See God
The Text
Mark 8:22–26 (CSB)
22 They came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”
24 He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”
25 Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly.
26 Then he sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
The Devotion
Again, when we read about the miracles of Jesus Christ, we have to think beyond, "Christ can open the eyes of the blind." We will not get what Christ is doing here until we realize that you and me, as the children of Adam, as born sinners, as all of us who have fallen short of the glory of God, are blind.
You and I might see the material world. But we cannot hope to see not just the spiritual world but all of absolute reality.
Remember what Christ said to John's disciples?
Isaiah 35:5 (CSB) Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Without God dwelling in our hearts, we are all born blind.
Look at how all unbelievers approach God and his word: they cannot believe it. Mostly because they cannot see it.
Look at how people in the church who refuse to see things in the Spirit: they approach the Bible with pure modern reasoning and wholly reject the supernatural.
And we end up reducing the Bible to, "That's your opinion and this is my opinion and somehow we are both right."
Truth is that God alone is right and where the Bible is clear, we must see it with unblurred eyes. When the Scriptures are unclear, then we fully, utterly depend on the Spirit to open our eyes and change our minds to understand God's will.
When we do not see the absolute reality of Christ, we will end up in hell because we will not see our real destination nor the path we are walking.
Listen, the Bible is clear: this is not on your effort but on the will of God.
Let me explain.
Christ has to open our eyes: we are not satisfied with anything we see in this life
Ecclesiastes 1:8-9 (CSB) All things are wearisome, more than anyone can say. The eye is not satisfied by seeing or the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.
Let me ask you: are you satisfied? Are you content? Do you keep going after more money, more success, more work, more kids, more busybody, more gossip, more slander, more silly myths, more social media, more coffee, better cars, better house--more alcohol, better weed, more porn, better porn, more control of other people, more "justice", more doing the right things...
Haven't you tried it all? Did it satisfy you?
I have seen all the porn. I feel like I have. I have seen more porn then everybody in here put together times a million. Did you work in porn? I did.
At the end of it, all I saw was the void and the darkness and emptiness and despair. It didn't satisfy my heart and my soul. And I kept digging further and further into hell until Jesus saved me.
Until you see this, you will not want to see the light of Christ. In the light of Christ, your sins and my sins are exposed and we now see how far really are--but it is only then we can see just how good Jesus is.
Christ has to open our eyes: if not, we run straight to hell
Matthew 5:29 (CSB) If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
If Christ did not say this, then I wouldn't dare such a strong statement.
Here's the real kicker: the Bible does declare that certain sins are not outright and obviously destructive:
1 John 5:16-17 (CSB) If anyone sees a fellow believer committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, he should ask, and God will give life to him—to those who commit sin that doesn’t lead to death. There is sin that leads to death. I am not saying he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that doesn’t lead to death.
You know what we don't have to figure out: which sins I can dabble in that don't lead to my destruction here on earth. God makes that clear.
Colossians 3:5-8 (CSB) Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.
Revelation 9:20-21 (CSB) The rest of the people, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands to stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk. And they did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.
These things led to certain destruction and death here.
All sins, without the bloodshed of Christ, will led to hell.
Christ has to open our eyes: in that moment, we are not destined for hell
Psalms 16:10 (CSB) 10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
To his people, to the ones he has saved, to the ones who have received the gift of repentance, we are saved out of hell and death and decay.
But the Christian knows that this new life is more than a free "get out of Hell" card.
Christ has to open our eyes: so that we can NOW see the will of God
1 Corinthians 2:7–12 (CSB)
7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory.8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.
10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
Christ has to open our eyes: now we get to worship him, sing to him, see and fear him
Psalm 40:3 (CSB) He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and they will trust in the LORD.
In other words, we get to obey him.
Until he open our eyes, even the good things we have done were sinful acts against him--Isaiah 64:6 makes this abundantly clear. Because all of the good acts we do outside the glory of God are infected with our own sin: pride, lust, idolatry, rage, etc..
Until we are in Christ, all of our good acts are a waste--trash in the sight of God.
We need Christ in order to good. We need God to obey God and not ourselves.
Christ has to open our eyes: this is the gospel commandment
Psalms 34:8 (CSB) Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!
Christ has instructed all of us to repent of all of our sin and turn to him and enjoy him forever.
We want good. Go to the only God that is good. See him. Taste his goodness.
Christ has to open our eyes in order to see the goodness of God and then be counted as righteous in his site
Matthew 6:22-24 (CSB) “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness!
People buck against the either or statements of Paul and I have heard so-called ministers reject Paul's epistles. Paul clearly states either you are in the flesh or in the Spirit--there is no in-between (Romans 8). But for us to reject Paul is the reject the preaching ministry of Christ Jesus.
In other words, if Christ opens your eyes, your whole body will be full of light because Christ is the light of men. If you remain blind, you will be filled with darkness because that is what you are born with and that is what you keep choosing to do every moment of your life.
Repent for the kingdom of God is near, here, and forevermore.
Christ has to open our eyes: how else are we to see the face of God
Psalms 11:7 (CSB) For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds. The upright will see his face.
Christ has to open our eyes: how else are we going to be perfectly satisfied
Psalms 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
There is no other way. I've tried. There is nothing at the end of everything.
Christ says, "Come to me, all of you who are heavy burden and I will give you rest."
Christ has to open our eyes: how else are we going to see the goodness of God
Psalms 27:13 (CSB) I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living.
Christ has to open our eyes: how else are we going to have life
Psalms 36:9 (CSB) For the wellspring of life is with you.By means of your light we see light.
Mark 8:27–30 Jesus Opens the Only Way to God
The Text
Mark 8:27–30 (CSB)
27 Jesus went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”28 They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”
30 And he strictly warned them to tell no one about him.
The Devotion
Christ is the only way to God.
It is as simple as that.
Christ is the only way: for anybody who died before the death of Christ
Romans 3:21-26 (CSB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
John 8:54–58 (CSB)
54 “If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God’—he is the one who glorifies me.55 You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don’t know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”
Luke 23:39–43 (CSB)
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?
41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Christ is the only way: for everyone since the death of Christ
John 20:16–17 (CSB)
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.”17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Christ is the only way, the truth and the life
John 14:1–7 (CSB)
1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.
4 You know the way to where I am going.”
5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Christ is the only way that we can be saved
Romans 10:13 (CSB) For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Oh there are tons of ways to get to God. Only one way to protect us from the wrath of God that is to come: that is through Jesus Christ his Son.
Matthew 23:37-39 (CSB) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”
Thou dost stand as a rock between the scorching sun
and my soul,
and I live under the cool lee-side as one elect.- Love to Jesus. Valley of Vision.
Mark 8:31-33 Jesus Must Die
The Text
Mark 8:31–33 (CSB)
31 Then he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.32 He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”
The Devotion
Christ died for his people: because we were not good but sinners all the day long
Romans 5:8-9 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
Christ died for his people: in order to save us
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Christ died for his people: in order to forgive our sins
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Christ died for his people: perfectly, completely once to bear the sins of all us
Hebrews 9:27-28 (CSB) And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—28 so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Christ died for his people: to be the wrath-absorbing, atoning sacrifice for our sins
1 John 4:9-10 (CSB) God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Christ died for his people: because he loved us
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Christ died for his people: so that we would not be condemned and not perish in our sins but have everlasting life
John 3:14-18 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
Christ died for his people: he is the death of death so we might die to sin and live to God forever
Romans 6:8-11 (CSB) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Mark 8:34-9:1 We Must Die
The Text
Mark 8:34–9:1 (CSB)
34 Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it.
36 For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life?
37 What can anyone give in exchange for his life?
38 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
1 Then he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”
The Devotion
We must die: we do not get to worship God and not-god
Matthew 6:22-24 (CSB) “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
We must die because of sin and our sin
Romans 6:8-11 (CSB) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
We must die: like Christ, we must take up our cross
Matthew 16:24-28 (CSB) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
We must die: like Christ, we must be crucified
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
We must die: it's the only way to be a new creation
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (CSB) From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
We must die: it is the only way to be born again
John 3:5-8 (CSB) Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
We must die: it is the only way to be born of God
1 John 5:1-4 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him. This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands. For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
Mark 9:2-13 We Will Suffer
The Text
Mark 9:2–13 (CSB)
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured in front of them,3 and his clothes became dazzling—extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them.
4 Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—
6 because he did not know what to say, since they were terrified.
7 A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10 They kept this word to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 “Elijah does come first and restores all things,” he replied. “Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written about him.”
The Devotion
Christ suffered so that we will endure suffering: Christ is a man of suffering and of sorrow
Isaiah 53:3-5 (CSB) He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.
Christ suffered so that we will endure suffering: he suffered so that we would be saved
Isaiah 53:6-11 (CSB) We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished him for the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment, and who considered his fate? For he was cut off from the land of the living; he was struck because of my people’s rebellion. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. 10 Yet the LORD was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the LORD’s pleasure will be accomplished. 11 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities.
1 Peter 3:17-20 (CSB) For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people —were saved through water.
Christ suffered so that we will endure suffering: we will be like our Eldest Brother in every good way
Romans 8:16-19 (CSB) The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed.
Hebrews 2:17-18 (CSB) Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
Romans 8:28-29 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Christ suffered so that we will endure suffering: so that we would gain absolute and right perspective in this life
Philippians 3:7-11 (CSB) But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
Christ suffered so that we will endure suffering: this is how hope is produced
Romans 5:1-5 (CSB) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Christ suffered so that we will endure suffering: now we get to comfort others in their afflictions
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (CSB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.
Christ suffered so that we will endure suffering: comfort others as God would comfort us
James 5:13-16 (CSB) Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.
Christ suffered so that we will endure suffering: because we are forever sealed by the God who Comforts us
John 14:16-18 (CSB) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
Mark 9:14-29 God Alone Over Faith
The Text
Mark 9:14-29 (CSB)
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them.15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him.
16 He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”
17 Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak.
18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
19 He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.”
20 So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father. “From childhood,” he said.
22 “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can? Everything is possible for the one who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.”
27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
28 After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.”
The Devotion
Our faith is not born of us. There is not a little goodness in everybody born of Adam and if we do the right things and are convinced in the right way, that we can tend to that little goodness in our hearts like a fire and build it up.
Romans 3:9-18 (CSB) What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one. 13 Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. 14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, 17 and the path of peace they have not known. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
As much as we want to take the credit for our faith and belief in Christ, we cannot. We do not receive the glory and honor and the completed tasks check-off in putting our hope, trust, and obedience in the son of God.
Isaiah 42:8 (CSB) I am the LORD. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.
We have overly established on this channel using the books of Mark, Romans, Genesis, 1 & 2 Timothy with passages supporting from the Bible that your belief cannot start and be born with you. You were born far from God not seeking after him not running after him not wanting him because you didn't think you needed him.
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
But what does God do despite us?
Romans 3:22-26 (CSB) The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You might have a little faith in God. But, beloved, that is all you need. "But I love God but sometimes I am not sure of his goodness to me." Welcome to Christianity. Your faith is not based on your surety but the absoluteness of God.
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Don't fall away from God. Press into God. Don't disbelieve but run after him. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl. Maybe God has to pick you up and take you home. To be honest, that is the gospel. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ brings us all the way home.
Romans 8:38-39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The question the gospel of grace puts to us is simply this: Who shall separate you from the love of Christ? What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that your weakness could separate you from the love of Christ? It can’t. Are you afraid that your inadequacies could separate you from the love of Christ? They can’t.
Are you afraid that your inner poverty could separate you from the love of Christ? It can’t. Difficult marriage, loneliness, anxiety over the children’s future? They can’t. Negative self-image? It can’t. Economic hardship, racial hatred, street crime? They can’t. Rejection by loved ones or the suffering of loved ones? They can’t. Persecution by authorities, going to jail? They can’t. Nuclear war? It can’t. Mistakes, fears, uncertainties? They can’t. The gospel of grace calls out, Nothing can ever separate you from the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You must be convinced of this, trust it, and never forget to remember. Everything else will pass away, but the love of Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Faith will become vision, hope will become possession, but the love of Jesus Christ that is stronger than death endures forever. In the end, it is the one thing you can hang onto.
- Manning, Brennan. The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out (p. 88). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Mark 9:30-32 God Alone is Over Death
The Text
Mark 9:30-32 (CSB)
30 Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it.31 For he was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise three days later.”
32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.
The Devotion
Christ is the Lord over Death. We examine this in Mark 5:35-43 where Christ is Lord over both our lives which means our deaths. He knows when we will die because our days are numbered by him:
Psalm 139:16 (CSB) Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.
Yet, Christ alone is the resurrection of our souls and the life of our bodies:
John 11:25 (CSB) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.
Here is the big facts: if the historical, real Jesus Christ predicted his own death, several times over, and then predicted his own resurrection, several times over, then can you not trust him with your own life?
John 11:26 (CSB) Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
The Bible is absolute truth. God is absolutely real. Christ has come to live and die so that His people will be saved.
Christ has given the gospel commandment:
Mark 1:15 (CSB) “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
The good news is this: we are born to die and we are born in sin against the holy God. God is calling on you not to live your own life unto death but to be born again until eternal life. The way it should have been from the beginning.
The question remains. Believe. If you believe, then live like you believe. How do you do that? Repent.
Mark 9:33-37 God Alone Receives All Who Would Come
The Text
Mark 9:33-37 (CSB)
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”34 But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”
36 He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,
37 “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”
The Devotion
Christ has come to us.
And the gospel command for us to repent and be saved.
For us to give him our sin, we have to approach God with our sin and turn it over to him. That means we need to come to God.
If we hang on to our sin, we cannot approach his throne of grace. But he went through the same things we have been through and died because of our sin. Because he lives, we get to come to him because we have his mercy and grace:
Hebrews 4:14-16 (CSB) Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
The gospel of God saves only those who trust and believe. That is true.
Romans 1:16-17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
John 3:14-18 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
But the gospel of God calls to all and if they come, call upon the name of the Lord, they will be saved.
Revelation 22:17 (CSB) Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (CSB) First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Romans 10:11-13 (CSB) For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Mark 9:38-41 God Alone Saves His People
The Text
Mark 9:38-41 (CSB)
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me.
40 For whoever is not against us is for us.
41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ—truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
The Devotion
In this miniseries of "God Alone", we examined that:
- God gives faith
- God snatches us from death
- God receives every single person who comes to him
If God is big enough, strong enough, loving enough, gracious enough, merciful enough to do that, then are we saved as individuals, to believe and love in isolation and by ourselves, and just wait until God comes and gets us?
What about those who claim the name of Jesus but interpret the Bible differently sometimes, or hold to a different confession or worship differently? How can we still be unified in God?
Let us start off with brass tacks:
Christ alone saves his people: Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved
Romans 10:11-13 (CSB) For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 1:16-17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Christ alone saves his people: Christ has already completed the work
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Christ alone saves his people: Father has adopted us as his children who are declared as fellow heirs with Christ
Romans 8:14-17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Christ alone saves his people: The Spirit is our down payment of our inheritance until we are brought home
Ephesians 1:13-14 (CSB) In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
Christ alone saves his people: The Triune God dwells in us
John 14:23-26 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
Christ alone saves his people: Christ has commissioned all of us to take his gospel to the ends of the world
Matthew 28:16-20 (CSB) The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Christ alone saves his people: Christ has taught, trained, gifted, and equipped each of us to ministry
Ephesians 4:7-16 (CSB) Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. For it says:
When he ascended on high,
he took the captives captive;
he gave gifts to people.
But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
This is not on the part of man.
This is not well-wishing on those who calls for unity just as long as you see things their way.
This is a call for unification based on the absolute saving power of the Triune God.
Mark 9:42 God Alone is Mighty to Save
The Text
Mark 9:42 (CSB)
42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
The Devotion
So many false teachers, who preach not the gospel, who are causing his little ones to stray--presuming that there is no God and they will not have to answer for leading his sheep astray.
But his little ones are never in danger. Those who hear his voice are known and saved by the Good Shepherd:
John 10:25-30 (CSB) “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Likewise, woe to false shepherds. The heart of Christ towards his lambs are so tender and jealous, he promises he will stop at nothing to take care of them:
Jeremiah 23:1-4 (CSB) oe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” This is the LORD’s declaration. “Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, banished them, and have not attended to them. I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts”—this is the LORD’s declaration. “I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous. I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them. They will no longer be afraid or discouraged, nor will any be missing.” This is the LORD’s declaration.
The Almighty God will attend to you, false prophet, false teacher, false shepherd.
But there is hope. For you. If you repent and trust and believe Christ because His kingdom is here and your little kingdom is nothing but dung in comparison.
Christ alone is mighty to beat and remove the wolves. Christ alone is mighty to save.
Who can save us? Who is able to save us? Who is willing to save us?
Only one person fits the bill for all three.
Mighty to save: Christ can save
Isaiah 63:1 (CSB) Who is this coming from Edom in crimson-stained garments from Bozrah— this one who is splendid in his apparel, striding in his formidable might? It is I, proclaiming vindication, powerful to save.
Mighty to save: Christ is able to save
Hebrews 7:25 (CSB) Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.
Mighty to save: Christ is willing to save
Romans 7:24 - 8:2 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Mighty to save: Christ will save
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Mighty to save: Christ has saved
2 Timothy 1:8-10 (CSB) So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Mark 9:43-48 God Alone Is Far Above Sin
The Text
Mark 9:43–48 (CSB)
43 “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.45 And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
47 And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
The Devotion
Did Christ say anything about hell?
The short answer is yes. And I could sit and over-explain how different English translations choose to interpret the word 'hell' (Hades, Gehenna, Sheol, etc.).
The pressing question does not stem from our ignorance of the Scriptures or our inability to do proper keyword searches in your favorite Bible.
The pressing question, "Do you take Christ at his word on his life?" We just got through Christ saying these things:
Mark 9:31 (CSB) ... “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise three days later.”
His disciples, whom were without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, could not understand it. Yet, Christ did just that: gave up his life and came back to life three days later.
Christ is the only man who has ever predicted and claim that death and resurrection. So when Christ talks about anything else, including sin and hell, do you and I listen? Do you and I understand? Do you and I believe and trust Christ? If we believe and trust Christ, do we live by his words?
We can't do that perfectly but we can truly obey because of Christ has done: live, die, and resurrected. In Christ alone, we are born again and we live because the Triune God dwells in us.
God Alone Is Far Above Sin: Hell are for those who refuse to obey the Son of God
Matthew 8:10-13 (CSB) Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith. I tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus told the centurion, “Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that very moment.
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
God Alone Is Far Above Sin: Hell is for those who cause sin and break the laws of God
Matthew 13:41-43 (CSB) The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness. They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.
Matthew 7:21-23 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
Romans 1:32 (CSB) Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die —they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
God Alone Is Far Above Sin: Hell is for the worthless
Matthew 13:47-50 (CSB) “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish, and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Proverbs 6:12-15 (CSB) A worthless person, a wicked man goes around speaking dishonestly, winking his eyes, signaling with his feet, and gesturing with his fingers. He always plots evil with perversity in his heart; he stirs up trouble. Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly, beyond recovery.
God Alone Is Far Above Sin: Hell is for those who are not about God's business
Matthew 24:46-51 (CSB) Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And...
Matthew 25:29-30 (CSB) For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
God Alone Is Far Above Sin: Gospel is the commandment for all--few believe
Matthew 22:13-14 (CSB) “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
We are all born into sin. We have all chosen sin. We have these moments of goodness but they are not enough to be saved from hell. Born into the right Christ-believe family, albeit a distinct blessing by God, is not enough from eternal weeping. Going to the right church with the right theology, right denomination, right doctrine and right preaching will not save you from the forever gnashing of teeth because the pain and torment is excruciating.
Christ commands all to repent:
Matthew 4:14-17 (CSB) This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Christ commands all to believe and trust in him:
John 6:26-29 (CSB) Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.” “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked. Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”
Christ commands all to give him, Christ Jesus the Glorious Savior, Lord, Messiah, King, Judge, and Ruler and God, our sin, causing sin, disobedience, lawbreaking, and our worthlessness:
Matthew 11:27-30 (CSB) All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
We have all fallen short of the glory of God. Take that inadequacy, lack, poverty, not-enough and give it to Christ because He is God and he demands it from you.
But Christ will not leave you empty:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
John 14:23-26 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
John 14:18-19 (CSB) “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too.
John 1:12-13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:16-18 (CSB) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
Mark 9:49-50 God Alone is Our Source
The Text
Mark 9:49–50 (CSB)
49 For everyone will be salted with fire.50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
The Devotion
Again, we can talk about salt in terms of farming or cooking. But I want to emphasize what Christ is highlighting here:
What is our source?
Is it our good works?
Is it our devotion?
Is it anything we do?
Is it our job? Our family? Our marriage? Our singleness?
Is it what we can do with our hands or mind?
What is our source of life?
In order to live, the source has to be God.
God is not here to supplement our lives living by our way. God has called us out of our own way into death and destruction and into him for actual life.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
The Triune God must be in you. And if he is in you, then he will be at work in you.
Salt works from the outside in order to get into the soil or into the food we eat.
Legalism thinks that if we do a bunch of good stuff, then some how that would seep into our hearts and causes us to be good in the sight of God.
Licentious (Anti-nominalism or in other words, "the law doesn't matter") thinks that God is us, God loves us enough to leave us alone.
Both are going straight to hell.
God in you and God in me will change us from the inside out.
God changes our hearts, we now get to obey God.
God renews our minds, we take our thoughts captive to Christ.
God gives us His Spirit, we are now children of God.
God gave His Son, we now have everlasting life.
Mark 10:1-12 God Alone Receives the Widow
The Text
Mark 10:1–12 (CSB)
1 He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught them again.2 Some Pharisees came to test him, asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3 He replied to them, “What did Moses command you?”
4 They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away.”
5 But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts.
6 But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.
7 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother
8 and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter.
11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
12 Also, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
The Devotion
Was Christ speaking on divorce? Was Christ speaking about marriage?
Yes. And yet, if you go examining this passage in trying to see whether or not we are allowed to get a divorce or what did God say about marriage, then we miss the point.
Christ has given the gospel commandment:
Matthew 22:37-40 (CSB) He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
One Another: We are saved by God to God and to each other
Love the Lord your God.
But look at the second commandment:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Why is that so important?
First, Christ said that this "is like" love the Lord your God with all of your heart.
1 John 4:7-8 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Second, he said that the whole of Scripture is dependent on both loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself:
All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.
Why is that so important?
Now, here is your word search homework for the day: "other" and "one another". To help out, try just the New Testament. The NT has over 40 commands of God in our relation to one another.
To sum it up nicely, look at what Paul writes in Romans:
Romans 12:10-21 (CSB) Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
One Another: We get to worship God together
Hebrews 10:23-25 (CSB) Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
In other words, we are not saved in isolation.
When we are called by God, then we are called to another. That means not just Christian to Christian but man to fellow man--human to human--image bearer to image bearer.
What did Christ say?
John 13:34-35 (CSB) “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
One Another: our bond together is Christ and the Church
In other words, Christ and his Bride:
Ephesians 5:25-33 (CSB) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.
Like all the children of Adam, we are all like the widow: we have no husband to love us, to care for us, to provide for us, to make a home for us, and to call us his own. We are already born into death. Spiritua and Eternal speaking, we are born alone, and separated at birth from one another. Yet, Christ saw his Bride, widowed because of our sin, loves her, comes for her, lived for her, died for her, buried for her, conquers death, sin, Satan, demons, and hell for her, ascends to glory for her.
And now, we as the Bride, as his church, are no longer apart from Him but together with him forever. And because of him, we are join together, bonded forever, that nothing in all of creation can ever separate us from the love of God that is found in our bridegroom, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The whole thing is a mystery:
We are set apart from the world and yet to one another.
The gospel commandment is to every creature but only few are chosen.
The wages of our sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life for those who put their faith and trust in Christ Jesus.
Mark 10:13-16 God Alone Receives the Fatherless
The Text
Mark 10:13–16 (CSB)
13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
16 After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.
The Devotion
To know that God welcomes all sinners into his kingdom is to know the heart of the Father. Throughout the Bible, we see the tenderness of the heart of the Father towards the lost because they don't have a home; towards the widow because we are all wandering from the only Husband who will never leave us nor forsake us; towards the poor because they have nothing good and will perish without help; and towards the orphan because our spiritual father that we were all born with, Satan, who only lies, kill, steals, and destroys--which is to say, in the spiritual and eternal sense, we don't have any parents to really speak of.
We are born orphans. Born into a kingdom that tells you that even if everyone agrees with you, you stand alone. The world wants to tell you what to do but you will need to figure out how to stand on your own. If you need help, you might have to do it yourself. No one else is going to help you. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps. That is the only way to do it.
And to a degree, that is stock with the modern world. Babies are born into this world completely helpless. If no one looks after them, they will die. Children are raised by parents in hopes that they will turn into independent, autonomous, functioning, contributing members of society. And that is a good thing.
Between the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God, there is one similarity: we are born into it. In this world, like all the sons of Adam, you are born helpless and dependent on someone to look after you. Christ said to Nicodemus, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
There is no work, no skill, no knowledge, no old heart, no kept sins, no pride, no power that will get us into the kingdom of God as we are if we are not in Christ. Romans 6 and 2 Corinthians 5 calls that "our old selves." We are born again, fresh and new, just like a baby into the kingdom of God. When that happens, our old selves are dead and buried in the same grave with Christ. Holy, good, and righteous will always rise once more. We were not that way. Our old selves with our sins, stayed buried while His righteousness and His Spirit, the same who raised Christ from death, now dwells in us giving us eternal life.
Mark 10:17-22 God Alone Receives the Brokenhearted
The Text
Mark 10:17–22 (CSB)
17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.”
20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”
21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
The Devotion
The backbreaking soul-crushing work of idol worship.
Even the Jews in the days of Christ would look down upon the Greeks and the Romans who fashioned idols out of wood or metal and in the same moment, would think, "I have to do all these things perfectly in order to be righteous."
Some people, especially today, think that the can do it. But in reality, there are some things that God asks us to do, that comes pretty easy, but struggles with pride, lust, anger, gluttony, or some other sin is kept in secret and hopefully no one finds out about it.
But others, see God's law as impossible because they clearly see the wickedness of their heart and the depth of their depravity and will cry out, "God have mercy on me, a sinner!"
God doesn't rush to those who think they are doing good. God speedily runs to the ones whose hearts have been broken by what they thought would be safe, loving, generous, and could give them what they thought they needed.
Maybe for some of us, the switch from worshipping something not God to God was a instant thing. No grief only joy and freedom.
For the rest of us, switching our affections was not easy. And to be honest, it was sad and hard and heartbreaking. Like so many single I know just put their hopes into being married, and then once they got married, it was like hell on earth.
Or if I can get this job and make this much money, then all of my worries will disappear. And they didn't. And you have to work so much harder to keep this job that you thought was going to make you happy.
Or how about putting your identity in something else other than Christ: like dating a whole bunch or even in your sexual preference or in your gender--so you can experience freedom.
We do get what we want if we want it hard enough--and once we get it, it fell way short. It didn't fill up our hearts like we thought it would.
The rich man was satisfied for a moment with his possessions and wealth. But he also wanted to follow Jesus. Christ was calling him to a greater, perfect satisfaction in God.
The rich man had to choose. And it grieved him because he had to give up everything to gain everything.
There is a story of another rich man, who gave up everything, to follow God. And in God's word, he is marked as a man who gave the literal, tangible context and menaing for Romans 6:
Matthew 27:57-61 (CSB) When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Then Pilate ordered that it be released. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.
Romans 6:8-11 (CSB) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
The first rich man was honest and he grieved. He grieved because he did what Christ commands each of us to do if we are going to follow him:
Luke 14:28-30 (CSB) “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.
Christ commands us to follow him. Christ commands us to obey him. Christ commands us to repent of our sins and turn them over to him. But have we counted the cost?
Early Church history was filled mostly with women then men. Why is that? The best answer I could come up with is: women wouldn't have a lot of power in that world and some men had whatever great power they had in this measly, tiny, little kingdom on earth. Women could easily give up whatever they got for Christ. Men counted the cost and most of them, like the original rich man, decided it was too much.
What did C.S. Lewis say in The Weight of Glory? Content with making mud pies in the slums when we have a forever holiday vacation at the beach.
Count the cost. Like the rich man, count the cost. But Christ says, "give it up--I have something far more precious, more costly, more beautiful than silver, gold or diamonds. Safer than your overthinking and trying to manage others. More powerful than your grip. More justice than your anger and rage."
That is just one person--Christ Jesus our Lord.
Mark 10:23-27 God Alone Receives the Lost
The Text
Mark 10:23–27 (CSB)
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”24 The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
The Devotion
You and I cannot come into the kingdom of God by being in the right family.
You and I cannot come into the kingdom of God by ascending to power.
You and I cannot come into the kingdom of God by playing with any sin.
You and I cannot come into the kingdom of God by being in the right church or right denomination or right sect or the right cult.
You and I cannot come into the kingdom of God by listening to the right preachers, reading the right books, or attending the right schools.
You and I cannot come into the kingdom of God by living a good moral life, being kind to one another, giving to one another, and loving one another.
You and I cannot come into the kingdom of God by doing all the right things and doing so perfectly.
You and I cannot come into the kingdom of God by being righteous.
Luke 5:27-32 (CSB) After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow him. Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining at the table with them. But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Our best efforts are not good enough to be in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20 (CSB) For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Our righteousness--our self-righteousness--is like vomit compared the scribes and Pharisees. We love to bag on the scribes and Pharisees because they were trapped in their own legalism. But as much Christ called them to repent, he also said, "They are more righteous than you. But for you to be in the kingdom of God, you have to be more righteous than they are."
Some of you will hear this and think, "Oh, that means I can work harder and better." And guess what, you are going to come up short.
And some of you will hear this and think, "I can't do it. I give up. It is too hard. Why even bother?"
And Christ speaks to you both:
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
What is his yoke? What is his burden that he wants to give you?
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
You can just go for something better. You got to get something perfect if you want to be saved.
Christ is our righteousness. Christ is our perfection. Christ is our Lord. Christ is our King. Christ is our God.
Choose on this day of whom you will serve. Right now, choose.
Mark 10:28-31 God Alone Receives the Last
The Text
Mark 10:28-31 (CSB)
28 Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,
30 who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and eternal life in the age to come.
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
The Devotion
Mark 1-9 shows us the works of Christ that he has done to save his people from their sins with the exception of two things: his death and resurrection.
Through the gospel, you might and should be asking yourself, "Who does God the Father wants in his kingdom?"
Mark 10 gives us that answer by summing up the heart of the Father throughout the entire Bible:
- God wants the widow, the single, the lonely Mark 10:1-12
- God wants the orphan, the fatherless, the abandoned Mark 10:13-16
- God wants the brokenhearted, unloved, uncherished Mark 10:17-22
- God wants the lost, homeless, stranger, alien, the immigrant in a strange land Mark 10:23-27
What is the common denominator between those people groups? The downtroden. The helpless. The most vulnerable. I will put it in the most apt way: not only the least of us but the last of us.
You have heard it countless times before:
- Christ came for the sick and not the healthy
Luke 5:31-32 (CSB) Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
- Christ came for the poor in spirit and not those who content with this life
Matthew 5:3 (CSB) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
- Christ came for the sinner and not those who assume they are good nor think they are entitled to his salvation and blessing because they have done the right thing
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Please understand what the Bible is saying: it is not up to you to figure out how to be a sinner, how to be poor, how to be sick. You and I were already born that way. You and I were already born far from God. You and I were already born in sin and sickness.
But the question that you and I must answer and believe: "How sick am I need to be before I go to the only God that heals? How sinful do I need to be before I cry out to the only Lord that is might to save? How poor and far do I need to be for I can turn away from my sin and found the everlasting arms of our Father always outstretched always waiting for you and me?"
Are you waiting to get to the end of your rope? Are you waiting to see what the world has to offer and choose what sounds better--like you are choosing between buying one home over the other, one car over the other, or even Lucky Charms over Cocoa Puffs? Are you waiting to see if you can make it on your own or are you waiting to hit rock bottom?
Here's the kick: without Christ dwelling in you, without the Father giving you a new heart, without the Spirit making you born again, you are already at the end of your rope--you have already hit rock bottom. Because of your own sin, you just can't see it because you are blind to the things of God.
Don't choose rock bottom. Don't choose the world. God is not a choice like a breakfast cereal. God is life and God is love. Choose on this day whom you will serve.
Mark 10:32-45 God Alone Receives the Dead
The Text
Mark 10:32-45 (CSB) 32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.
33 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles,
34 and they will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him, and he will rise after three days.”
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.
37 They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”
38 Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39 “We are able,” they told him. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.
40 But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.
42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them.
43 But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,
44 and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Devotion
The kingdom of God is complete opposite of the world.
The world is desperate for riches. Our God owns the cattle on 10,000 hills.
Psalms 16:5-6 (CSB) LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
The world yearns for fame and influence. The world wants to be changed from the outside in. God is the only one can transform and rebirth us into actual, true life and life everlasting.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
The world craves for power. We have no need for it because we have the Almighty God who dwells in us who sits on the eternal throne as the King of king and Lord of lords who alone will raise up kings and bring them back low.
Daniel 2:21 (CSB) He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
If this is the kingdom of God and this is the mark of his people, why would we content with anything of this earth.
God receives you but you have to die. You have to die to yourself, your ways, your idols, and your sin.
You and I have to die for us to be in the kingdom of God. We must be born again. There is no other choice.
Mark 10:46-52 God Alone Receives The Poor
The Text
Mark 10:46-52 (CSB) 46 They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.
47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.”
50 He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”
52 Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.
The Devotion
To know God is the know the heart of God for the poor
Ezekiel 16:49 (CSB) Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had pride, plenty of food, and comfortable security, but didn’t support the poor and needy.
Psalms 12:1-5 (CSB) Help, LORD, for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race. 2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts. 3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks boastfully. 4 They say, “Through our tongues we have power; our lips are our own — who can be our master? ” 5 “Because of the devastation of the needy and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up,” says the LORD. “I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.”
1 Samuel 2:6-8 (CSB) The LORD brings death and gives life; he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up. 7 The LORD brings poverty and gives wealth; he humbles and he exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; he has set the world on them.
Isaiah 25:4 (CSB) For you have been a stronghold for the poor person, a stronghold for the needy in his distress, a refuge from storms and a shade from heat. When the breath of the violent is like a storm against a wall,
To know God is to know that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to bring gospel to all of us--we are the poor ones
Isaiah 61:1-3 (CSB) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify him.
The gospel command is for all. The ones who respond yes are the ones who are poor in spirit because we know we have no where else to go--Christ alone is the Holy One of God who has eternal life.
Mark 11:1-11 So That We Might Live
The Text
Mark 11:1-11 (CSB) 1 When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples
2 and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.
3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’”
4 So they went and found a colt outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it,
5 and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
6 They answered them just as Jesus had said; so they let them go.
7 They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it.
8 Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields.
9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
11 He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The Devotion
We are the people who will rejoice the coming of the Messiah.
Christ came to fix our real problems.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Colossians 2:15 (CSB) He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Ephesians 2:1-2 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.
Titus 3:3-5 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Here's the kick. Without the indwelling of God in our lives, we are not going to see sin as the problem in our lives. Heck, even with God in our lives, we have a difficult time seeing what really matters versus inconvenient circumstances.
And the people who cheer and shouted, Hosanna! Hosanna for the arrive of Christ, did not have the Triune God dwelling in them because Christ had not sent the Holy Spirit from the Father just yet.
It won't be but a short time later until these same people will be shouting, "Crucify, crucify!"
That is the sin indwelling.
We need God now more than ever.
Mark 11:12-14 So That We Might Live and Never Die
The Text
Mark 11:12-14 (CSB) 12 The next day when they went out from Bethany, he was hungry.
13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to find out if there was anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs.
14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples heard it.
The Devotion
Here are big facts: we are born to die.
And in our sin, we are judged according and will die in our sins.
But here's the gospel, from the moment sin came into the world and into our lives and into our hearts, God stepped into our lives and gave this promise:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Here's the thing: without God dwelling in us, we cannot believe that God was going to be good on that promise and anything else that comes out his mouth. That is sin: we cannot believe God because of the infection of sin on our hearts.
Your heart is incapable and not good enough to believe in God.
God knows that. He preached that word knowing full well we can't fulfill it. God saw our brokenness and weakness and sin.
God preached it. God promised it. God gives everything we need in order to do his will.
Our heart was wicked. God gives his heart.
We are dead in our trespasses. God gives us His Spirit so we can be born again.
We so far and lost in God. God sent us His Son to live and die and to bridge that gap so we can be with Him, dwell in his presence with maxed out joy and pleasures forevermore.
This is our God. Those who do not obey the Son of God will fall under the wrath of God. Those who believe and trust in Christ will be with God forever.
Choose on this day on whom you will serve. Choose whether you will live or die.
Mark 11:15-19 So That We Might Live and Be Saved
The Text
Mark 11:15–19 (CSB)
15 They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves,16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple.
17 He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”
18 The chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching.
19 Whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.
The Devotion
Numbers 21:4-9 (CSB) Then they set out from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to bypass the land of Edom, but the people became impatient because of the journey. The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” Then the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died.
The people then came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so that he will take the snakes away from us.” And Moses interceded for the people.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover.” So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.
If you are angry at God. If you wanna wage war against him because you think he is preventing from living your life. Or worst still, you have a vision for your life that only includes what you want and you just want God to come and bless you. But he didn't because He is God and loves you too much to enable you in your sin and death.
And you find yourself at war with God. But you are not at war with God. God is all powerful and all might. You wage war and you will not win. You are hopelessly outmatched.
God might your enemy but he is not at war with you. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to live and die so that you might be reconcile to him.
Christ is not inviting you and me to look upon him so that we might live.
Christ is commanding you and me to look upon him and live forever.
Mark 11:20-25 So That We Might Live and Believe
The Text
Mark 11:20–25 (CSB)
20 Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up.21 Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God.
23 Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
24 Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received it and it will be yours.
25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”
The Sidenote
Where is verse 26?
Mark 11:26 (But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing.)
The oldest Greek Manuscripts did not include this verse.
This inclusion and exclusion doesn't break the Bible. This lines up with not only the Gospels:
Matthew 6:15 (CSB) But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.
But with the gospel of Christ:
1 John 4:7-8 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
The Devotion
Let me talk about my camp for a moment--the Charismatics. I have grown up being explicitly taught that this verse literally--that we should have so much quantity of faith that we should have the ability to toss mountians into the sea. But then be instantly sad and grieve because apparently we have little to no faith because we can't toss mountains into the sea.
Look at the focus of that grief, saddness, and disappointment. Is God the subject of that or is that yourself?
You know what is more difficult? A human entering in the kingdom of God without God. Christ has listed two impossible, ridiculous, irrational notions to get you and me to realize what we actually need.
One, camel through the eye of an needle. No, there is no needle gate and if the camel can duck down, he will be able to get in. If you believe that, you don't believe the gospel because that is antithetical to the gospel.
Two, throwing mountains into the sea. "But Christ we should be able to?", you might say. But read the passage again:
22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God.
You and I as children of Adam keep hearing the gospel but want to so badly believe the lies of Satan. "I don't want to do what God says. Maybe I can do just enough good things, he will let me in on a curve."
What if we treated relationships like that? "I want to be her friend. I know, let me do enough good things to make her think that we are friends so that she will leave me alone." "I need my wife to stop bothering me. I know, let me do just enough things to fulfill the marital vow. Hopefully then she can leave me alone."
What kind of relationship is that? Answer: its not a relationship.
Christ has commanded you to believe, trust, and obey Him for eternal life. Stop doing and trying to do just enough because you are no closer getting to God that way. Doing it your way, you haven't moved a hair. In fact, the more you try to do good, the more you are slipping away from God.
Have faith in God. Lots of faith, or little faith--what matters is the object of our faith. The object of our faith is Jesus Christ our Lord.
Mark 11:27-33 So That We Might Live and Know Him
The Text
Mark 11:27–33 (CSB)
27 They came again to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came28 and asked him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do these things?”
29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30 Was John’s baptism from heaven or of human origin? Answer me.”
31 They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was truly a prophet.
33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The Devotion
The salvation of God is not a pop quiz that awaits you when you get to the kingdom of God.
It is not what you know. All the books, seminary, private Christian school, homeschool, mom, dad, pastor, church, denomination, theology, right Bible tranlation, verse memorization--none of that will matter before Christ himself.
Salvation is: Do you know God because God dwells in you? Do you love God because God gave you his heart and Spirit so that you can love Him? Have you given your sin over to the Christ because God has granted you repentance?
We don't treat relationships like this--do we? This is not a sitcom where the wife accuses the husband of being dumb and the husband scrambles for an answer so that he doesn't get in trouble. What if your kids do that--instead of telling the truth, they scramble for a lie so that they avoid punishment.
Here's the upside-down-ness of the kingdom of God.
If you try to lie to the only God who knows the deepest, darkest parts of your heart, you will be punished for all of eternity.
If you come with truth--I am a sinner in desperate need of your grace. Guess what God does? He gives you every blessing starting with his Son and the inheritance of the world.
Stop looking for right answer to avoid punishment. Believe and trust in Christ so that you will be saved.
Mark 12:1-12 So That We Might Live and Be Sent By Him
The Text
Mark 12:1-12 (CSB)
1 He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away.2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard from them.
3 But they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.
4 Again he sent another servant to them, and they hit him on the head and treated him shamefully.
5 Then he sent another, and they killed that one. He also sent many others; some they beat, and others they killed.
6 He still had one to send, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
7 But those tenant farmers said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
8 So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill the farmers and give the vineyard to others.
10 Haven’t you read this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
11 This came about from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes?”
12 They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away.
The Devotion
The people of Jesus' time loved it when Christ did something that would benefit them.
But if he did something that would hurt their wallets, livelihood, power, status, appearance, or their stony hearts, they wanted to kill him.
People have no issues with the prophet's God. That is until God commands his prophets to preach the good news to his people. His people, far from God and disobeying God, will hear the gospel and it would smell like death.
So much so that they will kill and destroy the prophets.
Luke 11:48-51 (CSB) Therefore, you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments. Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world — from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. “Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.
Christ is the Prophet. By his teaching, preaching, and his actions of love, healing, and deliverance, he would be murdered just because his very presence challenged and confronted and condemned are little mud-slum kingdoms of little power and little appearance and little wealth.
There are two ways to respond to Christ: trust and be saved. The other is reject him and be condemned. Ignorance is not a third way--ignoring is rejecting.
Do not reject Christ. Christ gives the gospel commands: repent of your little slum kingdom and your false god worship and your identity in something not Christ.
Mark 12:13-17 So That We Might Live and Belong to Him
The Text
13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words.
14 When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
15 But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.”
16 They brought a coin. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them. “Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
The Devotion
Is this passage about patriotism, nationalism, politics, or taxes? No.
What this passage exposes the hardness of the hearts of unbelievers towards God.
They were so harden at the heart that they thought themselves to be wise, the became fools in trying to test the Almighty God:
Romans 1:21-23 (CSB) For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
The terrible and tragic thing is that any of us can be so gripped by our own sin (the evil that we do) and idolatry (the thing that we think will make us whole and complete that is not God), that we are willing to do whatever it takes to stop any opposition:
- addiction to porn - destroy life, marriage, and family in order to keep your addiction
- addiction to power - lie, cheat, and steal to keep a hold of your feeble little powers
- addiction to safety - dogpile upon the laws of God in order to keep us "safe" from harm--but only produces self-righteousness which is an abomination in the sight of God.
In our sin, we will go as far as trying to kill the Son of God.
But here's the kick: he has already died--never to die again.
Hebrews 7:27 (CSB) He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself.
And.
Hebrews 9:27-28 (CSB) And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
When we sin, we exchange God for something not God. When Christ came to save his people from their sins, he exchanged our pride, our sin, our idolatry, our stupidity, our ignorance, our foolishness, our wickedness for glorious, majestic, loving, grace and mercy--Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God.
For those who believe and trust in Christ, our sin now belongs to Him--because He is our King and Lord and everything that we have is His. We gave our sin over to Him, now we belong to him forever.
Christ was commanding the Pharisees and the scribes the same command to you, me, and the rest of the world: repent of sins, trust in Him.
Mark 12:18-27 So That We Might Live and Be With Him Forever
The Text
18 Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and questioned him:
19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife behind but no child, that man should take the wife and raise up offspring for his brother.
20 There were seven brothers. The first married a woman, and dying, left no offspring.
21 The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.
22 None of the seven left offspring. Last of all, the woman died too.
23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?”
24 Jesus spoke to them, “Isn’t this the reason why you’re mistaken: you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God?
25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.
26 And as for the dead being raised—haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?
27 He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken.”
The Devotion
If you want to drill down and make this about whether we are still married in heaven with God, then you would be sadly mistaken.
Take a look at the passage once more:
Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and questioned him:
And.
In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?”
These Sadducees had no intentions of giving their hearts over to the only God who saves. They spoke to God disbelieving and doubting that God would resurrect his people from the dead:
James 1:5-8 (CSB) Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
How many times we have approached the throne of grace as double-minded hypocrites?
Not as sinners but righteous.
Not as sick but healthy.
Not as poor but wealthy.
When we don't think we need anything from God, how many of us actual go to God.
But what if you knew you were in dire need of what only God can give:
Mercy. Grace. Love. Affection. Wisdom. Intercession. Life. Eternal. Holiness. Righteousness.
We need the kingdom of God.
We need God. We need Christ. We need the Holy Spirit.
Don't believe in the resurrection? Make sense since you need to born again in order to believe and trust God. Then you will know the power of the resurrection because it starts with Jesus Christ who in his resurrection championed over our sin, and all of sin, hell, demons, Satan, and death.
Christ lived because we sinned.
Christ died so that we will live forever.
Christ resurrected so we can be born again.
Mark 12:28-34 So That We Might Live and Love Him and Love Others
The Text
28 One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”
29 Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”
32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him.
33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.
The Devotion
The scribe gets it.
Do we get it?
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (CSB) If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
All the gifts. All the noise. All the tweets. All the followers. All the views. All the subscribers. All the members. All the fund raising.
What good is that if we don't love God and love other people?
Loving other people -- that could be messy in our modern world since the word "love" is jacked up beyond all repair. And none more evident than most people assumption that they love God when in their hearts, they really do not.
It had nothing to do with saying the sinner's prayer as a kid (me) or growing up in church or being a pastor or anything that we have done.
Is the Triune God in you? Has the Father ripped your heart out and put his in yours--so he can make his dwelling with you?
Is Christ in you? Saving you and cleansing you from your sins and from all unrighteousness?
Is the Spirit in you? Growing, strengthening you, maturing you, sharpening you, increasing your love for God and less for the world more and more.
Or are we playing church and keeping appearances or trying to complete a checklist so that God will give us what we want and then leave us alone?
What is it going to be? Choose on this day on whom you will serve.
Mark 12:35-37 So That We Might Live and Be Glorified
The Text
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?
36 David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’
37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
The Devotion
Acts 2:32-36 (CSB) “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool.’
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all the promises of the Old Testament.
Read the Old Testament. Flip the page. Then read:
Matthew 1:1 (CSB) An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
What does that mean to you and me--not necessarily Israelites.
Ah, go to the Psalm of David where both Mark and Peter quote:
Psalm 110 (CSB)
A psalm of David.1 This is the declaration of the LORD to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”
2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion. Rule over your surrounding enemies.
What did Christ come to do?
The people of this time wanted him to overthrow the Roman occupation. Dig a little deeper and they wanted Christ to cleanse out all non-Jewish people--Gentiles, Samaritans (impure Jews in the eyes of the Jews of that time) because everybody else was the enemy.
God did not send his one and only Son to drive out enemies that we have made up in our minds.
Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Christ came to save us from our real enemies: sin, Satan, demons, hell, and death.
Your make-it-up, fairy tale enemies who don't agree with you, don't worship God like you do, and generally oppose your way of life. Newsflash: they are not your enemy because they can't really do anything to you. "But they seek to steal, kill, and destroy us." No that is the Devil. Satan and his demons can tempt you to sin and let you get swallowed up into the undercurrent of the wrath of Christ because you refuse to repent of your sin.
Christ came to save us.
And when Christ died on the cross--not just lived or resurrected or ascended--but his death on the cross, that disarmed sin, Satan, and demons, and put them to open shame.
Christ told the scribe, "You are close to the kingdom of God." This reality that Christ is victorious is the kingdom of God.
How close are you to the kingdom of God? Are you in it or are you being conquered by sin and death. Are you in it because you repent of your sin and trust and obey the Son of God who is God. Are you in the kingdom of God because the Triune God has made His home in you.
Are you in the kingdom of God?
Mark 12:38-40 So That We Might Live and Be In His Family Forever
The Text
38 He also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who want greetings in the marketplaces,
39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
40 They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”
The Devotion
Power, prestige, greed, status, wealth, promotion, gain--none of that matters in the kingdom of God.
Why strive for power when our great Triune God is the Almighty God, infinite in power and might!
Revelation 1:8 (CSB) I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 4:8 (CSB) Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 (CSB) And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
What is greed and wealth when my Lord:
Psalms 50:9-11 (CSB) I will not take a bull from your household or male goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (CSB) Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.
Promotion? We are the sons and daughters of the only good Father and our brother is the King of kings who has inherited everything and we have co-inherited everything with him:
Hebrews 1:2 (CSB) In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Daniel 7:13-14 (CSB) I continued watching in the night visions,
and suddenly one like a son of man
was coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
He was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
so that those of every people,
nation, and language
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.
Romans 8:14-17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Gain? In this life? In this world? That is for natural, broken, sin-infected world. The more I gain here, the more I will lose my soul.
Mark 8:36-37 (CSB) For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? What can anyone give in exchange for his life?
You want to gain in the kingdom of God? You will have to die.
Matthew 16:24-25 (CSB) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.
Philippians 1:20-21 (CSB) My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Power, gain, honor, wealth is not our end goal. They will not satisfy our hearts.
We will not be satisfied until we can hold our Savior's face.
Psalms 17:14-15 (CSB) With your hand, LORD, save me from men, from men of the world whose portion is in this life: You fill their bellies with what you have in store; their sons are satisfied, and they leave their surplus to their children. But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
Mark 12:41-44 What Does Christ Want? Our Everything
The Text
Mark 12:41–44 (CSB)
41 Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums.42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little.
43 Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
44 For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had—all she had to live on.”
The Devotion
The gift of salvation from God is free.
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us —not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy — through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But when you receive this gift, it will cost you everything.
Your sin, your heart, your thinking, your soul, your affections, your actions--they now belong to God.
1 Corinthians 3:21-23 (CSB) So let no one boast in human leaders, for everything is yours — whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come — everything is yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB) Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
So let us not read this passage and think, "If we give like the poor widow, we will have God."
No. Where God leads us to give--not out of obligation nor guilt nor shame--we give because our money is not ours but God. God provides for all of our needs.. Our affections and desires are not ours but God's. God has given us his heart so that we would have new affections and desires for him.
Even our thinking belongs to him:
2 Corinthians 10:5b (CSB) we take every thought captive to obey Christ.
God wants everything from us because in Christ, he has given us everything.
Mark 13:1-2 What Does Christ Want? Our Sin
The Text
Mark 13:1–2 (CSB)
1 As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”
The Devotion
Luke 23:28-31 (CSB) But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed! ’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us! ’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us! ’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? ”
Hosea 10:8 (CSB) The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; thorns and thistles will grow over their altars. They will say to the mountains, “Cover us! ” and to the hills, “Fall on us! ”
Revelation 6:15-17 (CSB) Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand? ”
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded each of us to repent of our sin.
Where shall our sin go?
Only to God.
Psalms 103:12-13 (CSB) As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
How does he take our sin?
By placing our sin on his Son.
Nothing in this world in this life matters if you do not repent and believe Jesus Christ.
His kingdom is now.
Mark 13:3-13 What Does Christ Want? Our Hearts
The Text
Mark 13:3–13 (CSB)
3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
5 Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you.
6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many.
7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed; these things must take place, but it is not yet the end.
8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.
10 And it is necessary that the gospel be preached to all nations.
11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The Devotion
Jesus is giving us the real facts. The Son of God who is God is not and will never sugarcoat what it takes to believe and trust in Him while we are still very much in a fallen world.
There are some who will deny God. Without Christ to save them, they "will be thrown into the outer darkness where the wrath of Christ remains upon them--the weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:12; John 3:36)
There are some who will lying and twisting of Scriptures, will tell us that God will bless with health, wealth and prosperity if you believe and trust in them--coincide, coincidentally, with how much you give to line their pockets. These false shepherds are falling into their own destructions, not unlike the false prophets in Bible times. They are false because they promise what God never promises.
Here, the Son of God is crystal clear: Trust in Him and for that, you will be persecuted in some way. Your job, your family, your friends, your neighbors--some in your own church might turn against you.
We are not called to retaliate or take revenge. We are not called to fight and draw blood. We are called, dear brothers and sisters, to love God and love one another.
And to do so, God is asking one thing from you: your heart. Where is your heart? Does your heart belong to you or does it belong to God? Does your affections are with the King of kings or whatever you can do while you are here on earth for a very short time. Are you led by the Spirit or led by your own understanding and lusts.
Choose on this day whom you will serve.
Mark 13:14-23 What Does Christ Want? Our Attention
The Text
Mark 13:14–23 (CSB)
14 “When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.15 A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house,
16 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat.
17 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!
18 “Pray it won’t happen in winter.
19 For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of creation until now and never will be again.
20 If the Lord had not cut those days short, no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect, whom he chose.
21 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah! See, there!’ do not believe it.
22 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect.
23 And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.
The Devotion
In everything that Christ wants from us--our hearts, our mind, our sin, our wickedness, our deceit--in his preaching, Christ wants our undivided attention.
The world is trying to distract you away from Christ. Christ said there will be many false messiahs and prophets and they will do all kinds of cool things that get you away from God. Yes, even the Christians.
We used to think it would be signs and wonders. Now we know that it will be how you can identify yourself other than Christ. How you can build your own identity based on how you feel, or what you think or what you do--when all it matters is that how does the God of Universe identifies you?
In his Son or apart from his Son?
Under the blood of Christ or under the wrath of Christ?
Sins washed away by Christ or sins grinding your bones into dust?
Jesus proclaimed "well done, good and faithful servant" or Jesus condemned "depart from me, you workers of wickedness and lawlessness!"
This will not come as shock to no one who stands before the King of kings. For what did Christ say:
And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.
Mankind knows this is coming. Paul says in Romans 1 that we know yet we suppress the truth. Those who are not in Christ will stand before him, ready to give a defense of what they did, how they felt, or what they thought, because they knew this day was coming.
But those who are in Christ will stand before their blessed Savior not to give a defense, because the Spirit of God bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16), but rather, give an account all that Christ has done for them.
If you know Christ and Christ knows you, give thanks.
If you do not know the sin-bearing Christ who has come to set you free from sin and freedom into God, come to him now and repent. The kingdom of God is here.
Mark 13:24-27 What Does Christ Want? Our Eternity
The Text
Mark 13:24–27 (CSB)
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light;25 the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27 He will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
The Devotion
The Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God who created the heavens and the earth and under the earth. He created all things. He created us, humans--mankind--male and female.
And then we rebelled against this Creator. He did not smite us. He did not shame us. He did not destroyed us. None of that. He saved us.
God preaches His great gospel:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
The gospel that is His power to save us:
Romans 1:16–17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
And Christ, literally, historically, factually appeared on this earth some 2000 years ago.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
And the Bible, although has history in it, is not primarily a history book but rather a theological book. History books, Christian and secular alike, all triple confirm that Jesus of Nazareth walked this earth and did the things he did--miracles, signs and wonders, forgave sins, taught and preached with great authority. Then he was illegally arrested, tried and executed upon the cross.
But because Christ is holy, good, right, and just and God, he resurrected from the grave on the third day.
Titus 3:4–5 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
He did not just appear to his closest friends or just his disciples. He appeared to hundreds of witnesses. Then ascended to heavens.
This is the same God who tells us:
Mark 13:24–26 (CSB)“But in those days, after that tribulation: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
Christ is coming back to judge the living and the dead.
Christ has done it all and he will do it all. He alone will make all things righteous. See the things he has done to save you. You are saved. You are called to believe, trust, and obey the Son of God who is God.
Will you do it perfectly? No. That is the point. Will you rest in Him and "enter in the joy of your master"? That is on Christ. Just rest in him. See what he has said and know he will be back for us.
Prayer from the Psalms
Psalm 20 (CSB)
1 May the LORD answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.
3 May he remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. Selah
4 May he give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.
5 Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God. May the LORD fulfill all your requests.
6 Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories from his right hand.
7 Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm.
9 LORD, give victory to the king! May he answer us on the day that we call.
If I cry out for you, will you answer me?
If you alone made the provisions and the sacrifices, will you save me?
Even if I don’t understand you, will you reach for me?
I need you, Lord. I don’t even have the wisdom to reach my hands up to you.
I want you, God, and my heart is still filled with sin and wickedness.
I have you, my Lord and my God, because I have your Spirit within me all because of what Your Son has done for me.
Help me, God, help me.
Save me.
Amen
Mark 13:28-37 What Does Christ Want? Our Moment in Time
The Text
Mark 13:28–37 (CSB)
28 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near—at the door.
30 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
32 “Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—but only the Father.
33 “Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.
34 “It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert.
35 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning.
36 Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping.
37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”
The Devotion
Romans 1:18–22 (CSB)
18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools
Listen, for us to obey, love, fear, understand, believe, trust in God, God will need to raise us up from out of our sins and death into light and life.
There is no two ways about it.
And then Paul in Romans will expose our natural state:
Romans 1:18 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth
My birth and by choice, we suppress the truth.
Despite this in-born ignorance on our part, Christ pleads with humanity: don't miss it.
Be on alert.
Don't ignore the signs.
Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near—at the door.
From the moment Christ ascended to the Father until the day of his return, that is the end times. There is no gap of not the end times. You and I are not waiting for more signs to tell us when the Great Tribulation is coming or whatever. We are in it. For the last 2000, the Christians saw it. We see it. Christ says, "Be on alert."
And those who do not fear God, Paul says "they are without excuse." If they are without excuse, how much more the sons of light who know God?
Christ is coming again. Be on alert.
What does that mean? Go and do extra things to show that you are really really saved? No. Go and do churchy things to show that Christ needs to pick you when he comes back? No. Christ knows his sheep and his sheep know his shepherd.
Look, just like in Exodus, when the angel of death passed over those who were covered by the blood of the lamb, Christ knows those who are covered by his blood because his name is Jesus. He has already saved His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
The Great Shepherd, who has always been with us, is coming again. Sheep take comfort that their shepherd is near and cares for us. Christian, Christ has done it all. Be on alert that we are in the end times but Christ has you. God the Father is a perfect father--he has never lost any of his kids and he is not going to start with you.
Be in Christ.
Mark 14:1-2 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Will Give Up His Life For Us
The Text
Mark 14:1–2 (CSB)
1 It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a cunning way to arrest Jesus and kill him.2 “Not during the festival,” they said, “so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”
The Devotion
None of this is coincidence. Not your life. Not my life. Not on the life of our dear Savior.
Consider this:
Acts 17:24-28 (CSB) The God who made the world and everything in it — he is Lord of heaven and earth — does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’
And
Proverbs 16:9 (CSB) A person’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.
And
Psalm 139:16 (CSB)
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.
If God sets the boundaries and times of our dwelling, determines are steps, and records all of days and forms every single day before we were even born, then why would the Son of God who is God do any thing less for himself.
For
Philippians 2:5–11 (CSB)
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.
7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Your life is not a mistake. My life is not circumstance. I know that this world can be cruel and unforgiven. But our lives and death are not in vain.
Christ was not the victim of circumstance or some evil plot against him. No!
Christ formed these men who seek to kill him in the wombs of their mothers. Christ determined that they should be born and live in the same place and time as himself. Their hearts were wicked and sick but Christ alone determined their steps.
Christ was not the tragic victim of chaos and destruction and Satan. Christ gave himself up freely. And he sovereignly, justly, rightly, graciously planned and executed so that he will die in order to save his people from their sins.
James 1:2-4 (CSB) Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
Christ counted as joy to save his people. Whatever trials and tribulations you might experience in your life, count it all as joy.
And every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 14:3-9 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Is Anointed For Us
The Text
Mark 14:3–9 (CSB)
3 While he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head.4 But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this perfume been wasted?
5 For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her.
6 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for me.
7 You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me.
8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body in advance for burial.
9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
The Devotion
Spoiler alert: Christ was perfect in his obedience to the law. Another way of saying that he was perfectly obedient to God. In other words, he is without sin. He is perfect. He is holy. He alone is good.
He became us in every way except he was without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 (CSB) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Why was Christ being anointed by this woman for his buriel. He already told the Disciples several times that he is going to die, give up his life and be crucified. But Christ was to die, couldn't the people simply anointed him when he died?
Except he died on the Sabbath. He died on the day of rest. On the day he gave mankind. A day that was holy. And if never sinned, don't you know that we do not have to commit sin in order to minister to one another?
That was true for those who buried Christ on the Sabbath. That is true for us today.
God gives us grace to do his will.
At this moment in time, Christ told the Disciples that he was going to give his life up. The Disciples couldn't understand it and without the indwelling of the Spirit of God, neither could we. Yet, our Lord was completely sovereign in his death. He rescued this woman from her sins. And she was saved to God. And she ministered to others. And she started with her own Lord preparing him to die so that we might live.
Romans 6:1–11 (CSB) What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 14:10-11 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Is Betrayed Unto Death For Us
The Text
Mark 14:10–11 (CSB)
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.
The Devotion
Christ's death was not staged. The people of this time were not actors. They were real humans with real emotions, wills, minds, and desires. For all the good that Christ brought--which was the salvation of his people--most rejected. Even those who were born as a Hebrew:
John 1:11 (CSB) He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
Judas, who walked and ministered with Jesus. Who preached and cast out demons with the rest of the disciples. Who was there for nearly all of the works and preaching of Christ, sought to betray our Christ in the end.
There are times that you are going to be betray by a friend, family, or loved one--someone whom you love and you thought they loved you. And for sinful reasons, they turn their back on you, worked against you, deserted you and left you by yourself alone to defend yourself by yourself. That is betrayal.
Christ knew how this felt. He felt this unto death. No one wants to betrayed--not even Christ. But taking on the sin of the world to the cross--but everything that must come with it: the shame, the guilt, the suffering, the hurt, the breaking of the heart of Christ.
But Jesus did it all. He had to in order to save you and me.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 14:12-22 Every Step is Joy: Christ Prepares His Own Death For Us
The Text
Mark 14:12–22 (CSB)
12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it?”13 So he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.
14 Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’
15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.”
16 So the disciples went out, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, he arrived with the Twelve.
18 While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”
19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?”
20 He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me.
21 For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”
22 As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.”
The Devotion
If the people were not actors, then the stage was set in a real historical places. The location of Jesus' birth was prophesied in Micah:
Micah 5:2 (CSB) Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.
While the location of Jesus' death was not prophesied, his assassination and betrayal were certainly prophesied:
Psalm 31:13 (CSB) I have heard the gossip of many; terror is on every side. When they conspired against me, they plotted to take my life.
Psalm 41:9 (CSB) Even my friend in whom I trusted, one who ate my bread, has raised his heel against me.
Christ himself set the stage for his death. But he did so for celebrating the Passover--which we will all find out that he himself is the Passover Lamb.
He picked the room. He picked the table. His disciples gathered the food for the feast. Jesus announces his betrayal. But then Jesus announces the breaking of his body.
22 As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.”
The disciples did not know it yet. But Christ must die so that they can live. And it was not going to be a simple death.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 14:22-25 Every Step is Joy: Christ Is Broken For Us
The Text
Mark 14:22–25 (CSB) As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
The Devotion
1 Corinthians 11:17–26 (CSB)
17 Now in giving this instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.18 For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
19 Indeed, it is necessary that there be factions among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
20 When you come together, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.
21 For at the meal, each one eats his own supper. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk!
22 Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Here's the 1689 Confession, Chapter 30, On the Lord's Supper:
The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night wherein he was betrayed, to be observed in his churches, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death, confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and growth in him, their further engagement in, and to all duties which they owe to him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other.
This is what is so amazing about the first Supper of the Lord. Jesus Christ knew what was about to happen because He foreordained it to happen because the covenant between Christ and the Father in eternity past will come to past when the Father and the Son say it is going to happen:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
That deal is a done deal. No exceptions.
And Christ told the disciples three times this was about to come to past. This dinner? The fourth time! Do you think his disciples got it? No! They had no clue. If the had a clue, they would have not done the things they were about to do.
But Christ was about to perfectly do--give his life as ransom for many--we are to always remember what he has done.
We are to remember his perfect obedience of the law for us, the sacrifice of his life for us, his blood spilt to wash our sins for us, his righteousness covering us for us, and his Spirit now indwelling in our hearts whom he has sent from the Father for us.
He did it all. Wonderfully, joyfully, definitely, and perfectly for us.
When we remember what he has done, don't come to the table with sorrow or overthinking in despair that you have sinned in the last week/month/year and didn't repent of it. God knows you forgot to repent! He knows we are made of dust! (Psalm 103) Don't you see? That is why he sent his Son: to live and die so that we might live and never die.
Eat this bread. Drink this wine. Do this in remembrance of Christ.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 14:26-31 Every Step is Joy: Christ Is Struck For Us
The Text
Mark 14:26–31 (CSB) After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away, because it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.
The Devotion
There are two types of people in the world: believers and unbelievers.
Here's the kick: both sets of people (read: everyone) has betrayed and trespasses and sin against God. Both sets of people have struck the Savior with our sin and wickedness. Whatever we did, it fell way short of the perfect glory of God.
What did God do? Eradicate his creation? No. Bear down endless wrath and force people to repent? Nope. Withdraw himself and let his creation have their way unto their deaths? Not likely.
John 3:17 (CSB) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
The Father sent his Son to rescue his people from their sins.
Everyone has sinned against the Son. Everyone. Believers and unbelievers alike. One will forever be consumed the fire of his perfect wrath. The other will be protected from his fiery wrath.
Choose on this day on whom you will serve.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 14:32-42 Every Step is Joy: Christ Is Condemned For Us
The Text
Mark 14:32–42 (CSB)
32 Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.
34 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.”
35 He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”
37 Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour?
38 Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing.
40 And again he came and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42 Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”
The Devotion
Jesus was determined. Sure. Faithful. Came into our world ready, willing and able to "save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
He was willing to be the "Worthy Lamb who has come to take away the sins of the world." (John 1:29)
He came into the world not to condemn the world but to save it.
John 3:14–17 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
But for that, he must be draped upon the staff like the brazen serpent. To accomplished his mission, he must be lifted up so he will draw all peoples to himself. (John 12:32)
But to do so: he must bear the weight of our sins. He must take on the wrath of God's justice. He must completely obey the law.
To get to that, he must be abandoned by friends. He must be assaulted by his enemies. He must be betrayed by someone whom he loved deeply.
All for us. Just to save us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
For our sake.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 14:43-52 Every Step is Joy: Christ Is Despised For Us
The Text
Mark 14:43–52 (CSB)
43 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.44 His betrayer had given them a signal. “The one I kiss,” he said, “he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.”
45 So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.
46 They took hold of him and arrested him.
47 One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.
48 Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me?
49 Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”
50 Then they all deserted him and ran away.
51 Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him,
52 but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.
The Devotion
Since Genesis 3, since sin entered into the world, we have all despised God.
God made us to worship him. We exchange that goodness and righteousness for what? To be our own God. To foolishly think our way was better than his way.
Over and over again, through the Bible and throughout the history of mankind, God would speak directly to us--he would let us in on the plan. You know what we consistently do? We can't accept the plan. Even when Christ told the disciples, "I have to die", "I must go", "It will be better if I went back", "I am going to die and in three days, will rise", the disciples didn't believe it.
And neither can we. I cannot tell you how many friends of mine who love God but cannot bare the thought that the son of God did die. They come to the conclusion: "Christ did not have to die. He could have simply forgiven sins by speaking the words."
That sounds nice but what did God say?
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
We despise his way. We despise his plan. We despise God.
But God did not save us because of us. God saved us despise us and our continuous sin. Because God is God and God is love and God made a promise and he will see that promise to the bitter end.
For our sake and his glory. For our salvation and our joy. For his righteousness and holiness. Forevermore.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 14:53-65 Every Step is Joy: Christ Is Accused For Us
The Text
Mark 14:53–65 (CSB)
53 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes assembled.54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants, warming himself by the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any.
56 For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree.
57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating,
58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ”
59 Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?”
61 But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?
64 You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.
65 Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple servants also took him and slapped him.
The Devotion
Isaiah 53:7 (CSB) He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.
And.
Romans 8:34–36 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
Our Christ was completely innocent. Those who are innocent do not have to defensive. There is nothing to defend because they are innocent.
Christ speaks of this in his Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 7:21–27 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
The guilty and the damned are desperate to defend themselves before the great and mighty God. His holiness is too much to bear. His righteousness exposes their unrighteousness. They know they are damn and their words quicken their faith that much faster.
See how the innocent, the Christ-covered adopted children of God stand before him:
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Christ stood in our place for our sin. Christ already was tried and found guilty--not because he was guilty but we, as his people, were guilty as sin.
He took the shame and the guilt and the condemnation. He, in himself alone, should not experienced any of that. But because we are his people and because He saved us, he must take it on--because he loves us so much.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 14:66-72 Every Step is Joy: God Will Be Denied For Us
The Text
Mark 14:66-72 (CSB)
66 While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came.67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”
68 But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed.
69 When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”
70 But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.”
71 Then he started to curse and swear, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
The Devotion
Peter is not alone here. Every single believe in Christ has denied the holy and living God. Either by our mouths or by our actions or by our thoughts, motives, and emotions.
If we swapped Peter out for any of us, we would have done it quicker, faster and a little more blasphemously.
I say Peter wasn't alone because we have all done the same thing. But in this instance, Peter was alone, isolated, lonely, desperate, afraid, and grieving. He was scared out his wits. His world was collapsing before his eyes he could do nothing about it. All of those times when Christ told him, "I am going to die", Peter didn't and couldn't understand what that meant because it didn't make sense. It was foolishness. It was weak. For Christ to die didn't make sense.
1 Corinthians 1:18–25 (CSB) For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent. Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
But Christ did have to do die so that Peter could be saved from his God-denying, Satan-imitating sin.
Christ did have to do die so that you and me could be saved from our continuous God-denying, Satan-imitating sin.
Christ was going to make all things right. In a moment, the original Adam, brought on lifetimes of sin. And in another moment, the second Adam will now bring on true and redeemed and saved and sanctified and justified and glorified lifetimes.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 15:1-5 Every Step is Joy: Christ Does Not Defend Himself For Us
The Text
Mark 15:1-5 (CSB)
1 As soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priests tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.2 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.”
3 And the chief priests accused him of many things.
4 Pilate questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!”
5 But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed.
The Devotion
Christ is the Son of God who is God. Christ, justly, rightly, innocently could have easily said the right words in the right way and get out of this blasphemous, joke of a trial and this very real, excruciating, torturous, literally heart-spliting, literally blood-draining, literally soul releasing death on a cross.
Just like he spoke and brought everything into existence, just as so, he could have spoken and gotten out of this scott-free.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
But if he did so, if he had said the "right" words, he would have gotten out of it but we would have never gotten out of hell. We would have zero chance to get out of hell. So you see, because God is God, God does not break promises and does not lie because he cannot sin, the "right" words would have been the wrong words. We could not have been saved and Christ would not have been God.
But before Genesis 1:1 to the infinity, he was always God. When wwas born to the Virgin Mary, he was God. When he worked as a carpenter interning underneath his stepdad, he kept being God. When he studied and memorized so that he could faithfully, perfectly exposit the Scriptures, he was God. When he began his ministry of teaching, preaching, healing, casting out demons--he was God.
So he was arrested. Tried. Accused. About to be hanged on a tree.
He never ceased to be God.
For our worthless estate, he never, not for one second, ceased to be God.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 15:6-15 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Is Exchanged For Us
The Text
Mark 15:6-15 (CSB)
6 At the festival Pilate used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested.7 There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion.
8 The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom.
9 Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?”
10 For he knew it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead.
12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?”
13 Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”
14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.
The Devotion
It all started in the garden where our original parents exchange the glory of God for themselves.
Genesis 3:6 (CSB) The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Paul expounds on this:
Romans 1:20-25 (CSB) For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
Right there is we worship self rather than God. We were made to worship God. When we don’t, all of creation is broken, is marred, is fracture down to the core. That is sin.
And sin ends in death.
We were made to worship God forever. We were made to live forever and not die. But humanity’s sin broke that.
Yet, God saw our helpless estate and in his merciful love, set to make it right.
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Where we exchanged God for ourselves, Christ, Son of God who is God, came down to us, lived as us without sin, to be exchanged ourselves back to God.
And it started by exchanging the worst within us for God.
Our sinful nature wants the Barabbas within us to be set free without consequence.
God knew that.
We may want no consequence for our sin but without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. (Hebrews 9:22)
Our sin demands a punishment. Our wickedness demands a sacrifice. For the people of God, we cannot bear the punishment for our sins. If we died, we would not be made holy.
But Christ, endured this mockery of a trial, tortured, beaten, spat upon—-and the worst, to be falsely accused when he has done no sin. And remained silent for he will save his people from their sins.
It was in this moment he exchanged our sin back to his glory. To save his people. Forever.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 15:16-21 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Was Put To Shame For Us
The Text
Mark 15:16-21 (CSB)
16 The soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called the whole company together.17 They dressed him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on him.
18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”
19 They were hitting him on the head with a stick and spitting on him. Getting down on their knees, they were paying him homage.
20 After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him. They led him out to crucify him.
21 They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross. He was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
The Devotion
Isaiah 53:3-4 (CSB) He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.
He was like someone people turned away from;
he was despised, and we didn’t value him.
Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,
and he carried our pains;
but we in turn regarded him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
Born into this sinful, broken, diseased world—-we are mocked and scorned and we do so to others.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
We are commanded to never mock, make fun of, scorn, or hate one another. The first commandment is to love God with everything you got. In Christ continued exposition of the law, he goes on to say:
Matthew 22:39 (CSB) The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Loving your neighbor (which everyone) as yourself is like loving the Lord your God with all of your being.
And in our sin, we don’t do that. We literally do the opposite. We hate one another. We gossip about one another. We cut each other down. We despise one another.
And no one deserves this type of hate but for the most vile, depraved, wicked among us.
Yet, Christ, being ill-deserving of any hatred bears all the sin of hatred for us—for his people.
Malachi 1:2-3 (CSB) “I have loved you,” says the LORD. Yet you ask, “How have you loved us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” This is the LORD’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau. I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
That hatred for Esau was Esau’s final judgment. For all of the blessings that Esau received in his lifetime and for the despicable behavior of Jacob—yet, Jacob trusted God and Esau did not. God loved Jacob and hated Esau.
For our hatred of others, we should have been hated by God. But Christ took that sin of hatred and hostility and placed it on himself for his people. Now we are forever loved and cherished because we belong to him.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 15:22-32 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Is Crucified For Us
The Text
Mark 15:22-32 (CSB)
22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull).23 They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
24 Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get.
25 Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified him.
26 The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews.
27 They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left.
29 Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30 save yourself by coming down from the cross!”
31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!
32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with him taunted him.
The Devotion
John 8:11 (CSB) “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
Why did Christ have to die?
Making it's destructive way through liberal Christianity, aside from denial of the basic tenets of the Christian faith, is residing to the opinion that our Christ did not have to die for the sins of his people. Look at John 8. He simply forgave the adulteress and she went on her merry way. God can simply forgive sin because he is God and has the power to do so.
To make such a statement is to assume the end: that God, in his most holy and righteousness, can simply look the other way when it comes to our transgression and utter the word, "forgive" like it is a magic spell.
To which, I would say, "Of course, of course, of course--except you forgot one thing--the word of God.
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 1
Without the shedding of blood is there is no forgiveness of sin. What the world wants to believe is that I can forgive even gross and traumatic sin and there is no effects from the sin and just simply whispering the words of forgiveness will automatically heals and repairs and makes whole.
Absolutely not.
Mankind tends to forget the common tenet of sin: for the wages of sin is death! 2
But God cannot un-know sin. God in his holiness does not have to tolerate sin. He does not let it into his presence. He would make people who would bear his image and so that they can be with him forever but that can only happen if the is no sin only holiness.
God knew that. God knew there was no hope with without him. That is why he sent his Son, Jesus Christ:
Colossians 2:11-14 (CSB) You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
Those who would say that Christ did not have to die to forgive us our sin only died because he was an enemy of the state. Which is only partially true. But Christ was no ordinary enemy of no ordinary state. The state was the damned, broken, death-ridden creation with Satan as its prince and the people as his prisoners. Christ was not just mere man but fully God and fully man who was fully holy and fully righteous fully at war with sin, Satan, demons, death, and hell.
Christ is God-incarnate who died on that tree Calvary.
But his death was ultimate, final, complete, definite, perfect victory for his people:
Colossians 2:14-15 (CSB) He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
... in doing so...
he disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Christ had to die to disarm the Satan and demons and to put them to open shame because Satan, demons, sin, hell and death can never separate the people of God from the love of God in Christ Jesus because the people of God in Christ Jesus are under no condemnation but under the law of the Spirit of life.
For every Christian can raise their voice and shout this anthem:
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Praise be to our God!
Leviticus 17:11 (CSB) For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement. 2: Romans 6:23a
Mark 15:33-42 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Died For Us
The Text
Mark 15:22–32 (CSB)
22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull).23 They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
24 Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get.
25 Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified him.
26 The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews.
27 They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left.
29 Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30 save yourself by coming down from the cross!”
31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!
32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with him taunted him.
The Devotion
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
John 12:32 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”
John 10:14-18 (CSB) “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
In the garden, our original parents wrongfully, sinfully exchanged the glory of God for themselves, bring them into sin, shame, guilt, suffering, and death.
Romans 1:18–25 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
In this moment, right here, Christ, whom created heavens and the earth, who created soil and the tree from which to construct the cross; whom shaped the mountains to containing the metal ore and granting the science in which to smelt and smith the nail and the spear to pierce his skin; and knitted each of the Pharisees and the soldiers and Judas, as they were in their mothers' wombs, and preserved their lives so that they would betray, lie, slap, spit, and execute this Son of Man.
He literally did it all so that you and I would be saved unto him forever.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Nothing is a mistake. None of this happened to him. He is God. He decreed it. He allowed it. He moved it. So that you and I could worship him in Spirit and in truth for all of eternity.
That is our God!
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 15:42-47 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Is Buried For Us
The Text
Mark 15:42–47 (CSB)
42 When it was already evening, because it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath),43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body.
44 Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had already died.
45 When he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph.
46 After he bought some linen cloth, Joseph took him down and wrapped him in the linen. Then he laid him in a tomb cut out of the rock and rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.
47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid.
The Devotion
I have long contended that it was Paul who was the original Systematic Theologian. He took the Old Testament through the lens of the ministry of our Christ and systematically explained it to the church.
And there is no better way to exposit this Marcian account of the death and burial of Christ other than this way:
Romans 6:1–14 (CSB)
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
7 since a person who has died is freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him,
9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.
10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.
13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.
14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
Christ has died.
He did not die for all of the world. He died for his people. Remember the angelic prophecy to Joseph:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
What did do with our sins?
Buried them with Jesus.
But since Jesus and not our sins are righteous, only one will resurrect from the grave and alive forevermore.
Our sins are dead in the ground. They are infinitely separately as the east is from the west. The Son of Man died and bled. So therefore his blood is my covering.
We are free from our sin. We are under zero condemnation.
Jesus tell us, "God does not condemn you. Go and sin no more."
Christ faithfully gives that command to us because he was going to give his life and take our sins into hell.
We are free.
Praise be his name.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 16:1-8 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Freed Us From Sin
The Text
Mark 16:1–8 (CSB)
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they could go and anoint him.2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb at sunrise.
3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?”
4 Looking up, they noticed that the stone—which was very large—had been rolled away.
5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him.
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’ ”
8 They went out and ran from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.
The Devotion
Romans 6:1–14 (CSB)
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
7 since a person who has died is freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him,
9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.
10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.
13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.
14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
Because Christ has lived the perfect life because we have fallen so short.
Because Christ has absorbed the wrath of God that was meant for us.
Because Christ has died the death that we should have.
Because Christ has risen from the grave.
Because Christ looked upon you before Genesis 1:1 and set his affections upon you.
Because Christ loved you with an everlasting love.
Because Christ knew you could not sin even on your best day.
Because Christ did it all so that you would be saved from your sins.
You no longer a slave to sin but a son of God.
You are no longer dead in your trespasses and sin but alive in Christ.
You are no longer forgotten but you are redeemed by God.
You no longer subjected to Satan and sin but you now get to obey God.
You are free. God himself does not condemn you.
Go and sin no more. Amen.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 16:9-12 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Has Defeated Satan, Demons, Sin, Hell, And Death For Us
The Text
Mark 16:9–12 (CSB)
9 [Early on the first day of the week, after he had risen, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.10 She went and reported to those who had been with him, as they were mourning and weeping.
11 Yet, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.
12 After this, he appeared in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country.
The Devotion
Colossians 2:14–15 (CSB) He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Revelation 1:17-18 (CSB) When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
It is only with the death of our Christ that Christ perfectly, definitely, completely our real enemies: sin, Satan, demons, hell, and death.
We read the Old Testament and especially David in the Psalms with enemies coming in like ravage dogs all around him.
But those were not his real enemies.
Circumstances? Your ex-husband or wife? Your boss at work? That guy who cut you off in traffic? Your abuser? Authority.
None of them could send you to hell into the wrath of the Almighty God.
We don't know that. But God, who sees all and knows all, knew that. He knew if he did nothing, we would have perished. But that is why he sent his Son to die in order to defeat our real enemies.
Ephesians 6:10–12 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
If our enemies are defeated and retreated because Christ has conquered them, what does that make us?
Romans 8:37 (CSB) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Read this sermon excerpt from one of my favorite preachers, Octavius Winslow, a contemporary of Spurgeon:
"Through him that loved us." Here is the great secret of our victory, the source of our triumph. Behold the mystery explained, how a weak, timid believer, often running from his own shadow, is yet "more than a conqueror" over his many and mighty foes. To Christ who loved him, who gave himself for him, who died in his stead, and lives to intercede on his behalf, the glory of the triumph is ascribed. And this is the song he chants, "Thanks be to God which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Through the conquest which he himself obtained, through the grace which he imparts, through the strength which he inspires, through the intercession which he presents, in all our "tribulation, and distress, and persecution, and famine, and nakedness, and peril, and sword " we are "more than conquerors." Accounted though we are as "sheep for the slaughter," yet our Great Shepherd, Himself slain for the sheep, guides his flock, and has declared that no one shall pluck them out of his hand. We are more than conquerors through his grace who loved us in the very circumstances that threaten to overwhelm. Fear not, then, the darkest cloud, nor the proudest waves, nor the deepest needs- in these very things you shall, through Christ, prove triumphant. Nor shrink from the battle with the "last enemy." Death received a death-wound when Christ died. You face a conquered foe. He stands at your side a crownless king, and waving a broken scepter. Your death shall be another victory over the believer's last foe. Planting your foot of faith upon his prostrate neck, you shall spring into glory, more than a conqueror, through him that loved you. Thus passing to glory in triumph, you shall go to swell the ranks of the "noble army of martyrs"- those Christian heroes of whom it is recorded, "THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD Of THE LAMB."
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation in Christ Jesus. 229.
I tell you these things so that your joy may be full!
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 16:12-13 Every Step Is Joy: Christ Has Saved His People From Their Sins
The Text
Mark 16:12–13 (CSB)
12 After this, he appeared in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country.13 And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either.
The Devotion
Our salvation is complete. It is done. It is finished. It is perfect.
We don't get to do anything. Christ has done it all.
We can't do anything because no of us is good--no, not even one.
God alone is good.
When Christ truly preached absolute truth, "It is finished!" That was it. He was done. There was nothing for us to do but to be saved.
For all our sins, wickedness, depravity, treason, malice, hatred, foolishness, deception, slavery, bondage, corruption, Christ saw that, removed that from us and put it on him. For:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
And
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Today, now is the time, give your sins to Jesus. He will give you his righteousness so that you will not perish but have everlasting life.
Right now. The price has been paid by God himself back to God. If you do not know God, you can do so today. Remember the promises of God: go to God, ask for God, you will instantly get to God.
Now that? You can't do that unless the Spirit dwells in you. Can you ask that of God? Then do so now. If you can't, you have to ask yourself, "Why can't I go to God?" You are seriously going to sit there and not let you bother you? You are going to think that there is nothing of the wrath of God that remains on the unbeliever.
You have seen the proof: God saves his people. So go to God. Receive God. Be with God. Forever.
Every step that Christ took towards the cross was in complete joy and satisfaction because every step he took was one step closer to completely, satisfactorily, perfectly, definitely, absolutely, forever "save his people from their sins."
Mark 16:14-20 Go And Do Likewise
The Text
Mark 16:14–20 (CSB)
14 Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen.15 Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
19 So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]
The Devotion
14 Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen.
Go And Do Likewise: Keep your heart tender towards God
1 Timothy 4:1-2 (CSB) Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
How do you that?
Look at the 1 Timothy passage. Don't pay attention to false teachings and false preachings. Go to a church that reads the word of God and preaches the word of God using the word of God. Avoid a preacher's opinions and their jokes and funny quips and wise sayings and ten ways of living your best life.
Sit under the preached word of God and received the perfect and complete work of Christ.
15 Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Go And Do Likewise: preach the gospel
2 Timothy 4:1–5 (CSB)
1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
5 But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Some of you might be called to preach or teach or evangelize. But all of us are called by God to testify to his goodness and mercy and his Son's perfect work.
Don't worry about getting it right. For:
John 15:26-27 (CSB) “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father — the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father — he will testify about me. You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
And
Mark 13:9-11 (CSB) “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. And it is necessary that the gospel be preached to all nations. So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
But stay under the preached word. Study the Bible together with your family in Christ. And pray to the Spirit that he will teach you all things concerning God. I will promise you will grow and gain confidence in proclaiming all what God has done in us.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Go And Do Likewise: believe the Son of God
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
But remember, you cannot perfectly obey God. God knows that. That is why he sent his Son. You cannot perfectly believe. But the fact you do believe means God has saved you. For:
Ezekiel 36:25–28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
Look at what God has done in your life. You just went through major heart surgery by God. Praise be his name.
And now that you have same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwelling in you, you are fully and truly alive. For:
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
Go And Do Likewise: Christ has made all things right-standing with him
You will bear witness to the power of God and you will witness miracles and the supernatural because the Holy Spirit has opened your eyes to see.
The enemies of this world are defeated because of the death of Christ. Though you might die, even martyred for your faith, you will not perish but live everlasting with the God that saved you.
You don't need to tempt death by doing things that will harm or kill you. The world will try to harm you. Satan wants to see you suffer and die. But they will not succeed in separating you from the love of God that is only found in Christ Jesus our Lord.
19 So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Go And Do Likewise: Christ has ascended to the right hand of God
For:
Daniel 7:13-14 (CSB)
I continued watching in the night visions,
and suddenly one like a son of man
was coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
He was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
so that those of every people,
nation, and language
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.
And:
Hebrews 10:12-13 (CSB) But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool.
His work is complete. His work in done. You are now free in Christ. For:
Romans 8:14–15 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
And.
Romans 8:20-21 (CSB) For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]
Go And Do Likewise: Go in the name of God.
Romans 16:20 (CSB) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Amen.
Luke: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
I finished up The Gospel of Mark with my stepkids. Now I have little bitty kids.
This started out as a mere outline for Luke's Gospel. But because of the youth of my kids (pre-kindergarten whenw e started), I wanted to fold in some catechism. So I integrated the Westminster Shorter Catechism into the readings of Luke.
Yet, in the provision of God, in our move to Kentucky, we switched from Non-Denominational to Reformed Baptist. My pastor heard about what I was doing and sincerely recommended Milk for Little Ones: An Introduction to the Baptist Catechism.
The fruit has been outstanding. And not to go all pragmatic, but my children, now elementary age of this writing, are now baptized. Praise be to God.
After finishing the catechism, I will start to integrate this, other catechism, and confessions into my devotional writing. I suspect I will move back into Luke after Milk for Little Ones.
The Resources
It Goes Without Say
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries & Books
Calvin's Commentaries.
by John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
Luke: An Expositional Commentary
R.C. Sproul.
Reformation Trust Publisher. 2020.
Goodreads
This is fresh off the presses. I have read Romans, John, Mark, Acts, 1 & 2 Peter, and Matthew from this set. I can easily recommend every single one of them.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Keep on truckin'.
The Gospel of Luke (NICNT).
Norval Geldenhuys.
Eerdmans. 1951.
Goodbooks
Do I know anything about this guy? Nope. A few Amazon reviewers thought he was super solid and a conservative theologian.
When I started up this series, I was hard up for good Luke resources. God's pure grace and timing, this fell into my lap. So I am going out with the horse I rode in on and keeping this as part of the stack.
Luke (NIVAC).
Darrell L. Bock.
Zondervan. 1996.
I swear to beans I have more books from this guy. But a quick look-see on Amazon shows that he is a one-lane kind-of-guy. He knows his Luke-Acts. (Now that I think about it, I am getting him mixed up with Daniel I. Block who wrote Ezekiel (NICOT).)
Luke (WBC).
John Nolland.
Thomas Nelson. 1989-93.
Goodreads
ESV Expository Commentary: Matthew–Luke (Volume, 8).
Dan Doriani (Author).
Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., & Jay Sklar (Editors).
Crossway. September 7, 2021.
Goodreads
So, I got the first three volumes released back a few years ago. Now they are up to 11 volumes. Also, I just created a budget that allows me to purchase one commentary per paycheck. (Bivocational is the providence of God.)
The authors are top notch. This will be referenced for sure.
Luke 1-2:21 The Incarnation of the Word of God
Luke 1:1-4 To Be Called A Witness
Luke 1:1–4 (CSB) Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.
What is it to witness? In the court of law, it is one who testifies to crime that was committed or to the whereabouts of one that is accused.
To witness about God among us is merely more than what we see and know.
It is that God sees us and knows us.
Christ said in Matthew 10:32–33, "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."
Paul goes on in Romans 8, "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."
It is any wonder then why Christ will tell those who call themselves witnesses, disciples, and gospel proclaimers in Matthew 10:16–23 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."
What is our response? In Acts 1:6–11, the author Luke bore witness: So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
-
To whom is the author speaking to? What is the author intending to do?
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What is it mean to bear witness of the truth?
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Can you proclaim the truth and live in contradiction to that truth?
Luke 1:5–7 How Can We Be Righteous Before God?
Luke 1:5–7 (CSB) In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.
What is righteous?
How can we be righteous before God? Can we make ourselves righteous? What does God have to do?
Ezekiel 36:22–38 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations. It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord God; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.
“Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.
“Thus says the Lord God: This also I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: to increase their people like a flock. Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Luke 1:8–10 How Can We Worship God Everyday?
Luke 1:8–10 (CSB) When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.
1 Corinthians 7:24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Beyond reading the Bible, praying, singing, going to church--how can we worship God all the time?
Luke 1:11–17 Who is the Last Prophet of the Old Testament?
Luke 1:11–17 (CSB) An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”
Malachi 4:1–6 (ESV) “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts. “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Jesus' cousin, John, was in the long lineage of prophets throughout the Old Testament who passionately, emphatically, weirdly, and for most prophets, ultimately murdered, in order to preach one thing that started with God's proclamation in Genesis 3:15. "God himself will fix everything and make all things right with him. Just believe in God and trust his word!"
But that gospel is either the aroma of Christ for those being saved or the stench of death for those who are perishing. You would think that a life-giving, life-saving message would be eagerly received like a cup of water in a dry desert. No! We are so quick to dump that thirst quenching water on the blistering sand so that we can keep doing the things we want to do.
What are the things we want to keep doing? Sin all the more as if there is no God. Don't think about non-believers right now. I know plenty of pastors who preach as if there is a God, he doesn't care about breaking his promises (which God would cease to be God if he broke promises.)
What are the things we want to keep doing? Continue to try to earn favor and righteousness with doing what is right in own eyes? Thank you, I will take a hard pass on that back-breaking yoke and burden of legalism.
Or the newest one: For those who believe and trust in Christ, our sin is perfectly nailed to the cross with Him and buried with Him into the ground. The difference is when Christ conquered death and arose out of the grave by the power of the Holy Spirit, sin didn't come out of the grave with him! Our sin stays dead! Sin is not holy nor perfect. Our sins were buried with Christ a long time ago. BUT now the world and Christians want to redefine what is sin and not sin. They are say, "No problem, let me go back 2000 years ago, climb up the cross and use my Jesus Christ's bloodied and broken body for leverage and retrieve my sin out of his nails because I now want to be identified by my sin and not by Jesus Christ!" Insanity. Why would you do that when Christ died once and all for our sin?
The gospel cuts across all of this madness.
You are a great sinner dead in your sins against the Triune God.
You are not and will not ever be good enough to be saved by God.
But God, alone being rich in love, mercy, and grace alone, by the power of the Holy Spirit alone, through the torn-body of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, saved you. Before you even had a thought. Before you even were born. Before you even nursed by your mother. Before the foundations of the world. From everlasting to everlasting, He is God alone.
Believe upon His Son's name, Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.
That gospel will save. (Romans 1:16-17) But it also will incite violence. It will tear families apart. It will cause you to be rejected and scorn; to be betrayed and vilified and to be persecuted and stripped bare.
It was this violence that killed most of the prophets in the Old Testament.
And John the Baptist would not the be the exception.
Choose this day on Whom you will serve.
Luke 1:18-25 Can We Keep Secrets From God?
Luke 1:18–25 (CSB) “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
I Chronicles 28:9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
Romans 8:27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Luke 1:26-38 God Calls Us To Him
Luke 1:26–38 (CSB) In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.” “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
And Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I am a virgin?
And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God. And Mary said, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.
Genesis 6:5-14 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Exodus 3:1-7 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here I am. Then he said, Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. And he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,
Isaiah 6:1-7 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.
Jeremiah 1:4-8 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. Then I said, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth. But the Lord said to me, Do not say, I am only a youth; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.
Acts 9:1-6 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.
Luke 1:39-45 Jump For Joy
Luke 1:39–45 (CSB) In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”
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What are some of the ways you have seen God given you sweet grace and tender mercies?
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What is your heart response? How can you give thanks to God right now for who He is and what He has done for you?
Luke 1:46–56 What is Your Song?
Luke 1:46–55 (CSB) And Mary said:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
because he has looked with favor
on the humble condition of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed,
because the Mighty One
has done great things for me,
and his name is holy.
His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear him.
He has done a mighty deed with his arm;
he has scattered the proud
because of the thoughts of their hearts;
he has toppled the mighty from their thrones
and exalted the lowly.
He has satisfied the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he spoke to our ancestors.And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.
Revelations 15:3-4 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."
Adam and Eve?
John the Apostle?
Paul?
Nebuchadnezzar?
Daniel 4:28-35 (CSB) All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built to be a royal residence by my vast power and for my majestic glory?”
While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you. You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals, and you will feed on grass like cattle for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants.”
At that moment the message against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified him who lives forever: For his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom is from generation to generation.
All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing,
and he does what he wants with the army of heaven
and the inhabitants of the earth.
There is no one who can block his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
Luke 1:57-66 What is Your Calling?
Luke 1:57–66 (CSB) Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.” Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
Psalms 22:9-10 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
When did God know you?
When did God save you?
How do you know if you are saved by God?
Luke 1:67-80 What Are You Saved From and To?
Luke 1:67–80 (CSB)
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited
and provided redemption for his people.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
just as he spoke by the mouth
of his holy prophets in ancient times;
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of those who hate us.
He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors
and remembered his holy covenant—
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham.
He has given us the privilege,
since we have been rescued
from the hand of our enemies,
to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
And you, child, will be called
a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare his ways,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high will visit us
to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.The child grew up and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Giving Zechariah's prophesy, what did the Old Testament reveal about God and what He promised He will do for his people?
What was Zechariah's son called to do?
What are we called to do if we believe and trust in God?
Luke 2:1-7 God Becomes Man (Part 1)
Luke 2:1–7 (CSB) In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Why was it so important for Christ to be born in Bethlehem?
Is it coincidence that that the ruler at the time would be make a law for everybody to be counted?
Who determines our boundaries and the times we live in?
Acts 17:22–28 (ESV) So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Luke 2:8-21 God Becomes Man (Part 2)
Luke 2:8–21 (CSB) In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors!When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told. When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before he was conceived.
Consider all of Old Testament, why were these shepherds so joyful in this little baby boy being born?
Luke 2:22-52 Jesus Christ Grew in Wisdom and Stature
Luke 2:22-24 Jesus Grew: Christ Perfectly Obeyed the Law of God
Luke 2:22–24 (CSB) And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).
Did Christ perfectly obey the law of God?
Why was this necessarily so?
Did Christ learn the law of God automatically or was he taught?
Out of all* *the people Jesus knew as a child, who would have taught Jesus the most Scriptures?
Luke 2:25–33 Jesus Grew: Christ Perfectly Fulfilled the Prophecies of the Messiah
Luke 2:25–33 (CSB) There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law,
Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,
Now, Master,
you can dismiss your servant in peace,
as you promised.
For my eyes have seen your salvation.
You have prepared it
in the presence of all peoples—
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and glory to your people Israel.His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
How do you think Simeon felt see and holding the Christ?
Have you ever received a prophetic word?
Has it come to pass?
Examine Simeon's worship. What did Simeon equate Jesus to?
Luke 2:34–38 Jesus Grew: Christ Perfectly Redeems His People
Luke 2:34–38 (CSB) Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed— and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
According to Simeon, what did Jesus come to do? Where can we point in the Gospels where Christ himself speaks of the same thing?
Read John the Baptist's prophecy in John 3:25-30 and then consider all the prophets of the OT including Anna and John. What did all the prophets do?
Luke 2:39–40 Jesus Grew: Christ Perfectly in Grace
Luke 2:39–40 (CSB) When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him.
What do you think it means for Christ to be fully human--to grew and became strong, filled with wisdom--yet, Jesus was also fully God?
Luke 2:41-52 Jesus Grew: Christ is Perfectly the Son of God
Luke 2:41–52 (CSB) Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming he was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all those who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked them. “Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
Was Jesus being disobedient to his parents?
What can we surmise from his passage about the relationship between God the Father and God the Son?
Can we ever hope to have a relationship like that?
Because of Christ, what sort of relationship can we have with the Father?
Luke 3:1–20 Who Heralds The Kingdom of God?
Luke 3:1–6 (CSB) In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight!
Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill will be made low;
the crooked will become straight,
the rough ways smooth,
and everyone will see the salvation of God.
Who is the last prophet of the Old Testament?
Why was John the Baptist’s ministry so important?
What was John’s mission?
How is our calling exactly like John’s?
Luke 3:7–14 (CSB) He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “What then should we do?” the crowds were asking him. He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.” Some soldiers also questioned him, “What should we do?” He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
According to John, what is the mark of a person who believes and trusts in God?
What is difference between doing the law and loving God?
Luke 3:15–17 (CSB) Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing shovel is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”
Can John the Baptist be the Christ?
What makes Jesus Christ the Savior of the world?
Luke 3:18–20 (CSB) Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people. But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the evil things he had done, Herod added this to everything else—he locked up John in prison.
If we tell others of the good news of God, will all people love to hear it or will some hate it?
2 Corinthians 2:14–17 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Luke 3:21-22 How Did Jesus Began His Ministry?
Luke 3:21–22 (CSB) When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”
How did Jesus began his ministry on earth?
Are we to do it any different?
Luke 3:23-38 How was Jesus Like You and Me?
Luke 3:23–38 (CSB)
23 As he began his ministry, Jesus was about thirty years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, son of Heli,24 son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,
25 son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,
26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,
27 son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,
28 son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,
29 son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,
30 son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,
31 son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,
32 son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon,
33 son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah,
34 son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,
35 son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,
36 son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,
37 son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel, son of Cainan,
38 son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.
How was Jesus just like you and me?
Luke 4:1-13 How Did Jesus Face Temptations?
Luke 4:1–13 (CSB) Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone.” So he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to him, “I will give you their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. If you, then, will worship me, all will be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” So he took him to Jerusalem, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, to protect you, and they will support you with their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” And Jesus answered him, “It is said: Do not test the Lord your God.” After the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.
Was Jesus tempted to sin?
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
So how did Jesus fight temptation to sin?
Luke 4:14–37 The Word of the Lord
Luke 4:14–15 (CSB) Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity. He was teaching in their synagogues, being praised by everyone.
How can we share the gospel and teach the Bible like Jesus?
Luke 4:16–21 (CSB) He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me
to proclaim release
to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”
Matthew 5:17–20 (CSB) “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
What is the Old Testament really about?
Name the ways in which Christ fulfilled the Old Testament?
Luke 4:22–30 (CSB) They were all speaking well of him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his mouth; yet they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Then he said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. What we’ve heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in your hometown also.’ ” He also said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them except a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. And in the prophet Elisha’s time, there were many in Israel who had leprosy, and yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged. They got up, drove him out of town, and brought him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl him over the cliff. But he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.
Isaiah 55:11 (CSB) so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
Matthew 13:18–23 (CSB) “So listen to the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”
If we proclaim the good news to others, what should we expect to happen?
Luke 4:31–37 (CSB) Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. They were astonished at his teaching because his message had authority. In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean demonic spirit who cried out with a loud voice, “Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be silent and come out of him!” And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all. Amazement came over them all, and they were saying to one another, “What is this message? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!” And news about him began to go out to every place in the vicinity.
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Does Jesus have power over sin? In what ways?
Does Jesus have power over demons? In what ways?
Does Jesus have power over your sin?
Luke 4:38-44 The Lord Does
Luke 4:38–40 (CSB) After he left the synagogue, he entered Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them. When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to him. As he laid his hands on each one of them, he healed them.
Can we trust God to heal us if we are sick?
In what ways does God heals us? What about doctors, nurses, medicine, or science? Are they from God?
Luke 4:41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
Psalm 37:40 (CSB) The Lord helps and delivers them; he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in him.
John 10:28–29 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
If we believe in Jesus, what evils are we being delivered from?
Then what are being delivered to?
Luke 4:42–44 (CSB) When it was day, he went out and made his way to a deserted place. But the crowds were searching for him. They came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said to them, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Why did Jesus come down from heaven?
Luke 5 Christ is Lord Over Everything
Luke 5:1–7 (CSB) As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, he was standing by Lake Gennesaret. He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
If God created the heavens and the earth, does He control and command the heavens and the earth?
Can God command animals?
Can God control the weather?
Luke 5:8–11 (CSB) When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.
John 6:66–69 (CSB) From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Why does Christ call us to turn away from our sins and this world and follow him?
Can our sins and God exist together? Why or why not?
What are the immediate and ultimate effects of sin? Can those effects happen in the same place as God?
Luke 5:12-16 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Does the God who created us would be in charge over us? Why or why not?
Luke 5:17-20 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
Romans 1:16–17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB) Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What is faith?
Where does faith comes from?
Is faith in God an ultimate good thing?
Luke 5:21-26 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
When you sin, do you run away from God or run to the God who forgives you and cleanses you of your sin?
Why would this be such a difficult thing to do?
Luke 5:27-28 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
What is success? What is happiness?
What do you want to do in life? Have you ever asked God what he wants you to do with your life?
Luke 5:29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
What is self-righteousness?
What does God sees when we try to do what is right in our own eyes?
What can God do with our own righteousness?
Luke 5:33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
Ephesians 5:22–33 (CSB) Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.
Titus 3:3–7 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Who is the Bride?
What is Christ doing with his Bride?
What will be the result of Christ's work in us?
Revelation 19:6–10 (CSB) Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns! Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” >Luke 5:36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”
From the beginning, mankind wants to add on to God's law
Genesis 2:15-17 (CSB) The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Genesis 3:1-3 (CSB) Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
What seemingly feels like a good thing with good intention will lead to death
Matthew 23:23-24 (CSB) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!
The law was never intended to save--only point us back to God
Romans 8:3-4 (CSB) For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.
The law of God is enough--it is perfect and good and true and wise
Psalms 19:7-10 (CSB)
The instruction of the LORD is perfect,
renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
making the heart glad;
the command of the LORD is radiant,
making the eyes light up.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are reliable
and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold—
than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey
dripping from a honeycomb.
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.
Know the word of God and draw close to him
Psalms 119:11 (CSB) I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
Where have we added to the word of God?
Luke 6:1-19 What Does the Lord Do?
Luke 6:1-5 (CSB) On a Sabbath, he passed through the grainfields. His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry— how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat? He even gave some to those who were with him.” Then he told them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
What is the Sabbath?
Genesis 2:1–3 (CSB) So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation.
If God commands us to take a day of rest, what do you think your other days of the week will look like?
What is your favorite way to rest and have fun?
Luke 6:6-11 (CSB) On another Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The scribes and Pharisees were watching him closely, to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against him. But he knew their thoughts and told the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand here.” So he got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you: Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” After looking around at them all, he told him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored. They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.
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Do we need to make rules for resting?
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Can we do good things while we rest?
Luke 6:12 (CSB) During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God.
What is prayer?
1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 (CSB) Rejoice always,pray constantly,give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies,but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.
How can you pray all the time? Is that even possible?
How can you talk to God all the time? How do you talk to your dad, mom, sister, brother, cousin, best friend all the time?
Luke 6:13-16 When daylight came, he summoned his disciples, and he chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
How does Jesus choose his people?
Ephesians 1:3–6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Why would Jesus choose any of us? Is it because we were good or because we were sinners?
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Luke 6:17-19 (CSB) After coming down with them, he stood on a level place with a large crowd of his disciples and a great number of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. They came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those tormented by unclean spirits were made well. The whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all.
How can Jesus heal us?
Who is the one who made us?
Is the only reason why Jesus came to us is to heal us?
Luke 6:20-26 What Does The Lord Give?
Luke 6:20 (CSB) Then looking up at his disciples, he said:
Blessed are you who are poor,
because the kingdom of God is yours.
What do you think Christ meant by poor?
Luke 17:5–6 (CSB) The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
If we have just a little faith, will we still receive God? Do we still get God?
Blessed Are The Hungry
Luke 6:21a (CSB)
Blessed are you who are hungry now,
because you will be filled.
Psalm 42:1 (CSB)
As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so I long for you, God.
Revelation 7:15–17 (CSB)
For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and they serve him day and night in his temple.
The one seated on the throne will shelter them:
They will no longer hunger;
they will no longer thirst;
the sun will no longer strike them,
nor will any scorching heat.
For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne
will shepherd them;
he will guide them to springs of the waters of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Psalm 17:15 (CSB)
But I will see your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
Can you imagine never being hungry or thirst again?
Can you imagine never feeling pain or never being hurt again?
Can you imagine never being sad or lonely again?
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (CSB) He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.
Who can fill the loneliness, anger, bitterness, emptiness within our hearts?
What does God need to do with our hearts before He can step into it?
Blessed Are The Sad
Luke 6:21b (CSB)
Blessed are you who weep now,
because you will laugh.
Romans 12:15 (CSB) Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
What is comfort? What is like to be comforted?
How can we mourn over things that make us feel sad?
Blessed Are The Hated
Luke 6:22-23 (CSB)
Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you, insult you,
and slander your name as evil
because of the Son of Man.
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note—your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.
Romans 12:14 (CSB) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Do you think anybody hates you? If so, how can you bless them?
Curse of Sin
Genesis 3:16–19 (CSB) He said to the woman:
I will intensify your labor pains;
you will bear children with painful effort.
Your desire will be for your husband,
yet he will rule over you.
And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’:
The ground is cursed because of you.
You will eat from it by means of painful labor
all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow
until you return to the ground,
since you were taken from it.
For you are dust,
and you will return to dust.”
What is a curse?
Is a curse something that God does?
What are the effects of sin? Does God give us a way out of sin and back to him?
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Woe to Those Who Are Comforted Not in God
Luke 6:24 (CSB)
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your comfort.
Where does all of our money come from?
Matthew 5:45 (CSB) so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Should we put our security into the gifts that God give or into God himself?
Proverbs 30:8–9 (CSB) Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need. Otherwise, I might have too much and deny you, saying, “Who is the LORD?” or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God.
How can we trust God more than the gifts of God?
Woe to Those Who Are Filled Not By God
Luke 6:25a (CSB)
Woe to you who are now full,
for you will be hungry.
Psalm 22:26 (CSB) The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him. May your hearts live forever! 1Peter 5:6 (CSB) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time,
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
What is Christ actually talking about? Is he talking about food?
Woe to Those Whose Joy Does Not Come From God
Luke 6:25b (CSB)
Woe to you who are now laughing,
for you will mourn and weep.
Psalm 16:11 (CSB)
You reveal the path of life to me;
in your presence is abundant joy;
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Psalm 30:5 (CSB)
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor, a lifetime.
Weeping may stay overnight,
but there is joy in the morning.
How long does joy and happiness last when it comes from sin and wrongdoing? What happens with joy if comes from God? Even in sad times?
Can you be sad and have joy in God at the same time? Can you mourn and grieve and have the joy of the Lord? Can you be angry and have the joy of the Lord?
Woe to Those Who Say Things That God Didn't Say
Luke 6:26 (CSB)
Woe to you
when all people speak well of you,
for this is the way their ancestors
used to treat the false prophets.
Jeremiah 8:11 (CSB)
They have treated the brokenness
of my dear people superficially,
claiming, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
Why do we not say things that God did not say? Why is that so important?
If we lie, does that bring death to others or life to others?
2 Corinthians 2:15–17 (CSB) For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things?For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.
Luke 6:27-38 What Does the Lord Say?
Luke 6:27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you,
Romans 5:10–11 (CSB) For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Ephesians 6:10–12 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
Based on what Christ said and what Paul has said, who is your real enemy?
If we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, how should we view those who oppose and persecute us?
Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
If people are not our enemy, can they actually curse us? In other words, who has power over our lives?
How do we put a cursing upon ourselves?
Luke 6:29-30 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back.
Psalm 16:5 (CSB)
LORD, you are my portion
and my cup of blessing;
you hold my future.
Again, where does our provision--money, time, home, cars, job, food, water, clothes--comes from?
Matthew 6:25–34 (CSB) “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying?And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Luke 6:31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.
Romans 12:9–21 (CSB) Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. But
If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For in so doing
you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.
21Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
If God is merciful and gracious to you, how should you treat others?
Romans 2:4 (CSB) Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
Luke 6:32-34 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full.
1 John 4:7–21 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And we have this command from him: The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.
If we don't love each other, can we say we actually love God?
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.
Matthew 6:19–21 (CSB) “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
What is the most important thing to you right now? How does God factor into all of that?
Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Matthew 9:13 (CSB) Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
What is mercy?
How has God shown you mercy?
Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Romans 7:24–8:2 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
If there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, what could we do other than to judge and condemn?
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
2 Corinthians 8:1–6 (CSB) We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia:During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord,they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints,and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will. So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace.
Psalm 50:10 (CSB)
for every animal of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
If everything--money, time, possessions, riches--belong to God and God is our Father, is it possible to give more?
Romans 8:14–18 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
Luke 6:39-49 What Does the Lord Teach?
Luke 6:39-40 He also told them a parable: “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Matthew 23:15 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!
If we believe in God and we want to be like our Teacher, how can we do so?
John 14:26 (CSB) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Luke 6:41-42 “Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye?Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam of wood in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye.
Matthew 18:15–20 (CSB) “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”
If we see our brother or sister doing something in sin, how do we approach that person?
Luke 6:43-44 “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
Can we tell if someone is saved by what they do? What about upstanding, moral people who don't believe in God?
Can we tell if someone is not saved by what they do or do not do?
Is it possible to do wickedness and sin in the sight of God and be saved to God?
Psalm 5:4 (CSB)
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil cannot dwell with you.
Luke 6:46-49 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them:He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great.”
Matthew 7:21–23 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
How is it possible to do good things and still be a lawbreaker in the sight of God?
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Luke 7 The Responses of Mankind
Luke 7:1–10 (CSB) When he had concluded saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. A centurion’s servant, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, requesting him to come and save the life of his servant. When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to grant this, because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.”
Jesus went with them, and when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, since I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.” When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.
Why do you think that Christ was amazed at the centurion's faith?
If God says he will do it, won't he do it?
Luke 7:11–17 (CSB) Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. Just as he neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was also with her. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, “Don’t weep.” Then he came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And he said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.
If God doesn't give us a new heart and new life, can we even obey God?
Luke 7:18–30 (CSB) Then John’s disciples told him about all these things. So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
When the men reached him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ”
At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people. He replied to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”
After John’s messengers left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
See, I am sending my messenger
ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
(And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.)
How should we respond to prophets? Should we take them at their word or is there a way for us to check what they are saying?
Luke 7:29–30 (CSB) (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.)
Why would anybody reject God?
Why would you reject God?
Luke 7:31–35 (CSB) “To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:
We played the flute for you,
but you didn’t dance;
we sang a lament,
but you didn’t weep!For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
Is coming to God with an honest heart and feelings the same as accusing him of evil and sin?
How does God respond to our cries?
Luke 7:36–50 (CSB) Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—she’s a sinner!”
Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
He said, “Say it, teacher.”
“A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”
Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”
“You have judged correctly,” he told him. Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
As believers, what is the first thing we must do?
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Luke 8 But Christ Calls
Luke 8:1-3 (CSB) Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her);Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.
If God did nothing, could we ever know God?
Luke 8:4-8 (CSB) As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable,“A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
When the gospel is preached, does it accomplish what God wants it to do?
Isaiah 55:10–11 (CSB)
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return there
without saturating the earth
and making it germinate and sprout,
and providing seed to sow
and food to eat,
so my word that comes from my mouth
will not return to me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
Romans 1:16-17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
Luke 8:9-15 (CSB) Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?”So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.
What does God have to do in order for us to believe and trust in Him?
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Luke 8:16-18 (CSB) “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light. Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
What happened when Christ became Man?
John 1:1-5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
Luke 8:19-21 (CSB) Then his mother and brothers came to him, but they could not meet with him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.”
If you believe and trust in Christ, then who is our Oldest Brother?
Romans 8:14-17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Luke 8:22-25 (CSB) One day he and his disciples got into a boat, and he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they set out,and as they were sailing he fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. They came and woke him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!”
Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?”
They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him!”
What is God in charge over?
If He is in charge over everything, who should we obey and trust?
Does anybody in this world have the same power as God? Does anybody else even come close?
Luke 8:26-39 (CSB) Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When he got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said in a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me!”For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.
“What is your name?” Jesus asked him. “Legion,” he said, because many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to banish them to the abyss.
A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged him to permit them to enter the pigs, and he gave them permission. The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside. Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus’s feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Meanwhile, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered. Then all the people of the Gerasene region asked him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, he returned.
The man from whom the demons had departed begged him earnestly to be with him. But he sent him away and said,“Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him.
Does Christ waits until we fix our lives before accepting us into His life?
Luke 8:40-56 (CSB) When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’s feet and pleaded with him to come to his house,because he had an only daughter about twelve years old, and she was dying. While he was going, the crowds were nearly crushing him. A woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years, who had spent all she had on doctors and yet could not be healed by any,approached from behind and touched the end of his robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing against you.”
“Someone did touch me,” said Jesus. “I know that power has gone out from me.”When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched him and how she was instantly healed.“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
When Jesus heard it, he answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be saved.”After he came to the house, he let no one enter with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But he said, “Stop crying, because she is not dead but asleep.”
They laughed at him, because they knew she was dead. So he took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!”Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he gave orders that she be given something to eat. Her parents were astounded, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.
What happened when sin entered into the world? What happened when Christ entered into the world?
Romans 5:12-21 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even moreso that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Luke 9 What is Christ Calling Us To?
Luke 9:1–6 (CSB) Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
“Take nothing for the road,” he told them, “no staff, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.
When is the Kingdom of God going to arrive?
What has God asked his followers to go and do?
Matthew 28:16–20 (CSB) The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:14–20 (CSB) Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]
Luke 24:44–49 (CSB) He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
Acts 1:6–8 (CSB) So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Luke 9:7–9 (CSB) Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was going on. He was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead, some that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the ancient prophets had risen. “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this I hear such things about?” And he wanted to see him.
Who is the Christ? Was John the Baptist the Christ?
What does it mean to be the Christ?
Luke 9:10–17 (CSB) When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. He took them along and withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to him, “Send the crowd away, so that they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.” “You give them something to eat,” he told them. “We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” (For about five thousand men were there.)
Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” They did what he said, and had them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. Everyone ate and was filled. They picked up twelve baskets of leftover pieces.
Where does our home, food, money, possessions come from?
Where can we be more dependent on God?
Luke 9:18–20 (CSB) While he was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”
What are we to do if Jesus is God? Should we pay attention to his words and his actions? Should we obey Him as God?
Luke 9:21–22 (CSB) But he strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one, saying, “It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.”
Why did Christ have to die?
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Luke 9:23–27 (CSB) Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
What does it mean to take up our cross?
Luke 9:28–36 (CSB) About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying.
While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent, and at that time told no one what they had seen.
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
If we are predestined, called, and justified in the sight of God, what does it mean when God promises to 'glorify' us?
Luke 9:37–43a (CSB) The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, because he’s my only child. A spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; severely bruising him, it scarcely ever leaves him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.” Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.
Colossians 1:13–14 (CSB) He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 2:13–15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Romans 8:20–21 (CSB) For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
What does it mean to be truly free if we are in Christ?
Luke 9:43b–45 (CSB) While everyone was amazed at all the things he was doing, he told his disciples, “Let these words sink in: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
John 6:60–71 (CSB) Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?” Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray him.
Christ has hard sayings. How can we believe His words?
Luke 9:46–48 (CSB) An argument started among them about who was the greatest of them. But Jesus, knowing their inner thoughts, took a little child and had him stand next to him. He told them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me. For whoever is least among you—this one is great.”
James 4:6–10 (CSB) But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
What does it mean to be humble?
What is the opposite of humility?
Is the opposite of humility a sin?
Why does God oppose the proud?
Luke 9:49–50 (CSB) John responded, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.” “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”
Do all churches do the exact same thing?
Do all churches believe the exact same way? Give some examples?
How are churches united in which ways?
If all churches believe in the same Christ, why do they do things different from church to church?
If other people believe and obey Christ, can they ever be our enemies? Are they our friends or are they more than that? What does God call them?
Luke 9:51–56 (CSB) When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined to journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead of himself, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him. But they did not welcome him, because he determined to journey to Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.
When people refuse to believe and even reject the God's good news, how do we respond?
Luke 9:57–62 (CSB) As they were traveling on the road someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Then he said to another, “Follow me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” But he told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Will you follow Christ even if you lost everything?
Will you follow Christ even if you lose your loved ones?
Will you lay your old life down, right now, and follow Christ?
Luke 10-11:13 What is Christ Inviting Us To Do?
Luke 11:1–4 (CSB) He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say, Father, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us. And do not bring us into temptation.”
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Read Isaiah 6:1-4 and Revelation 4:1-11. In what ways do we worship God like the angels?
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According to how Jesus taught us to pray, how are we different from the angels in our worship to God?
Luke 11:5–13 (CSB) He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
What happens when you go to God, sit with God, pray to God, and ask for God, what are you getting in return?
Luke 11:14-12:12 In Christ, There is No Middle Ground
Luke 11:14–23 (CSB) Now he was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” And others, as a test, were demanding of him a sign from heaven. Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.
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Can Satan cast out demons?
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What if Hell went to war with itself?
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Is Satan as strong as God?
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Who is the fully armed strong man in this illustration?
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Who is the "one stronger than he" who "attacks and overpowers" the fully armed strong man?
Luke 11:24–26 (CSB) “When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest, and not finding rest, it then says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ Returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.”
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Is it enough to have our sins washed away?
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What else does God do for those who come to trust and obey Him?
Luke 11:27–32 (CSB) As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the one who nursed you!” He said, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
As the crowds were increasing, he began saying, “This generation is an evil generation. It demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and look—something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s preaching, and look—something greater than Jonah is here.
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When does God call us to repent of our sin?
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How often?
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What happens when we confess our sin to God?
1 John 1:5–10 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Luke 11:33–36 (CSB) “No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness. Take care, then, that the light in you is not darkness. If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
- Can light and darkness appear at the same time?
John 1:1–5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. Luke 11:38–54 (CSB) When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that he did not first perform the ritual washing before dinner.
But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil. Fools! Didn’t he who made the outside make the inside too? But give from what is within to the poor, and then everything is clean for you.
“But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass justice and love for God. These things you should have done without neglecting the others.
“Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
“Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves; the people who walk over them don’t know it.”
One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.” Then he said, “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, and yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.
“Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Therefore, you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments. Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world— from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. “Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.
“Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were trying to go in."
When he left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things; they were lying in wait for him to trap him in something he said.
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Why was Jesus so hard on the Pharisees?
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What happens when we tried to earn God's love? Is that even possible?
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What happens when we come to God as sinners?
Luke 12:1–3 (CSB) Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to his disciples first, “Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB)
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
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How can we hid our sin from God?
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Why do we even tried?
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How does God view our pride?
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How does God view our sin?
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How does God view our confessions of sin?
Luke 12:4–7 (CSB) “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
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What does it look like to fear man rather than God?
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Why should we care?
Luke 12:8–12 (CSB) “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”
What does it really mean to deny Christ? Is it mere words or the heart?
John 18:15-18 (CSB) Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.
Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”
“I am not,” he said. Now the servants and the officials had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.
John 18:25-27 (CSB) Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it and said, “I am not.”
One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Peter denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.
John 21:15-19 (CSB) When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”
“Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”
“Shepherd my sheep,” he told him.
He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
“Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”
Luke 12:13-13:5 Christ Our All
Luke 12:13-21 (CSB) Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
“Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”
Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’
“That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Proverbs 30:7-9 (CSB) Two things I ask of you;
don’t deny them to me before I die: Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me.
Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need. Otherwise, I might have too much and deny you, saying, “Who is the LORD?” or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God.
Matthew 5:43-48 (CSB) “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Psalms 16:5-11 (CSB)
LORD, you are my portion
and my cup of blessing;
you hold my future.
The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I will bless the LORD who counsels me—
even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
I always let the LORD guide me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad
and my whole being rejoices;
my body also rests securely.
For you will not abandon me to Sheol;
you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
You reveal the path of life to me;
in your presence is abundant joy;
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
1 Corinthians 9:8-18 (CSB) Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the law also say the same thing? For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain. Is God really concerned about oxen? Isn’t he really saying it for our sake? Yes, this is written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing the crop. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don’t we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right; instead, we endure everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.
Don’t you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings of the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.
For my part I have used none of these rights, nor have I written these things that they may be applied in my case. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast! For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach—and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my rights in the gospel.
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God clearly tells us not to store up treasure but we are to give an inheritance for our children. What sort of inheritance do you think he is talking about.
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Read Romans 8:14-17 and compare that to Hebrews 1:1-2. If we are co-heirs with Christ and Christ inherits the whole world, what is our portion from God? What does it mean to be "co-heirs or fellow heirs with Christ?
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If we are co-heirs with Christ who is heir of all, what did Paul say provided that we what?
Luke 12:22-34 (CSB) Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?
“Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith? Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
“But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Romans 8:27 (CSB) And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 5:1-11 (CSB) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Acts 5:27-32 (CSB) After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
James 4:1-12 (CSB) What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. Or do you think it’s without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely?
But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says:
God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble.Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
James; cast our cares upon him
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What is the hope of every believer?
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The New Testaments calls us not to worry or be anxious many times over. But sometimes we do worry. Is that a sin? Why or why not?
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What is the heart of God in our anxiety, stress, and worries?
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Does God immediately fixes what is wrong in order soothe us?
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Read Psalm 22. How did God respond to David in the midst of David's worries and doubts?
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Read Hosea 2. How does God respond to us?
Luke 12:35-40 (CSB) “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Acts 1:1-8 (CSB) I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Matthew 25:1-13 (CSB) “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’
“Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’
“The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’
“When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’
“He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’
“Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
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People say that they can "believe" in God on their deathbed and thus, be saved to God? What do you say?
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Do we know when Christ will return?
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Do we know when we will die?
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Did you ever regret following Christ?
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Read Luke 14:25-35. What does Christ talk about when he tells us to "count the cost" of following and obeying God?
Luke 12:49-53 (CSB) I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is finished! Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.
They will be divided, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Ephesians 6:10-12 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
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Does everybody in your family follow and trust God?
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If somoene in your family doesn't trust God, does that make them your enemy?
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What are some fights that you can get into within a house that not everybody obeys God? What about with prayer? Fasting? Reading the Bible? Sharing the gospel? Going to church?
Luke 12:57-59 (CSB) Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? As you are going with your adversary to the ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won’t drag you before the judge, the judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison. I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.”
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Why does God commands us to payback what we owe to others?
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What does it mean to be a good witness of God to others?
Luke 13:1-5 (CSB) At that time, some people came and reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And he responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well. Or those eighteen that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.”
Not defined by our circumstances:
Romans 8:28-30 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Not defined by our works:
Matthew 7:21-23 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment;
all of us wither like a leaf,
and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Not defined by our own righteousness:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Not defined by our sin:
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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What did you do to get God to love you?
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When did God start loving you?
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How do you get God to love you?
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If God loves you and "wants everybody to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:4), what is prevented you from trusting in Christ and changing your mind about sin?
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If you sinned and you didn't want to repent, what could you do to help you repent?
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What happens if we do not repent? What happens if we kept on sinning against God?
Luke 13:6-30 Grace Upon Grace
Luke 13:6-9 (CSB) And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?’
“But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Genesis 3:15-21 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.He said to the woman:
I will intensify your labor pains;
you will bear children with painful effort.
Your desire will be for your husband,
yet he will rule over you.And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’:
The ground is cursed because of you.
You will eat from it by means of painful labor
all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow
until you return to the ground,
since you were taken from it.
For you are dust,
and you will return to dust.”The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
2 Timothy 2:8-13 (CSB) Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy:
For if we died with him,
we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.
1 John 1:5-10 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Romans 2:1-8 (CSB) Therefore, every one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness.
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In Genesis 1-2, God said "do not eat of the this tree". What would have happened to Adam and Eve if they ate of the tree?
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What did actually happened?
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How did God respond? Did he kill them right away? Could he have done so? Would he be right in doing so?
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How did Adam and Eve respond to God's response?
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How did Noah respond in Genesis 6?
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How did Abraham respond in Genesis 12?
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How does everyone of us respond to the preaching of the gospel? Read Romans 10.
Luke 13:10-17 (CSB) As he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, “Woman, you are free of your disability.” Then he laid his hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God.
But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, “There are six days when work should be done; therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day.”
But the Lord answered him and said, “Hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you untie his ox or donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it to water? Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for eighteen years—shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”
When he had said these things, all his adversaries were humiliated, but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things he was doing.
Matthew 9:12-13 (CSB) Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 5:17-20 (CSB) Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Romans 8:1-4 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
John 5:36-40 (CSB) But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about me that the Father has sent me. The Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You have not heard his voice at any time, and you haven’t seen his form. You don’t have his word residing in you, because you don’t believe the one he sent. You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
Luke 24:25-27 (CSB) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
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Who is the one who gave us the law of God?
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(Romans passage) What was the intent of the law?
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Is it possible for Jesus to sin?
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Did Jesus sin when he healed the woman on the Sabbath?
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Why did the people rejoice?
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Why were his adversaries humilated?
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Instead of being sad, what could they have chosen to do instead?
Luke 13:18-21 (CSB) He said, therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like, and what can I compare it to? It’s like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”
Again he said, “What can I compare the kingdom of God to? It’s like leaven that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened.”
Ephesians 1:20-23 (CSB) He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens— far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Ephesians 5:22-23 (CSB) Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.
John 10:1-21 (CSB) “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Again the Jews were divided because of these words. Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and he’s crazy. Why do you listen to him?” Others were saying, “These aren’t the words of someone who is demon-possessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
John 12:32 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”
Matthew 16:17-20 (CSB) Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.” Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah.
What does God promise to do with His church?
Luke 13:22-30 (CSB) He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. “Lord,” someone asked him, “are only a few people going to be saved?”
He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out. They will come from east and west, from north and south, to share the banquet in the kingdom of God. Note this: Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
Matthew 7:21-23 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
Genesis 6:1-8 (CSB) When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves. And the LORD said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.
Matthew 16:24-28 (CSB) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
What does God say will happen when you make much of your life. more so than God?
Luke 13:31-15:32 What Did Christ Come To Do
Luke 13:31-33 (CSB) At that time some Pharisees came and told him, “Go, get out of here. Herod wants to kill you.”
He said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I’m driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.’ Yet it is necessary that I travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
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Some of the Pharisees said to him, "Go, get out of here. Herod is trying to kill you." Were they really trying to help Christ?
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Could Christ been scared? What if he gave into that fear and left town?
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Christ said he had to, "drive out demons and perform healings." Was that all he came to do?
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What was this "third day" Christ spoke of?
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What do you think Christ meant by: "not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem"? >Luke 13:34-35 (CSB) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is abandoned to you. I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”
Luke 11:47-51 (CSB) “Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Therefore, you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments. Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world — from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.
“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.
Matthew 21:33-46 (CSB) “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. He leased it to tenant farmers and went away. When the time came to harvest fruit, he sent his servants to the farmers to collect his fruit. The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group, and they did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
“But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”
“He will completely destroy those terrible men,” they told him, “and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his fruit at the harvest.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is what the Lord has done
and it is wonderful in our eyes?Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit. Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew he was speaking about them. Although they were looking for a way to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because the people regarded him as a prophet.
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Why do people hate people for speaking the words of God?
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Read Romans 10:1-17. How are we to be saved? >Luke 14:1-6 (CSB) One Sabbath, when he went in to eat at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, they were watching him closely. There in front of him was a man whose body was swollen with fluid. In response, Jesus asked the law experts and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they kept silent. He took the man, healed him, and sent him away. And to them, he said, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” They could find no answer to these things.
Matthew 5:17-20 (CSB) “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Romans 8:1-4 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Luke 24:25-27 (CSB) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Psalms 19 (CSB) The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour out speech;
night after night they communicate knowledge.
There is no speech; there are no words;
their voice is not heard.
Their message has gone out to the whole earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming from his home;
it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
It rises from one end of the heavens
and circles to their other end;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
The instruction of the LORD is perfect,
renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
making the heart glad;
the command of the LORD is radiant,
making the eyes light up.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are reliable
and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold—
than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey
dripping from a honeycomb.
In addition, your servant is warned by them,
and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule me.
Then I will be blameless
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
When Christ teaches religious teachers about God, what are some of their usual responses? Why do you think they couldn't respond this time? >Luke 14:7-14 (CSB) He told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t sit in the place of honor, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place. > >“But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” > >He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 (CSB) For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
The dominion will be vast,
and its prosperity will never end.
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this.
Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB) Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 4:15 (CSB) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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Why was Christ humble?
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What is pride in the sight of God?
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Why should we be humble in the sight of God? >Luke 14:15-24 (CSB) When one of those who reclined at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is the one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
> >Then he told him, “A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’
> >“But without exception they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.’
> >“Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.’
>“And another said, ‘I just got married, and therefore I’m unable to come.’
> >“So the servant came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’
> >“‘Master,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’
> >“Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will enjoy my banquet.’”
John 12:32 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”
1 Timothy 2:1-6 (CSB) First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
Romans 2:1-8 (CSB) Therefore, every one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness.
John 3:16-18 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
Romans 1:16-17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
What are the excuses that people say now for not following Christ? >Luke 14:25-35 (CSB) Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. > >“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ > >“Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. > >“Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
What has it cost you to follow Christ?
What is the cost of following Christ?
Luke 15:1-7 (CSB) All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So he told them this parable: “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.
Psalms 23 (CSB) The LORD is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life;
he leads me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
as long as I live.
Mark 2:17 (CSB) When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
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In this passage, who is Christ calling, "righteous?"
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Why did Christ did not come to save the righteous?
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Were you born with any righteousness before God?
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What must you do to be righteous with God? (Read John 3:1-15)
Luke 15:8-10 (CSB) “Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Zephaniah 3:14-18 (CSB)
Sing for joy, Daughter Zion;
shout loudly, Israel!
Be glad and celebrate with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed your punishment;
he has turned back your enemy.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is among you;
you need no longer fear harm.
On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear;
Zion, do not let your hands grow weak.
The LORD your God is among you,
a warrior who saves.
He will rejoice over you with gladness.
He will be quiet in his love.
He will delight in you with singing.”
I will gather those who have been driven
from the appointed festivals;
they will be a tribute from you
and a reproach on her.
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When someone repents of sin, how do angels react?
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When someone repents, how does God react?
Luke 15:11-32 (CSB) He also said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
“Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’
“‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Numbers 11:23 (CSB) The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm weak? Now you will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you.”
Isaiah 50:2 (CSB) Why was no one there when I came?
Why was there no one to answer when I called?
Is my arm too weak to redeem?
Or do I have no power to rescue?
Look, I dry up the sea by my rebuke;
I turn the rivers into a wilderness;
their fish rot because of lack of water
and die of thirst.
Isaiah 59:1 (CSB) Indeed, the LORD’s arm is not too weak to save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear.
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Does God have T-Rex arms?
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Is any person ever too far from God?
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Does God ever reject anyone who would come to him?
Mark 10:14-16 (CSB) When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Luke 16-17 Christ Gives
Luke 16:1-13 (CSB) Now he said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who received an accusation that his manager was squandering his possessions. So he called the manager in and asked, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you can no longer be my manager.’
“Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do since my master is taking the management away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig; I’m ashamed to beg. I know what I’ll do so that when I’m removed from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’
“So he summoned each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first one.
“‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he said.
“‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘sit down quickly, and write fifty.’
“Next he asked another, ‘How much do you owe?’
“‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he said.
“‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘and write eighty.’
“The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings. Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with what is genuine? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own? No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
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What exactly did the unrighteous and dishonest manager do?
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What is 'shrewd'?
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When it comes to anything God gives us, how can Christians act more shrewdly with our provisions?
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When we do so, what might happen with people we give to?
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How come we get to freely give our possessions away?
Luke 16:14-18 (CSB) The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him. And he told them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.
“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently invited to enter it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to drop out.
“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
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If we believe in Christ, are we still "married" to our sin?
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What is harder to do: do the right thing in hopes that God will save us or believe and trust in Christ and God will absolutely save us?
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Why do so many people try to earn the love of God? Where have you tried to earn the love of God?
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Why?
Luke 16:19-31 (CSB) “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’
“‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’
“‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house— because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.’
“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”
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Is Christ teaching that rich people are going to hell and poor people are going to heaven?
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"they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead" - what do you suppose Christ meant by that?
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Christ has risen from the dead. That is an historical fact. Has everyone been convinced to look to God and believe and trust in Him?
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What is ours to do? (Read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and Acts 1)
Luke 17:1-4 (CSB) He said to his disciples, “Offenses will certainly come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
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Read Jeremiah 23. Why was Jesus so hard on teachers, preachers, and pastors?
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Read John 21:15-19. What did Jesus call teachers, preachers, and pastors to do actually do?
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Read 1 John 4:7-21. What are we called to do for one another?
Luke 17:5-10 (CSB) The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
“Which one of you having a servant tending sheep or plowing will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? Instead, will he not tell him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, get ready, and serve me while I eat and drink; later you can eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did what was commanded? In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’”
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Read Ephesians 2:1-10. Where does faith come from?
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Are we saved by our obedience to God or are we saved by the faith given to us by God?
Luke 17:11-19 (CSB) While traveling to Jerusalem, he passed between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
When he saw them, he told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And while they were going, they were cleansed.
But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. He fell facedown at his feet, thanking him. And he was a Samaritan.
Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And he told him, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”
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Who gives mercy when we sin against God?
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When Christ gives mercy, how should we respond?
Luke 17:20-37 (CSB) When he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; no one will say, ‘See here!’ or ‘There!’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Then he told the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won’t see it. They will say to you, ‘See there!’ or ‘See here!’ Don’t follow or run after them. For as the lightning flashes from horizon to horizon and lights up the sky, so the Son of Man will be in his day. But first it is necessary that he suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man: People went on eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage until the day Noah boarded the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot: People went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, a man on the housetop, whose belongings are in the house, must not come down to get them. Likewise the man who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to make his life secure will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”
“Where, Lord?” they asked him.
He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”
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Where and when is the kingdom of God?
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"But first it is necessary that he suffer many things and be rejected by this generation" - If Christ has suffered and rejected by that generation, is the kingdom of God is here?
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What does it mean for Christ to suffer and be rejected?
Luke 18 Christ Is God
Luke 18:1-8 (CSB) Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up. “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect people. And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
“For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’”
Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
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Why do we pray?
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How quick does God respond to our prayers for justice?
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Why does it seem not so fast sometimes?
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Does God promise justice?
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Can God break his promise?
Luke 18:9-14 (CSB) He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’
“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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Why do we pray?
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How quickly does God respond to our prayers for righteousness?
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What is sanctification?
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Why does our sanctification seem so slow?
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Does God promise righteousness?
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Can God break his promise?
Luke 18:15-17 (CSB) People were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
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Why do we pray?
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How quickly does God respond to our prayers for faith?
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What is faith?
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Why does our faith seem so little sometimes?
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Does God promise faith?
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Can God break his promise?
Luke 18:18-30 (CSB) A ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”
“I have kept all these from my youth,” he said.
When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.
Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?”
He replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed you.”
So he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come.”
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Why do we pray?
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How quickly does God respond to our prayers for salvation?
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What is salvation?
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Why does our salvation seem so slow?
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Does God promise salvation?
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Can God break his promise?
Luke 18:31-34 (CSB) Then he took the Twelve aside and told them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked, insulted, spit on; and after they flog him, they will kill him, and he will rise on the third day.”
They understood none of these things. The meaning of the saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
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Why do we pray?
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How quickly does God respond to our prayers for fulfillment?
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What is fulfillment?
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Why does our fulfillment seem so slow?
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Does God promise fulfillment?
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Can God break his promise?
Luke 18:35-43 (CSB) As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening. “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.
So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to him. When he came closer, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord,” he said, “I want to see.”
“Receive your sight.” Jesus told him. “Your faith has saved you.” Instantly he could see, and he began to follow him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
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Why do we pray?
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How quickly does God respond to our prayers for mercy?
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What is mercy?
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Why does our mercy seem so slow?
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Does God promise mercy?
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Can God break his promise?
Luke 19 Christ Comes in the Name of the Lord
Luke 19:1-10 (CSB) He entered Jericho and was passing through. There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”
So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.”
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.”
“Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
Revelation 3:14-20 (CSB) “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
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Was Zacchaeus seen by God because of what he did or was it because Christ was looking for him?
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What does it mean for Christ to come in and "eat with him"?
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What is the meal that Christ has invited us to eat and drink from?
Luke 19:11-27 (CSB) As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away.
Therefore he said, “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then to return. He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas, and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’
“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us.’
“At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those servants he had given the money to, so that he could find out how much they had made in business. The first came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten more minas.’
“‘Well done, good servant!’ he told him. ‘Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, have authority over ten towns.’
“The second came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’
“So he said to him, ‘You will be over five towns.’
“And another came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina. I have kept it safe in a cloth because I was afraid of you since you’re a harsh man: you collect what you didn’t deposit and reap what you didn’t sow.’
“He told him, ‘I will condemn you by what you have said, you evil servant! If you knew I was a harsh man, collecting what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow, why, then, didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest.’ So he said to those standing there, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
“But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’
“‘I tell you, that to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away. But bring here these enemies of mine, who did not want me to rule over them, and slaughter them in my presence.’”
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If you actually believe in something, what will you do for that belief?
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If you believe in God, what does it look like for that belief in God?
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What happens if we say we believe in God yet we do nothing?
Luke 19:28-40 (CSB) When he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’”
So those who were sent left and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
“The Lord needs it,” they said. Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the colt, they helped Jesus get on it. As he was going along, they were spreading their clothes on the road. Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
Blessed is the King who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest heaven!Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”
Romans 1:18-25 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
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What has changed in the world since Christ has arrived?
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Many have seen God and did not worship him. What does Paul say about everybody knowing God and not believing in him?
Luke 19:41-44 (CSB) As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it, saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you and your children among you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in your midst, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”
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Why did many Jews in Jesus' time not believe and obey Jesus?
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Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Scriptures and yet, many Jewish people do not believe in Christ. What must happen in order for anybody to believe in God? In other words, is it something that we must do or is it something God must do first?
Luke 19:45-48 (CSB) He went into the temple and began to throw out those who were selling, and he said, “It is written, my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!”
Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were looking for a way to kill him, but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard.
Matthew 11:11-15 (CSB) “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come. Let anyone who has ears listen.
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Just how serious was Christ in saving His people from their sins?
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Was God peaceful and quiet in saving His people or was it violent and loud?
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How serious do you think God is in saving you? You think he will be quiet and peaceful or will it be violent?
Ezekiel 36:25-28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
Luke 20-21 Christ Has All Authority
Luke 20:1-19 (CSB) One day as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?”
He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know its origin.
And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Now he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent yet another servant, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.
“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’
“But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”
But when they heard this they said, “That must never happen!”
But he looked at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of this Scripture:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone?Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.”
Then the scribes and the chief priests looked for a way to get their hands on him that very hour, because they knew he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.
Daniel 7:13-14 (CSB) I continued watching in the night visions,
and suddenly one like a son of man
was coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
He was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
so that those of every people,
nation, and language
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.
Matthew 28:16-20 (CSB) The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
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Who is in charge of everything?
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If Christ has been all authority, whom should we trust?
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If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31-34 (CSB) What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Luke 20:20-26 (CSB) They watched closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so that they could catch him in what he said, to hand him over to the governor’s rule and authority. They questioned him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and you don’t show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
But detecting their craftiness, he said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”
“Caesar’s,” they said.
“Well then,” he told them, “give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
They were not able to catch him in what he said in public, and being amazed at his answer, they became silent.
Daniel 2:21 (CSB) He changes the times and seasons;
he removes kings and establishes kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those
who have understanding.
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Who made Caesar king?
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Who makes the President over the United States?
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Who is King of all kings and presidents and rulers and leaders?
Romans 13:1-7 (CSB) Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
Luke 20:27-40 (CSB) Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up and questioned him: “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children. Also the second and the third took her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children. Finally, the woman died too. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her.”
Jesus told them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. For they can no longer die, because they are like angels and are children of God, since they are children of the resurrection. Moses even indicated in the passage about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to him.”
Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” And they no longer dared to ask him anything.
Who can raise people from the dead?
John 11:28-44 (CSB) Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”
As soon as Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. They followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there.
As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and told him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died!”
When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked.
“Lord,” they told him, “come and see.”
Jesus wept.
So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Couldn’t he who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?”
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. “Remove the stone,” Jesus said.
Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
Romans 8:9-11 (CSB) You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
If we are born but without the Spirit of God, are we really alive?
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
Luke 20:41-44 (CSB) Then he said to them, “How can they say that the Messiah is the son of David? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool.’David calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can the Messiah be his son?”
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Who is the Lord over David?
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Who is the Lord over all of Israel and the Jews?
Matthew 1:1 (CSB) An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Luke 20:45-47 (CSB) While all the people were listening, he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”
Romans 8:1-4 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
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Who gave us the Law?
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Who can obey the law perfectly?
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Who fulfills the law?
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Who should we trust--ourselves or Christ?
Luke 21:1-4 (CSB) He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Matthew 5:43-48 (CSB) “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
If God provides everything to us, how much freedom do we have to give away what we have?
Luke 21:5-9 (CSB) As some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “These things that you see—the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”
“Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”
Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them. When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”
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Some say they can believe in Christ on their deathbed. Is that really faith?
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Is faith something we say with our mouth or how we live?
Luke 21:10-19 (CSB) Then he told them, “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be violent earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to bear witness. Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time, for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you. You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. By your endurance, gain your lives.
Job 40:6-10 (CSB) Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
Get ready to answer me like a man;
When I question you, you will inform me.
Would you really challenge my justice?
Would you declare me guilty to justify yourself?
Do you have an arm like God’s?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?
Adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
and clothe yourself with honor and glory.
Who is in charge over all the things that happen in the world?
Luke 21:20-24 (CSB) “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, because these are days of vengeance to fulfill all the things that are written. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will be killed by the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Job 40:11-14 (CSB) Pour out your raging anger;
look on every proud person and humiliate him.
Look on every proud person and humble him;
trample the wicked where they stand.
Hide them together in the dust;
imprison them in the grave.
Then I will confess to you
that your own right hand can deliver you.
Who dictates the wars and conflicts between people?
Luke 21:25-28 (CSB) “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.”
Job 38:4-14 (CSB) Where were you when I established the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
What supports its foundations?
Or who laid its cornerstone
while the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Who enclosed the sea behind doors
when it burst from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment
and total darkness its blanket,
when I determined its boundaries
and put its bars and doors in place,
when I declared, “You may come this far, but no farther;
your proud waves stop here”?
Have you ever in your life commanded the morning
or assigned the dawn its place,
so it may seize the edges of the earth
and shake the wicked out of it?
The earth is changed as clay is by a seal;
its hills stand out like the folds of a garment.
Psalms 90:1-2 (CSB)
Lord, you have been our refuge
in every generation.
Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Who is in charge of space and time?
Luke 21:29-38 (CSB) Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
“Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
During the day, he was teaching in the temple, but in the evening he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives. Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear him in the temple.
Who is in charge over our lives even if we do not believe it?
Luke 22-23 Christ Descends
Luke 22:1-6 (CSB) The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was approaching. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death, because they were afraid of the people.
Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand him over to them. They were glad and agreed to give him silver. So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray him to them when the crowd was not present.
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Why did people hate Jesus so much?
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Why do people hate Jesus now?
Luke 22:7-23 (CSB) Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
“Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
“Listen,” he said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Make the preparations there.”
So they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it.
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What was the Passover? What did God do for his people when they were enslaved by the Egyptians?
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What is Christ about to do for his people?
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Why did Christ tell us to do "this in remembrance"?
Luke 22:24-30 (CSB) Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. You are those who stood by me in my trials. I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 16:24-28 (CSB) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Romans 6:1-11 (CSB) What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
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Why did Christ call us to die?
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What are we to die to?
Luke 22:31-34 (CSB) “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
“Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
“I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”
Romans 8:26-27 (CSB) In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
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Who is contending for us and praying for us even when we fail?
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Who is for us always and perfectly?
Luke 22:35-46 (CSB) He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Not a thing,” they said.
Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: And he was counted among the lawless. Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”
“Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.”
“That is enough!” he told them.
He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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When we sin, disobey, do something bad, regretful, shameful--who is the one person we can go to give our sin to?
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Why? How is this possible?
Luke 22:47-53 (CSB) While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.
But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? Every day while I was with you in the temple, you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour —and the dominion of darkness.”
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Why do you think Christ healed the ear of the servant?
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In saving his people, was God violent? In what way?
Luke 22:54-62 (CSB) They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance. They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.”
But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”
After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter said.
About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.”
But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
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In what ways do we deny Christ?
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How can we repent and change our mind and lives about this?
Luke 22:63-65 (CSB) The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating him. After blindfolding him, they kept asking, “Prophesy! Who was it that hit you?” And they were saying many other blasphemous things to him.
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What is blasphemy?
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When we blaspheme God and Jesus, can we be forgiven?
Matthew 12:31-32 (CSB) Therefore, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
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What has the Holy Spirit been sent to do?
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Christ spoke of the power of the Spirit as a wind that blows where it pleases. How can we blaspheme the Holy Spirit?
Luke 22:66-71 (CSB) When daylight came, the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes, convened and brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe. And if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
They all asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?”
And he said to them, “You say that I am.”
“Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from his mouth?”
Why was the Son of God sentenced to death?
Luke 23:1-5 (CSB) Then their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”
So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
He answered him, “You say so.”
Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds for charging this man.”
But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he started even to here.”
Revelation 19:16 (CSB) And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Why was the King of kings sentenceed to death?
Luke 23:6-12 (CSB) When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him. So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked him, dressed him in bright clothing, and sent him back to Pilate. That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. Previously, they had been enemies.
Isaiah 53:7-8 (CSB)
He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter
and like a sheep silent before her shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
He was taken away because of oppression and judgment,
and who considered his fate?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
he was struck because of my people’s rebellion.
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Was Jesus perfect?
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Was Jesus sinless?
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Why was he sentenced to death?
Luke 23:13-25 (CSB) Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people. But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
Then they all cried out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!” (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices won out. So Pilate decided to grant their demand and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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Was Jesus innocent of all crimes and all sins?
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Why was an innocent man sentenced to death?
Luke 23:26-43 Christ Crucified
Luke 23:26-31 (CSB) As they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him. But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Revelation 6:12-17 (CSB) Then I saw him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”
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What is prophecy?
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What is Christ prophesying?
Luke 23:44-56 Christ Died
When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests. But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
John 3:14-17 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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What happened when Christ died?
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How are we to live?
1 Corinthians 1:20-25 (CSB) Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Luke 23:50-56 (CSB) There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed. It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
Romans 6:1-14 (CSB) What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
What happened when Christ was buried?
Luke 24 Christ Lives
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered his words.
Romans 8:8-11 (CSB) Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
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Who raised Christ from the dead?
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Why?
Luke 24:9-12 (CSB) Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had happened.
Genesis 2:15-17 (CSB) The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Genesis 3:6-13 (CSB) The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”
So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?”
And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Ephesians 2:1-3 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
1 John 5:1-4 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him. This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands. For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
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What happens when we sin?
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What must be do to be saved?
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Luke 24:13-35 (CSB) Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. But they were prevented from recognizing him. Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.
The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked them.
So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
1 Corinthians 2:10-16 (CSB) Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. For
who has known the Lord’s mind,
that he may instruct him?But we have the mind of Christ.
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Is it possibly to fully know God?
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Is ti possible to truly know God?
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What is the difference?
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Can we know God without God?
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What happens if we go to God to ask for God? What are we going to get in return?
Luke 11:5-13 (CSB) He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” Luke 24:36-53 (CSB) As they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. “Why are you troubled?” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.
He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were continually in the temple praising God.
John 4:19-26 (CSB) "Sir,” the woman replied, “I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus told her, “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”
The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Jesus told her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”
If you have God, what do you now?
The Epistle to the Romans: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
In 2010, I came across a gem of a book called No Condemnation in Christ Jesus by Octavius Winslow, a contemporary of Charles Spurgeon, from 19th century England.
And I wrote a little review.
And writing that review sparked a writing flame that has consumed my heart ever since. That review turned into my own attempt to writing my own expository commentary on Romans 8, which ended up being a 50,000 word treatise.
And from that treatise, comes this blog turned a series of books I like to call Theologicus.
And if I am going to write about the 8th chapter of Romans, why not Romans. And if Romans, why not the entire Bible. If if the Bible, why not the historical creeds and confessions.
All Theologicus is my attempt to show you that Jesus loves you this I know for the Bible tells me so. And this is my humble attempt to tell him how much I love him so.
What do I do with this? Growing up Evangelical megachurch and in the era of the social media influencer, I assume I had to chase down publishing deals and turn these into books.
But you know what? I see guys my own age and younger who have upteen years more experience in ministry, teaching and preaching and putting out books. And to be honest, those are not really the books I keep coming back.
I keep going back to the books written by the really old. The ones who have seen all of life and seen God and put those things together. That is the kind of books I want to write. I want to write the kind of books that I want to read. And I want to write the kind of books that have seen life and God and put that together. I want to see more of the loveliness of Christ and express that to you so that your joy may be full.
And at the moment, Theologicus is not it. Like Calvin's Institutes, it will always be a work in progress as long as Christ keeps me here.
The Resources
Here just the very small list of resources on Romans that I have found most helpful.
It Goes Without Say
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries & Books
Calvin's Commentaries.
John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
I mention this because in my go-to mobile Bible Study App, Olive Tree, Calvin's Commentaries are my go-to Commentary text of choice when I need clarification on the go. You can get the entire digital set for your phone (and computer) for about $40 from Olive Tree! (Or catch it on sale for $20 like I did.)
No Condemnation in Christ Jesus: As Unfolded in the Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans
Octavius Winslow.
Banner of Trust. 1991.
Goodreads
I love this book so much that I purchased an 1st edition 1853 print of this book.
If I had one book to gift outside the Bible, it would be this. If I had one word to describe it: fantastic.
For more of a complete review, read mine here at Goodreads.com.
Romans: An Expositional Commentary
R.C. Sproul.
Reformation Trust Publishing. 2019.
Goodreads
If I was forced at gunpoint to choose one commentary for Romans, this would be the one I would keep. Hands down. Not even a second thought. I have read this from cover to cover. Highest recommendation.
A better suggestion: stop reading my drivel and buy this book.
Seriously. Go and get this book. NOW!
The Letter to the Romans (New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT))
Douglas Moo.
Eerdmans. 1996.
Goodreads
I only mentioned the first edition because the second edition came out in 2018 and I haven't gotten my hands on it. This is a standard, el-defacto technical commentary recommendation for Romans. It's so highly recommended across all denominations and Protestant theological convictions, it's almost a generalization. But refer to it just once and you know that it is a generalization because it is true.
New Testament Commentary: Romans: Chapters 1-16
William Hendriksen.
Baker. 1992.
Goodreads
Said it before and I will say it again: Billy H. is my boy for no other reason he tried to buck the Dispensationalism trends going on in Evangelicalism.
Craziest thing, tho. I have several others in his NT set but for some reason, I didn't have his Romans. Had to scoop this off e-Bay.
Romans
William S. Plumer.
Kregel. 1993.
Goodreads
This dude is pre-Liberalism Princeton Theological Seminary. I have not read through this but those credentials are enough to warrant a place in my library.
Romans: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (The New American Commentary)
Robert Mounce.
Holmon Reference. 1995.
Goodreads
Going by what other commentaries I have by Mounce, this stays in my library as well.
Romans (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, NT Volume 6)
Edited Gerald L. Bray.
IVP Academic. 2005.
Goodreads
I think this entire series is an excellent resource to have on hand if you can pony up the scratch. It's all fine and good to read guys from within the last few centuries. But how about reading commentary from within the first few centuries after the ascension of Christ. You ain't going to read anything shockingly new. But what you are going realize there is absolutely nothing new under the sun and Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Commentary on Romans
Martin Luther.
Kregel. 2003.
Goodreads
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Luther's commentary. It was his desperate mediation on one little famous Habakkukan quote that literally and figuratively hammers the change within the Church and help begun the Protestant Reformation: THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH!
Romans (EBTC).
David G. Peterson.
Lexham Press. 2021.
Goodreads
Romans 1:1 God Alone Saves
The Text
Romans 1:1 (CSB) Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God
The Support
The Damascus Road
Acts 9:1-25 (CSB) Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.
Saul’s Baptism
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he replied. “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. And after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul Proclaiming the Messiah
Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”
All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plot. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
Just from the life of Saul, who then became Paul, what do we know about God?
God will save whom he will save.
Romans 9:15–16 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
The Gospel
The good news is this: that there is nothing that you could have ever done or will ever do that will keep you from be saved by God for God from God unto God.
Make no mistake: without a faith in Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will not be saved. At the exact same time, salvation is not dependent on you but Him. This is grace.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.
Our Response
If you are listening to the podcast, let it be known that God has made the call to you. Right now, He is extending his hand out and asking you to trust in Him. He is asking you to trust in Him and take him at his word.
Don't wait another second.
"But, I have to clean myself before I can go to God." - That's crap. For "All of have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."1
"But, can't I just wait until I am on my deathbed to believe in God?" Simply stating a fact and living that fact out are two different things. For God numbers our days:
Psalm 139:16 (CSB) Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.
And we do not know how are lives will be and even less on how we will die.
But can I tell you something: for all the testimonies I have ever heard, I have yet to find one testimony from someone who was saved later on in life that they were glad to have met God so late in life. Ever single of these saints, with hearts regenerated by God himself, full of faith, and finally alive would easily proclaim, "If I had one wish, I wish I would have known God for all of my life."
My friends, God is not a "Escape From Hell" fire insurance card that you keep in your back pocket in case of emergency. The best and distinctly description I would have of God would be this:
Psalms 16:11 (ESV)
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Don't be insane. Choose real life, fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. Trust in God. Your circumstances might not change. God does not promise that. You might have to go through a lot of healing of your mind and heart. Hey, God promises that we will be conformed to the image of His Son. Trust in him. Don't wait. Right now. Trust in him.
Romans 3:23
Romans 1:1-7 God Alone Fulfills His Promises
The Text
Romans 1:1–7 (CSB)
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures—
3 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh
4 and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead.
5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles,
6 including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.
7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Support
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
I Timothy 1:12-17 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures— concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
This is the Old Testament.
Consider:
Luke 24:27 (CSB) Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Matthew 5:17-20 (CSB) “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
who was a descendant of David
- Matthew 1:1 "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."
- Luke 3:23-28
- Davidic Covenant
2 Samuel 7:12–16 (CSB): 12 When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. 15 But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”
according to the flesh
John 1:1–14 (CSB): 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead.
Romans 8:12-13 (CSB) So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand (Daniel 7; Hebrews 1:1-2)
Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles,
This is the Great Commission. Listen to what you and I have been commissioned to do by our Great Lord and Savior:
Matthew 28:16–20 (CSB) The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:14–20 (CSB) Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]
Luke 24:36–49 (CSB) As they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. “Why are you troubled?” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.
He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
Acts 1:7–8 (CSB) He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.
Consider:
- the promise of Isaac in Genesis 17
- the calling of Isaiah in Isaiah 6
- the calling Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1
- the calling of Paul in Acts 9
Ultimately:
Romans 8:28–30 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Compare the love for the world versus the tender, affectionate, personal, relational love that God has for his people--those who believe and trust in him--those who are called saints (Ephesians 4:11-16) - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
All the promises of God are yes and amen:
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
All of the promises in the Old Testament, starting from Genesis 3:15, through the law and the prophets, through songs and wisdom, all culminating that God would save his people. In other words, we will be his people and he will forever be our God.
The Gospel
Here is the gospel proclamation:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
What about those who do not believe in Christ Jesus:
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Our Response
This is the call: trust in God alone.
Theologically, we know that God does not lie. But how do we know that to be sure? His written word is the transcript of all of his promises. More so, it is the transcription of His heart. Now, some things in the Bible are too difficult for us to understand and some too mysterious. That is okay. Because what we do have is His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. Even the most hardcore atheist would be foolish to deny the historical life of Jesus Christ. But Christ was not a merely a historical marker that changed all of mankind's history. He came so that he completely, definitely, perfectly fulfilled one thing: to save His people from their sins forever.
Trust in God. Nothing on this earth. How does that old hymn go?
Let the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.
Or to put it in another way:
"On Christ's glory I would fix all of my thoughts and desires, and the more I see of the glory of Christ , the more the painted beauties of this world will wither in my eyes and I will be more and more crucified to this world. It will become to me like something dead and putrid, impossible for me to enjoy."
John Owen. The Glory of Christ.
Romans 1:8-12 God Alone Reigns
The Text
Romans 1:8–12 (CSB)
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world.9 God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you,
10 always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
11 For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,
12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
The Support
The Great Commission as mentioned in Matthew 26, Mark 16, Luke 24, and Acts 1.
Yet, simplified:
1 Thessalonians 2:8b (NIV) Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God is worthy of all our praise and thanksgiving.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world
God is alone is our witness
God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son
Romans 8:16 (CSB) The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,
God alone empowers us for ministry
that I constantly mention you, always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you
Ephesians 4:11-16 (CSB) And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
Ephesians 6:10 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
The Gospel
The gospel is about His Son, Jesus Christ.
whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (CSB) For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
Our Response
For I want very much to see you
1. Just as Paul is affectionately writing to the church in Rome, here is a reminder of what Christ affectionately says to us:
John 13:34-35 (CSB) “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 John 3:16 (CSB) This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
that I constantly mention you, always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you
2. Pray that God will use you for his will
For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift
3. Pray that God gives you spiritual gifts that hopes to build his church
to strengthen you, that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine
4. Pray to build up one another
Romans 1:13-15 God Alone is Sovereign
The Text
Romans 1:13–15 (CSB)
13 Now I don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles.14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.
15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
The Support
Now I don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles
Where we live and minister and proclaim Christ in on God's sovereign grace.
Acts 17:24–29 (CSB) The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ Since, then, we are God’s offspring, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.
I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish
Romans 15:14–21 (CSB) My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God. For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation, but, as it is written,
Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
Why was Paul restricted from going to and ministering in Rome? Not circumstances but God who is sovereign.
What is the sovereignty of God?
In dealing with trying to wrap our minds around God's sovereignty, 19th century Presbyterian theologian Charles Hodge laid out the sovereignty of God alongside the actual free will of God are just outward expressions of God's omnipotence, that is, the absolute power of God. (Omnipotence is a fancy way of saying, 'Almighty'.) To that end, Hodge writes in his Systematic Theology:
"Sovereignty is not a property of the divine nature, but a prerogative arising out of the perfections of the Supreme Being."1
In other words, God is not sovereign because He is sovereign. Let me let Hodge explain it best:
Although this sovereignty is thus universal and absolute, it is the sovereignty of wisdom, holiness, and love. The authority of God is limited by nothing out of Himself, but it is controlled, in all its manifestations, by his infinite perfections. If a man is free and exalted, in proportion as he is governed by the enlightened reason and pure conscience, so is he supremely blessed who cheerfully submits to be governed by the infinite reason and holiness of God. This sovereignty of God is the ground of peace and confidence to all his people. They rejoice that the Lord God omnipotent reigns; that neither necessity, nor chance, no the folly of man, nor the malice of Satan controls the sequence of events and all their issues. Infinite wisdom, love, and power, belong to Him, our great God and Saviour, into whose hands all power in heaven and earth has been committed.2
In other words, because God is perfect, good, wisdom, holiness, and love, that is sovereignty. God is the fullness of all of those things and in that, He is sovereign.
And since we know he is absolutely perfect, good, wisdom, holiness, and love and within that, sovereign, we know that God's hand was on Paul.
We also know that Paul could not make it Rome, he sent this letter. Praise God for this epistle.
Paul does make it to Rome eventually--not of his own volition but as a prisoner sentenced to death for the preaching of the gospel of Christ.
The Gospel
So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome
What does this have to do with the gospel of God?
Just like no one else who knew Saul before he became Paul would have even try to bet on him becoming a Christian, we do not know where somebody is going based on where they are at now.
If you listen to worldly wisdom, "God only helps those who help themselves" is not true and it damns us all to hell. Because while some have the strength to get themselves out of a pit, none of us are good enough, perfect enough obedient enough, wise enough, holy enough, and loving enough to get us out of hell and into the presence of God.
I think we think we believe that. But our actions say something totally different. How do I know? The biggest way is how many Christians who grew up Christian get into the real world, get kicked in the teeth by sin, and are left dumbfounded that this is not how it was suppose to go. So two responses: either they try harder to be better (usually to earn the favor of God in some way) or run away from him altogether--usually starts out with some sort of deconstruction. And when it comes to deconstruction, it doesn't have to be a huge heretical deniel of the basic tenets of the Bible but rather, just stop going to church. Or when people check up on you, you don't return their calls. Or keep people walled off because you want to be right and you don't want people talking you out of the direction you are heading.
The good news despite all of that is that our salvation from sin and death and unto God who is perfectly wise, love, and peace, does not depend on, as the Apostle John puts it, "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor the will of man"3 but depends completely and perfectly by God. Here are two possible reactions.
"There is nothing I can do." Hogwash. The Apostle John will go on to say, "The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him."4
You, just like every human ever born of woman, are called by God to put their trust and obey Him, who is the only living God.
The other reaction: God gives you a new heart with new desires. I think, it is after you have seen what your sin has done to your life and the lives around you. And then God rescues you, grants you His own heart and His Spirit, "cause you to follow His statutes and carefully observe His ordinances"5, and gives you grace and the sheer gift of repentance, it is only then when we can sincerely speak the words of Peter when Christ asked him, "Do you want to go away as well?"
John 6:68-69 (CSB) Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Our Response
Stop turning away from God.
If you are now away from God or when you do turn away, just turn back to him.
Keep confessing. That is part of repentance.
Repentance is to to live differently. Will you fail and struggle and suffer? I can almost promise you, yes you will. But keep turning to him.
One of the most greatest evidences of our broken world are the humans struggles with addiction to destructive vices like drugs and alcohol. But that is an external evidence--evidence that we can clearly see on the outside--of what sin does to us on the inside. Without the grace of God, we will go headlong into sin not counting the cost of consequence to our own life and everyone around us.
Ever met someone who has been or is addicted to porn? I have. That is me. I am that person. That is an addiction. And people struggle with that addiction. But sin lies to you and tells you, "It's harmless. No one is getting hurt by this." But you are getting hurt by that sin. The people you are watching--imagebearers of God--are getting hurt by that sin. And if you have people close enough to you to actually see you, your relationships are hurt by that sin.
The wages and consequences of sin is death. And just like Adam and Eve, they didn't die instantly and thought, "Maybe I can get escape punishment by covering up my shame."
But because they belonged to God--predestined, loved, called, justified, glorified by God--God wasn't going to let them go like that.
God came down to where they were at and preached the gospel.
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christ came down to where we are at now and preached the gospel to you and me.
Trust in Christ. Believe in him. Keep confessing. Keep repenting. Start letting the world become dim to you as you look into the beauty of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Charles Hodge. Systematic Theology. Volume 1: Theology. 440. 2: Hodge. 441. 3: John 1:12-12 4: John 3:36 (CSB) 5: Ezekiel 36:26-27. See also, Romans 7:7-25
Romans 1:16-17 God Alone Saves His People
The Text
Romans 1:16–17 (CSB)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
The Support
Galatians 3:11–14 (CSB) Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Hebrews 10:36–39 (CSB) For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him. But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.
Habakkuk 2:2–5 (CSB) The LORD answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late. Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith. Moreover, wine betrays; an arrogant man is never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself; he collects all the peoples for himself.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God is the only source of salvation.
God is the only source of the prophets
Habakkuk 2:2 "The LORD answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it."
God is the only justifier of the law, not the law itself
Galatians 3:11 "Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith."
God is the only Savior
Hebrews 10:38-39 "But my righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him. But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved."
The Gospel
What is the gospel? Can you clearly articulate the gospel of Christ?
How does Paul define the gospel?
Romans 1:16–17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
-
The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also the Greek
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For in the gospel, that is, in the power of God for salvation, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.
Let me sum up these two points. When you proclaim the gospel, that holds the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. For when the gospel is preached, these words put together reveal the righteousness of God from faith to faith.
Think about that. Mere words. Mere words strung together. No other piece of literature. No poem. No mere conversation. No random set of data. No social media post will contain the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. No other words will be able to reveal the righteousness of God from faith, which is a gift of God and not of yourself, to faith you now receive.
And the real kick to the pants is this: notice what the Scriptures never say. It never says, "The gospel is the power of God in salvation for those who do and do not believe."
Or think about John 3:16. It never says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes and does not believe shall never perish but have everlasting life.
The gospel saves only those who believe. The gospel saves only to those who call upon the name of the Lord. The gospel saves only to those who have been given the faith to believe and trust in him.
Our Response
Now sit and think about all that. And now consider every verse you have read or heard you had about preaching:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Genesis 3:21 (CSB) The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
Isaiah 55:11 (CSB) so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
Romans 10:14-17 (CSB) How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Matthew 28:16–20 (CSB) The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15–20 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.” So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]
Luke 24:44–49 (CSB) He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
Acts 1:8 (CSB) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
You want sure thing in this world outside believing in Christ and you shall be saved? You want a surefire way to being perfectly successful? Like, if you do this, you will be a success?
Here it is: preach the gospel.
That is it. That is the message.
All you gotta do is proclaim the gospel in the best of your ability. God does it all.
You cannot lose. It is a win win. You cannot fail.
But you might be saying, "What if I share the gospel and nobody gets saved?" But you see, you are not God. If you are not God, you have no idea what work God is doing on the hearts of those who have heard you. Also you have no idea of the magnitude and the ripple effect of the power of God.
But what about stories of missionaries who went, preached, died and never saw fruit. Yep, stories like David Brainerd, missionary to the Native Americans in the 18th century. He didn't see fruit. He got sick and had to try to recover from illness. Only then his Native American church of 130 members moved and established a little Christian community.
If you want your words to mean something and to endure beyond the end of time? Proclaim the gospel. Preach the gospel to every creature everywhere for all time. Be his witness. Teach them everything Christ commanded. I promise you He will be with you to the end of the age.
Amen.
Romans 1:18-25 God Alone is God
The Text
Romans 1:18–25 (CSB)
18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.
25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
The Support
Paul speaks twice about "exchanged":
- v22-23a Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God
- 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
Where did this exchanging all started?
Genesis 3:1–7 (CSB) Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”
“No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
We were given the temptation of the first exchange: that we will be like God.
Jesus confronts this idolatry when quotes Asaph in Psalm 82 when the Pharisees were about to stone him for blasphemy.
John 10:29–38 (CSB) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Again the Jews picked up rocks to stone him.
Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these works are you stoning me?”
“We aren’t stoning you for a good work,” the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because you—being a man—make yourself God.”
Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, I said, you are gods? If he called those to whom the word of God came ‘gods’—and the Scripture cannot be broken— do you say, ‘You are blaspheming’ to the one the Father set apart and sent into the world, because I said: I am the Son of God? If I am not doing my Father’s works, don’t believe me. But if I am doing them and you don’t believe me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father.”
Make no mistake: Jesus is not calling them gods as though they are on the same level as him.
Here is Psalm 82 and look at the judgment of God:
Psalm 82 (CSB)
God stands in the divine assembly;
he pronounces judgment among the gods:
“How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah.
Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.
Rescue the poor and needy;
save them from the power of the wicked.”
They do not know or understand;
they wander in darkness.
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I said, “You are gods;
you are all sons of the Most High.
However, you will die like humans
and fall like any other ruler.”
Rise up, God, judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to you.
By quote Psalm 82 and calling it to be law, he is judging them on their own idolatry. Whatever idols that they have created in their minds and hearts, when confronted, it was enough to kill the Son of God who was the Prophet of their day.
When somebody--somebody you trust and they know you deeply--confronts you on your sin and idolatry, what is you first reaction? Anger of the "gods" because you have made yourself a little god? Or do you quickly repent and confess of your sin because Jesus paid for all of your sins.
I am going to go out on a limb here. When you heard me say, "someone who knows you deeply", I am wondering if some of you recoil at the thought. And I wonder if some of us recoil at the thought of someone knowing us deeply because either a past sin that you don't want to reveal or you are in the deep pit of sin right now. You must know that God knows all of that. All of it. Even that gross sin. Even at that sin you are trapped within right now. And God does not recoil. He comes to you and sits with you and calls you out. How do I know this? He sent His Son. He knows you cannot do this. He knows you cannot be perfect because He knew you in your sin and depravity. And then He sent His Son to live and die for you.
Our sin is too much. It weighs so much that it will eventually kills us. By birth and by nature and choice, we have all exchanged God for our idols, philosophies, desires, and ourselves.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
We must understand the Lord God, He is one.
Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.
We must not try to be god, keep making gods that we want to control but will not come rescue us because gods that we create in our mind and hearts cannot rescue us. Only the Lord God who created us and fashioned us in his image can save us.
Exodus 20:1–6 (CSB) Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.
If we are the adopted children of God who have been bought with the price of His crucified Son, then I promise you our idols will be demolished.
1 Samuel 5:1–5 (CSB) After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it next to his statue. When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place. But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. This time, Dagon’s head and both of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso remained. That is why, still today, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon’s threshold.
The prophet Isaiah says it best:
Isaiah 40:18–31 (CSB)
With whom will you compare God?
What likeness will you set up for comparison with him?
An idol?—something that a smelter casts
and a metalworker plates with gold
and makes silver chains for?
A poor person contributes wood for a pedestal
that will not rot.
He looks for a skilled craftsman
to set up an idol that will not fall over.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been declared to you
from the beginning?
Have you not considered
the foundations of the earth?
God is enthroned above the circle of the earth;
its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He reduces princes to nothing
and makes judges of the earth like a wasteland.
They are barely planted, barely sown,
their stem hardly takes root in the ground
when he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind carries them away like stubble.
“To whom will you compare me,
or who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.
Look up and see!
Who created these?
He brings out the stars by number;
he calls all of them by name.
Because of his great power and strength,
not one of them is missing.
Jacob, why do you say,
and Israel, why do you assert,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my claim is ignored by my God”?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the whole earth.
He never becomes faint or weary;
there is no limit to his understanding.
God is not calling you just to obey God because He is God. That is reason enough. But our futile minds cannot process that easily. What we do know, if we are truly honest with ourselves, that our idols and our sin demand too much from us. They will keep taking and taking and taking until we die. The wages of sin is death.
But look at what God has in store for you. Continue with verse 29.
He gives strength to the faint
and strengthens the powerless.
Youths may become faint and weary,
and young men stumble and fall,
but those who trust in the LORD
will renew their strength;
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not become weary,
they will walk and not faint.
The Gospel
What is the Good News? There are no other gods. You cannot fashion some other god in order to control your own destiny.
If you do not trust and obey Christ as your Savior and Lord, here is your destiny:
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23a (CSB) For the wages of sin is death
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
If you do trust and obey Christ as your Savior and Lord, here is what God predestined you to:
Romans 6:23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
God knows that sin breaks us because it already has broken us. If we let it continue, it will kill us. Christ commands each and every one of us to give Him our sin in a final exchange for his righteousness:
Matthew 11:28–30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Our Response
Worship the one God, the only God, maker of heaven and earth.
Stop putting your faith and trust into yourself, your sin, idols, Satan, and demons. They are powerless to help and save you . Stop putting your faith into gods you can create and make. You have power over your idols. Not the other way around.
Just as David, our foreshadow to Christ, slew Goliath. For us, Christ slew and conquers sin and death once and for all. The tomb is empty. It's one and done.
Now, since our Conqueror has won the victory, what are we expected to do? Just like the mighty men of David went on killing the other giants in their land (2 Samuel 21:15-22), God calls us to put the death to sin and idols in our lives:
Romans 8:12–13 (CSB) So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Do you think if you just keep playing with your sin, dabble with your sin that you sin is going to leave you alone, creep away and die on its own? Or do you think when you have to kill off sin, that there is hard work to get done and it is going to get messy? What do you think?
How do think you will do it? Romans 8:13 by the Spirit alone.
Romans 1:26-32 All Wrath Belongs to God
The Text
Romans 1:26–32 (CSB)
26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.27 The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.
28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.
29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.
32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
The Support
Genesis 3:6 (CSB) The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
This was the moment when the entire cosmos broke into pieces. When Adam and Eve sinned, they felt shame and afraid. They felt broken emotions but for the first time in their lives, they had no vocabulary to express how they felt. Their only response is to attempt to cover their shame in self-righteousness.
Genesis 4:8 (CSB) Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
I don't know what else Adam and Eve also thought and felt but I cannot imagine that Adam and Eve thought that their new death-life was going to get so bad that one of their sons would kill the other in a jealous rage. Cain was furious that his heartless worship to God did not please the Lord. Cain was so enraged that he had to kill his brother.
Leviticus 18:22 (CSB) You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Ephesians 2:1–3 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God delivers us over to our sin. And all rightful wrath belongs to God alone.
All Wrath Belongs to God
Hebrews 1:8 (CSB)
but to the Son:
Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.
Psalm 110:1 (CSB)
This is the declaration of the LORD to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Psalm 7 (CSB)
LORD my God, I seek refuge in you;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
or they will tear me like a lion,
ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.
LORD my God, if I have done this,
if there is injustice on my hands,
if I have done harm to one at peace with me
or have plundered my adversary without cause,
may an enemy pursue and overtake me;
may he trample me to the ground
and leave my honor in the dust.
Selah
Rise up, LORD, in your anger;
lift yourself up against the fury of my adversaries;
awake for me;
you have ordained a judgment.
Let the assembly of peoples gather around you;
take your seat on high over it.
The LORD judges the peoples;
vindicate me, LORD,
according to my righteousness and my integrity.
Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the righteous.
The one who examines the thoughts and emotions
is a righteous God.
My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge
and a God who shows his wrath every day.
If anyone does not repent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he has strung his bow and made it ready.
He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he tips his arrows with fire.
See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil,
conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit.
He dug a pit and hollowed it out
but fell into the hole he had made.
His trouble comes back on his own head;
his own violence comes down on top of his head.
I will thank the LORD for his righteousness;
I will sing about the name of the LORD Most High.
Mankind has always thought of themselves more highly than they ought. That is the brokenness of sin upon our lives. That is the folly of the sin. That is how we know we have all fallen short--that none of us think that we can get that bad off.
But look at what Paul says again in the passage:
Romans 1:28 (CSB) And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.
Look that verse up in whatever translation. They all say it the same way. And that is a frightening statement.
If read the text correctly, then when I fail to acknowledge God, God would then deliver me over to a corrupt mind. That is my thinking and feeling is out of ungodliness and evil.
Read the Old Testament. "They did what was right in the own eyes." Want the extreme end of our corrupt minds? Read the end of Judges. Those who have read the Bible know what I am talking about.
You say, "There is no way I can get that bad." You might be right for that might be the grace of God upon your life.
But what about the rest of humanity? We think we have come so far from wickedness and barbarism and yet, when we compare our sins to sins of those in the Bible? Those in the Bible don't even compare to the wickedness in the world today.
I tell you this: God certainly did this to me. When people ask me about my testimony, I always include this hard-hitting question:
"Do you think there are any Christians who work in porn?"
And I am not the best person who can read other people's reactions. But what should have been an obvious "absolutely not", I have seen some pause to think about it. I think that says more about our culture than anything else.
But there I was: working in the creation of and distribution of porn and at the same time thinking I was a Christian simply because I raised my hand when I was 7 years old at a Baptist church in Oklahoma City because I didn't want to go to hell. I have no doubt the kid to my right or the kid to my left sincerely trusted in the Lord with all of their heart. Me? I tried to always do the right thing: pray, read my KJV Bible, get baptized and go to church. But I never repented of my sins. I never trusted God with my sin and wickedness and my salvation. And I kept running back to porn over and over again from age 8 onward. It got so bad that I thought it would be a wonderful idea to help create and distribute porn in the early days of the Internet.
That is God delivering me over to a corrupt mind so that I do what was not right.
On the outside, I was just a really good dude. I was just a really nice guy that was super likable. Let me put it another way: in the corruptness of my mind, I just wanted people to think I was a really nice guy. Inside of my heart, I was complete jacked up with my own sin and wickedness and evil.
Because I failed to acknowledge God, I was filled with all sorts of wickedness.
Or as Paul says it clearly in his letter to Titus:
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
The ESV ends verse 3 with, "... hated by others and hating one another."
Is there no wonder why those who look at porn began a build up in their hearts and minds in hating the opposite sex?
Or even a bit stronger language to his letter to the church in Ephesus:
Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind
The Gospel
To those who disobey, the wrath of God would remain on them.
How bad is this wrath for those who fail to acknowledge God?
Luke 23:26–31 (CSB) As they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him. But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
But why would people begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"? How can things go so bad to we get to a place where we stop acknowledge God?
Christ was simply prophesying:
Revelation 6:15–17 (CSB) Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”
God is Absolute Judge. He sees the depths of our hearts and how we think and the reasons why we do the things we do and fail to do it. He knows it. He ain't scared of it. In fact, driven not by holiness, righteousness, or even justice but rather with a heart that sees our shame and wickedness and despair and He is drawn closer. He does this in sending His only begotten Son to save His people from their sins. For only those who believe and trust and obey the Son, they will never perish.
Our Response
Let us not kid ourselves into thinking that we acknowledging God in our prayers over meals or injecting the name of God into our Constitution or Pledge of Allegiance or on our bumper stickers that would be good enough for God.
God doesn't care about any of that. All He ever wanted, since He created Adam and Eve, was your heart.
Your heart must acknowledged God. Your heart must worship God. Your heart must glorify God.
But guess what? Your heart will not do that until God takes out your wicked heart and give you his own. That is the only way. You cannot do this in your own power and understanding. You are going to need all the help you can get because to be right before God? You are completely helpless. You are weak. You are feeble. You cannot do it.
Trust in God with your sin. Give your sin to Christ. And he will lift you up. He will exalt you. He will save you.
Romans 2:1-16 All Righteousness Belongs to God
The Text
Romans 2:1–16 (CSB)
1 Therefore, every one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.2 Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth.
3 Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment?
4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
5 Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.
6 He will repay each one according to his works:
7 eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality;
8 but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness.
9 There will be affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;
10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
11 For there is no favoritism with God.
12 For all who sin without the law will also perish without the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
13 For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.
14 So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.
15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them
16 on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
The Support
We are not to judge others in their sin and where we think they are at
Matthew 7:1–6 (CSB) “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use. Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye. Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or you will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
Judge ourselves by the fruit we produce with our lives according to the word of God and not the world
Matthew 12:33-37 (CSB) Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word you speak. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Ours is to proclaim the gospel--it is the gospel command by God to repent of sins and trust in Christ
Go and read Matthew 23. It is the summation of our gospel ministry in light of Matthew 7. It is where Christ points out the hypocrisy of the super religious people of the day. And for the chief reason: all the undue and back-breaking weight of self-righteousness that they put on the people of God.
The end of Romans 1 exposes our hearts' bent towards license--that is, somehow we have fooled ourselves in thinking that God allows us to sin. But God is not like that.
The beginning of Romans 2 exposes our hearts to legalism--that is, earning righteousness by what we do. But God is not like that.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
What is God like?
God is kind.
We clearly see the heart of God towards wickedness and sin: the gospel of Christ who takes away our sin on the cross and gives us his righteousness.
But we also clearly see the heart of God towards legalism and self-righteousness. Most of us agree that it is bad. And we might all pass that theological pop quiz--self-righteous is bad. Check. Legalism is bad. Double check.
What is legalism? It is when we are so focus on the law of God and obeying God to the point that you end up believing what you do makes you good with God versus trusting all that God has done is what makes the people of God good and right-standing with God.
And you can tell when people struggle with legalism because you are dying to ask you, "But what about...?" For example, "So what you are saying that we don't have to obey God? We just need to believe?"
So to answer that, no. You are never going have me or any church that I attend or all of orthodox Christianity ever suggest that we don't have to obey God that much. In fact, spoiler alert: Romans 6, 7, and 8 dismantles those types of questions. I will save that argument for when we get there.
Here is the struggle of the legalist: it is self-righteousness.
Here is the truth of God: only God is righteous.
All who were born of Adam have no righteousness within us. We are born to die and perish and be under the wrath of the Almighty God.
Matthew 23:37-39 (CSB) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”
The day of judgment, reckoning and the wrath of God is soon coming. And Jesus Christ both in the Gospels and in his Revelation makes it painfully clear: the wrath of God that remains on those who do not trust and obey comes from the Son of God himself.
The Gospel
In all of my conversations with unbelievers and perhaps well-intentioned Christians are sometimes too focus on humanity. What I mean by that is that you are so fixated on trying to save people who want nothing to do with God but do not want to perish and suffer in hell.
One solution: all are saved by God
But read the Bible and you know that is not true. You are free to cherry-pick some verses to make your argument and you would still be damningly wrong.
Another solution: something between God and not God.
In other words, there is something between Heaven and Hell and good people who might not know God get to go there. One, the Bible doesn't teach that. Two, that is not a way of saving anybody. Three, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
(One thing that is particularly interesting is that religions that particularly struggle with legalism have implemented some sort of grey area between Heaven and Hell such as Roman Catholic teaching on purgatory or Latter-Day Saints' teaching on the three kingdoms of glory.)
But what does the Bible say? Perhaps we speak as Christians who have put their faith, trust, and obedience into Jesus Christ and we have the assurance that we are saved to God forever. Then there is some of us who are not sure or we don't think we are good enough. Finally, what about our neighbor, or our relative, or our gay friend? What about them? How can you be saved? Where is God's heart in all of this?
I say to you all: those who are sick of your own heart. You know the thoughts you think deep down inside. With your mouths you say one thing but you really know what you believe. And it is gross. You have regret all of your wrongdoing and you are just sick of it. You can't stand it. And it is (literally) too damn difficult to keep trying to do the right thing and you keep messing up. And you keep going back to your addictions and vices. You keep picking the wrong lovers. You keep doing the marriage thing over and over until you get it right. You are a dad or a mom who totally jacked up your chances with your kids and now they will have nothing to do with you. You know you are not righteous. You know you have tried and your best wasn't nearly good enough.
If that is you, then take a few seconds to listen how the Almighty, Wrathful, Just, Righteous, and Holy God responds to you right now and every second of your life:
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Our Response
Hear that? Jesus Christ who lived, died, and rose again is asking you to come to him. You carrying around slogs of crap around? Give it to him. He will take it. What about that wickedness? What about that sin? What about my anxiety? What about struggles? What about my addictions?
Believe in God. And now that stuff belongs to Him. For all of your mess and disease and crap and sin and wickedness, he is going to give you the lightest and greatest gift of all:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
You see that?
Our original parents, Adam & Eve, and every human born, exchanged God for sin. Jesus Christ came to earth and exchanged our sin for his righteousness.
Trust in Him and take him at his word. When you do so, you shall be saved.
Romans 2:17-29 Everything Belongs to God
The Text
Romans 2:17–29 (CSB)
17 Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast in God,18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law,
19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness,
20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law—
21 you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal?
22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.
25 Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision.
28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh.
29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.
The Support
As we descend into the end of Romans 3 "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God", Paul has taken ever possible argument and pushback from naysayers in his time. How does this apply to us?
We don't practice what we preach--thus we put heavier loads on other people
Romans 2:21a you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself?...
Matthew 23:3-4 (CSB) Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.
Our own self-righteous bears witness against ourselves
Romans 2:23-29 (CSB) You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.
Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.
Isaiah 64:5-6 (CSB)
You welcome the one who joyfully does what is right;
they remember you in your ways.
But we have sinned, and you were angry.
How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?
All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment;
all of us wither like a leaf,
and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
If we break one law, we have broken the entire law
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
Here's the kick to the crotch: you and I are not perfect. You and I are infected with sin. Even when we do things that are good, it is somehow tinctured with evil.
And to our little sinful hearts who maybe bent to do the bare minimum, that kinda sucks. That is literally God-awful. To be Christian, you are proclaiming that you worship God who doesn't want empty praise or for you to do a bunch of stuff for him--Christians worships the Creator God of the heavens and the earth who only wants the heart of the worshiper.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God is perfect. Perfect is a over-used term in the English language because we tend to use it subjectively, that is, based on opinion, rather than objectively, that is, based on absolute truth.
Mankind is not perfect. And because of our fall into sin, God gives us his holy law to show just how far we are from sin:
- we teach others to do things we do not do
- we struggle with self-righteousness - trying to earn the blessing, favor, salvation, and love of God
- unfortunately, we have all broken the whole law of God
Again, we can pick and choose what Bible verses we like, and because they require such little effort on our parts, we obey them because they are easy. But our ignorance of the word does not exempt us from judgment.
God is the only God who gives the whole law to be obeyed perfectly who, at the same time, rightfully demands your whole heart. All of your heart and everything in it.
If you can see yourself honestly, you know your heart it is jacked up and have jacked up things in it. But that is what makes the gospel of Christ such good news: God wants your heart and all the sin within it.
The Gospel
Here is the gospel:
Christ does everything in order to save His people from their sins
Christ came to fulfill the law by perfectly obeying God and his law. By being the perfect Son, he is the perfect sacrifice to be the perfect lamb that was slain--by the requirements of what His law required. The blood of animals was not going to save us--only the blood of His Son could do this.
Now that Jesus has completed this, this is the gospel commandment to us:
Matthew 9:13 (CSB) Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Hosea 6:6 (CSB) For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Christ does everything in order to get your heart
Christ wants our heart. Awesome. Now what.
Look at what God does:
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
If you grew up in church, you may have heard that passage (or the one like it in Ezekiel 11) more than a few times. Here's what really strikes me about that passage: God exchanges our wicked hearts and gives us his own heart.
Adam and Eve sinfully exchange God for something not God.
Christ righteously exchange something not God for God.
But then look at the effects of having a whole new heart:
Ezekiel 36:27 (CSB) I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
So walk through that loaded statement:
- God gives you a new heart
- and then He places His Spirit within you
- Cause you to follow your statutes
- and carefully observe my ordinances
Because Christ obeyed God perfectly, we get to live, move, and have our being in that perfection. His righteousness is now our righteousness--if you believe and trust in him.
That is why "his yoke is easy and his burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30) because Christ took our sin, that we would be righteous in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Can we obey God outside of Christ
Like, we know what the law of God says--for the most part: Ten Commandments, thou shall nots.
What if we are really good about obeying those law and we are really not that bad?
Let me ask this question: can an unbeliever actually obey God? Can someone who has no intention of obeying God and taking him at his word can end up, by chance, obeying God?
The simple answer is no.
Let me give this illustration: let us suppose you have two people. One a believer and the other an unbeliever.
Both give to the poor and to the church.
Both read the word of God.
Both go to church.
Both are in small groups at church.
Both preach the gospel.
Both prophesy in the name of God.
Both drive out demons.
Both do many miracles in his name.
Both don't cuss.
All of that.
Look how Christ determines who is with him and who is against him:
Matthew 7:21-23 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
What is the difference?
One believed and trust God. One did not.
One received a new heart and the Spirit of God. The other was really good at trying really hard to be a Christian.
Only one's works were obedient to God because the believer has no righteousness apart from Jesus Christ. For the unbeliever, his works are but filthy rags in the sight of God.
Our Response
The call is always to believe and put your trust in God. It is literally the only way you can be saved.
Put all of your hope into Him.
When you do, this is what happens:
John 8:10-11 (CSB)
When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus.
Here is the call directly from Christ:
“Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
Romans 3:1-8 All Goodness and Glory Belongs to God
The Text
Romans 3:1–8 (CSB)
1 So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?2 Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What then? If some were unfaithful, will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?
4 Absolutely not! Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar, as it is written: That you may be justified in your words and triumph when you judge.
5 But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I am using a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?
6 Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?
7 But if by my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?
8 And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, “Let us do what is evil so that good may come”? Their condemnation is deserved!
The Support
Those who are raised from birth to know the love of God have every advantage of those who don't
1So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.
Proverbs 22:6 (CSB) Start a youth out on his way;
even when he grows old he will not depart from it.
Here is the thing. That proverb in Proverbs is a proverb. What do I mean by that? It is a wise saying. Is it a promise of God?
To the Christian parents with unbelieving grown-up kids, can I take some burden off you for eternity? That proverb is not a promise of God.
That proverb is our a charge to all Christian parents: to raise and parent our kids in the absolute truth of what we believe. Don't be a hypocrite. We are all called to point everyone to Christ--that starts with our families. That starts with our kids. Point them to Christ at every moment of their lives. And let Christ save them! God is our Savior, not the kids' parents.
God is faithful and we are faithless
3If some were unfaithful, will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Absolutely not!
2 Timothy 2:11-13 (CSB)
This saying is trustworthy:
For if we died with him,
we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.
God is glorious with or without us
Exodus 33:18-23 (CSB) Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”
He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the LORD’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” The LORD said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”
We are chosen because we are feeble, weak, and tiny
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (ESV) “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
There is nothing in us that allows us to grab one ounce of glory for our salvation
Isaiah 42:8 (CSB)
I am the LORD. That is my name,
and I will not give my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
Isaiah 48:9–11 (CSB)
I will delay my anger for the sake of my name,
and I will restrain myself for your benefit and for my praise,
so that you will not be destroyed.
Look, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
I will act for my own sake, indeed, my own,
for how can I be defiled?
I will not give my glory to another.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God is glorious.
His glory is not dependent on anything we are, say, do or do not. God is simply glorious.
He is not a mixture of holiness or love; of righteousness or mercy; or just or grace. He is not a complex mix of different moods or emotions on any given day or what we are doing or not doing. No! He is simply glorious.
Luke 19:37-40 (CSB) Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
Blessed is the King who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest heaven!Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”
Theologians have called this the Aseity of God--the simplicity of God. God is simply God.--that he is simply who he says he is and nothing more nor less and he is not whimsical nor capricious. If we can wrap our mortal minds around this infinite concept, then we will begin to grasp who God really is. It is why Moses sung:
Psalms 90:1-2 (ESV)
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
There are no moving parts with God. There are no lies or deceit within the gospel of God. There is now nothing hidden because Christ is here!
What does the gospel of John tell us?
John 1:14-18 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
The Gospel
Our sin and idols are:
- complex - always changing, chaotic, and completely unstable
- whimsical - changing their minds out of thin air just because--just because. I call it, "moving the goalposts" or "changing the end"
- capricious - changing their minds if suits their desire to fill with more power or pleasure.
Our little stupid weak gods are exactly like this. That is why we make them thinking we are in control somehow. But we give our idols what it wants and our sin only takes and never gives. And now it sucks our souls dry.
You know what God is? Not anything like that.
God is simple -- he has never change and will never change.
God is holy -- his holiness keeps sin out of his presence by default
God is love -- his kindest desire was for always for his people to repent of their sins and turn to him forever. And God gives you and me the perfect amount of grace for us to freely, joyfully, and actually obey him.
You want to know that amount? Grace upon grace. (John 1:16)
And because God is simply and forever good, gracious, and glorious, when the Bible says:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.
and
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
and
Psalms 103:15-18 (CSB) As for man, his days are like grass—
he blooms like a flower of the field;
when the wind passes over it, it vanishes,
and its place is no longer known.
But from eternity to eternity
the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him,
and his righteousness toward the grandchildren
of those who keep his covenant,
who remember to observe his precepts.
and
Lamentations 3:22-23 (CSB)
Because of the LORD’s faithful love
we do not perish,
for his mercies never end.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness!
and
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
and
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
and
Ezekiel 36:25-28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
and
John 3:16-17 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
and
Romans 8:1 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,
and
Romans 8:38-39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
and
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
... then that is one and done and good as gold.
In fact, if we worshipped a god was changed his mind when he wanted to or said one thing and did another, then the Bible would be straight trash. Seriously. If God was prone to change his mind, the paper that makes up this Bible wouldn't make good toilet paper.
But because God does not change, that all of his promises are yes and amen, that He alone is the only promise keeper and the fact that how much more amazing and wonderful He is because He does not possess the sin to lie and break his promises, He is glorious!
Our Response
Read your Bible. Know your God.
There is no logical, reasonable, and rightful argument that we can feebly try to use to uphold our sin thinking that somehow our sin can please God, nullify God, or glorify God.
God does not need us to try to change his word to justify our sin.
What has God commanded all of us to do?
Repent of sin. Take all of your sins and hand them over to Christ Jesus and let His Son lovingly lay his daily mercies, saving grace upon grace, and his righteousness upon your life so you can be with God forever and ever. Amen.
Romans 3:9–26 No One Does Good
The Text
Romans 3:9–26 (CSB)
9 What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin,10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
13 Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips.
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.
20 For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.
22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction.
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
25 God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
The Support
The Fall of Mankind is consistent--nothing has changed
Genesis 6:5-7 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
Sin is greater than we can imagine
Romans 3:9–18 (CSB) What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, as it is written:
There is no one righteous, not even one.
There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.
Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.
Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
and the path of peace they have not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
How do I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that "No one is good, no, not even one" and "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?"
Because outside of Christ, there are no human exceptions to the curse of sin. In other words, no human has been able to escape the fall of mankind.
Sin is so great: you and I cannot fix our own problems in the sight of God
Romans 3:19-20 (CSB) Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment. For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
In the times that we live, humans are audacious to think that we can fix our own problems. Colossians 2:8 calls us to not think like the world and Romans 12:1-2 commands us to worship the Lord our God by renewing our mind. How many times has Christ in his word has given the gospel commandment to change your mind about your sin:
"Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand!"
Yet, we are caught up in modern thinking. Forget terms like post-modernism. Let us talk about how we got here. Somewhere, mankind thinks that they can take and receive the good things of God and understand the good things of God without God and worshipping God. We have been fooled by the way of thinking in our time that with enough smarts, money, time, manpower, will, and action, we can fix our own problems and the consequences of our own actions.
But here is the hubris and pride of man: we are not so quick to think that sin is the problem of humanity. We have fooled ourselves into thinking that whatever problems I have, it has to be everything else but sin. We try to go through sin, around sin or for the most part, ignore it altogether. And maybe, if we throw enough resources at it with a little dumb luck, we can eventually can resolve all of our problems.
We have tried this with our own sexuality and our own identity. The problem is that because of sin, we are no longer in Christ. The gospel states, "Put your hope and trust in Christ and you will be saved. When you are saved, then your identity that was once not in Christ is now in Christ." What does the world do? Ignores the sin problem and instead tries to tell people that if they put their hope and identity into something you can control or think you can control like your gender or sexual preference, you might be saved.
And before we are so quick to dismiss this and in thinking "well, I know my gender and I am heterosexual", tell me something: how many of us struggle with lust? How many of us struggle with porn or just straight up any type of sexual immorality? We trust in porn or re-categorize what is good porn or what is bad porn in attempts to ease our conscience.
How many times have you heard this growing up in church? "Women, don't show too much skin. You don't want to make our brothers in Christ trip and stumble." How rarely do we hear the call and command of God to have us repent of the way we think, call upon God, the Holy Spirit dwells in you and exercise self-control which is a fruit of the Spirit? How many times have we heard that message? I imagine not many times.
I find it hilarious that the sons of Adam continue to blame others for their own sin. It has nothing to do with what other people do. Your sin is your own.
I was introduced to porn when I was about 7 years old. But what am I going to do before a just and righteous God? "Oh, don't count that against me--my dad introduced to me." My worst fear is that we all know that there is a God and somehow God is going grade us on a curve.
This is not so.
The Gospel
Here is the gospel: there is one way only to get through our own sin.
Here is the gospel command: repent of your sin and trust in God.
Here is what the good news of Christ proclaims:
The righteousness of God is revealed
Romans 3:21-22 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction.
That righteousness is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Remember in Romans 1:17? The righteousness has been revealed from faith to faith. That is God will have to give you his faith, his love, his grace, his heart in order for you to come to him and believe. Until then, you are in darkness. God has to give himself to you and dwell in you for you to open your eyes and believe.
Everyone of us is infinitely far from God
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
In case you didn't pick up on the contents of Romans 3, or Romans, or the entire Bible. That is the line.
We are born so far from God, we cannot see Him at all. Why? Because we are blind. We are born blind, deaf, mute, and ignorant. We are born to die in our sins.
That gap between us and God is infinite.
In order to close and bridge the gap between God and mankind, man is finite and cannot make way to the Father
24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
This was always the way.
Jesus Christ is the Savior of all His people--in the Old and New Testaments
25-26 God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Here is the good news: from the fall of mankind to the end of time, we are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Now who is we? The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction.
But why would God need to save His people from their sins? For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Our Response
What is ours to do? The Bible and especially the book of Romans is going to start making clear and distinct marks: either you are in Christ or you are not in Christ. There is no middle ground.
I dare each of you to ask God, "Where in my life am I acting and believing and speaking as though I do not believe you are real and you are good and you are just and you are righteous." I ask you to pray this prayer and see what the Lord says because I am seeing too many people who go to church and everything in their lives and with their tongue would confess that there is no God.
I dare you to press into God and have God himself examine you and do the real work of making you His own. Pray right now. See what God does.
Romans 3:27-4:5 No One May Boast
The Text
Romans 3:27–4:5 (CSB)
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith.28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
2 If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God.
3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.
4 Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed.
5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
The Support
You cannot earn a gift. It is no longer a gift but payment owed.
We don't get to take credit for anything that God gives
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith.
Isaiah 42:8 (CSB)
I am the LORD. That is my name,
and I will not give my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
In other words, if we could work for our salvation, then how is it a gift? Are we not workers getting their wages due?
There are no works needed in order to be saved by God
28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Now let us get into the weeds. Let us get into the mucky muck. What do I mean? Let us bring up a contradiction in the Bible. At first glance, it would appear that the half-brother of Jesus would say otherwise:
James 2:14-21 (CSB) What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him?
If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.
Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar?
Paul says we are saved apart from works and uses Abraham as example. James says faith without works is useless and uses Abraham as example. Here is the rub: they are both right.
Apart from believing, trusting, and obeying God, all of our works are trash in the sight of God:
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment;
all of us wither like a leaf,
and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
James is just expounding on the words of Christ while Jesus was here on earth:
Luke 6:43-45 (CSB) “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
And guess what. Paul and James are not at odds with one another. Paul would adamantly agree with James:
Ephesians 2:10 (CSB) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
In other words, we cannot do good works--works that are given to us by God, ordained by His grace, to his will and good pleasure--unless we belong to him.
I have used this example before: take an unbeliever and the believer side by side.
Both give stupid amounts of money to the church.
Both serve on Sundays.
Both went to seminary.
Both don't cuss. Both don't drink.
Yet, to the one does not trust, does not believes, and does not worship Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, that person is under the wrath of God. To the one who believes in his name, God gave him the right to become His protected and blessed adopted child forever.
And you think that my example is extreme, Christ goes even further:
Luke 18:9-14 (CSB) He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’
“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
In other words, both of them have sinned and fallen way short of the glory of God. Yet, by grace of God alone, only one saw it with his opened eyes.
One man is doing all he can to get in right with God and hoping for the best. The other is putting himself into the mercies and grace of God and crying out to God, "Save me!"
It is a posture of the heart. And the heart is wicked and desperately sick. Do you think you are doing a good enough job? You are not. Run to God and fall into his loving, saving arms so that you can be with him forever and ever.
Christ only came to heal the sick and save sinners.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God alone justifies us and it has nothing to do with who we are and what have done or not done
29-30 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
God will not give his glory to another. That is why you are not getting any credit for your salvation because salvation is of God alone for he is the mighty one who saves. You don't get credit for your goodness. God alone is good.
And you think, "Why is God such a glory hog?" We can debate all day long that if God was not about his glory, he would cease to be God. That argument is for another day. But have you ever thought that God is about his glory in your salvation because there was nothing in you to save yourself?
What if Satan the Accuser called you out in the presence of God? Here is the drop kick to the pants: Satan wouldn't have to lie to rightly accuse you of some of your sin. God would know your sin just as well.
But continue on Romans 8:
Romans 8:31-34 (CSB) What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
God did not spare his own Son.
God gave up Jesus for us all.
God grants us everything.
No one can accuse us of any wrongdoing.
God alone is the justifier.
No one can condemn us for anything.
Jesus Christ is the one who died. More so than that, who is raised, who ascended to the right hand of the Father, who is interceding for us
This does not mean we get to skip the law of God altogether
31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Someone once told me that we don't have to obey the laws of God necessary because Jesus fulfilled it. Jesus did fulfill it but look at what he said about fulfilling his own law:
Matthew 5:17-20 (CSB) “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
We are to obey God because as believers, we now get to obey God.
But it also means that God does not owe us one thing for anything good we might do
Romans 4:1-5 (CSB) What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
God is our righteousness.
God will not be placed into our debt. I don't know of a fancy theological term for that.
I just know that so many people try to score a deal with God: "God, if I do this thing for you, then you should do this thing for me." I have heard it gone as far as, "Do this thing for me and I will do this thing for you."
Now, for those of us who have read the Bible, we might suggest, "Didn't Gideon do this exact thing?" (Judges 6)
Here's the thing: Gideon believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. In other words, because God preached the good news to Gideon, Gideon believed and was in right standing with God
Many of you are trying to bargain with the Almighty God of the Universe and yet you do not believe. God does not deal with the wicked. He does not make bets with worthless people. They have no power. He has all the power. Why should he negotiate with an unbeliever when the sons of Adam have nothing to give. And everything that mankind has ever received comes from the provision of God alone.
And still many of you believe at a young age thinking if you did all the right things, that God would bless you. Most of you all are now just figuring that out that it doesn't work. It doesn't work because when we try to earn credit with God, it is nullify and void.
God is not a little god to be bargain with.
The Gospel
Maybe you are guilty of this. I grew up this way. Thinking if I believe hard enough, trusted hard enough, pray hard enough, and didn't have sex before marriage, that God was going to give me the good life. Never mind the fact I didn't trust God, didn't obey him, lied all the time, was violent and had a crippling porn addiction years before the Internet became a household utility.
And I had to repent of this thinking because it is wicked idolatry, witchcraft, and self-righteousness.
If this is you, and don't be so quick to think it is not, do you know when a good time would be to repent of this sin??
The best time would have been years ago.
The second best time would be right this second. Listen, you might try to hold on and think you can still get God to give you favor if you can do more and more stuff. That is the opposite of repentance. And the Bible makes it clear that repentance doesn't come from within us (because nothing is good within us) but yet, it is a gift from God.
Acts 11:18 (CSB) When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”
2 Timothy 2:24-26 (CSB) The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Romans 2:4 (CSB) Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
Our Response
Mark 1:14-15 (CSB) After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Most religions suggest that you repent. God commands that in order for you to trust and believe in Him, you must repent.
What is repentance? Changing the way you live that bears witness that you worship the Living God.
Let me ask you this: are you busy repenting of sin when you see your sin clearly exposed by the word of God? Then praise Him and give thanks to him for this wonderful gift. Or when the word of God before you exposes your sin, are you too busy trying to do Biblical gymnastics so that your sin is not a sin?
Or like most of us: just don't read the Bible, ignore the word of God and that solves that problem.
If you are in sin and refusing to repent of it, and we all know that God gives the gift of repentance to all those who trust and obey him, why hasn't He given you this gift? Do you even dare to ask for this gift of repentance so that you can repent and change your life and believe in God and live in God?
Do you dare?
Repent for the kingdom of God is here.
Romans 4:6-12 God Justifies, Not Us
The Text
Romans 4:6–12 (CSB)
6 Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:7 Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the person the Lord will never charge with sin.
9 Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.
10 In what way, then, was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? It was not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.
12 And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.
The Support
Old Testament saints were justified by God because they believed--not because they fulfilled a checklist of duties
Romans 4:6–8 (CSB) Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven
and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the person
the Lord will never charge with sin.
We might engage the Old Testament and be tempted as the Israelites were, "All I have to do is go through the motions and God will do my bidding or provide or keep us safe from our enemies or whatever I need him to do in order to make my life happy." And I don't think anybody would dare say that with their mouths. But some of us live our lives in this way: “I am a Christian, my life should be way better than this"
Nowhere in the Bible did God promise a easy life. He did promise suffering--mostly because you are called to be holy in a fallen world.
Because of that holiness, life is not going to go your way.
Then there is the temptation: "Why should I even believe? Why even be a Christian?"
Here’s the promise for those who play the part but choose not to obey:
Jeremiah 9:25–26 (CSB) “‘Look, the days are coming—this is the LORD’s declaration—when I will punish all the circumcised yet uncircumcised: Egypt, Judah, Edom, the Ammonites, Moab, and all the inhabitants of the desert who clip the hair on their temples. All these nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.’ ”
I know you have this before. Let me put it in another way:
John 3:36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God is not some idol that will save us if we can do the right things
First, idols don't save. They don't provide. They will not make you happy.
Sin doesn't save. It doesn't provide. Sin might make you happy for a moment or two--but it only leads to death and the wrath of God.
Throughout all time, God has consistently never been satisfied with our bare minimum--just check the boxes, get from God what I want, and then he needs to leave me alone so I can go and do my own thing.
As sinful, wicked, wholly imperfect, messed up people in the Bible as they were, they are still counted among the saved because they believe.
When they believed, we know they believed because their lives look dramatically different before and after. In Abraham's case, he was going one direction--content, staying at home, and just being a rich man. Instead, he met God and had to leave the only home and family that he ever knew.
Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. But you say to yourself, "Oh, Abraham must have done the right things and then God said he was righteous." Paul is here to remind us of this history lesson:
Romans 4:9-10 (CSB) Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. In what way, then, was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? It was not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised.
Now Abraham believed in God before he could do one singular thing in obeying God.
And if you think that this is the first time we have seen this prior to Abraham, that would not be the case. Go backwards...
Noah:
Genesis 6:7-9 (CSB) Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.
These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
And further back all the way to Eden, with Adam and Eve. God preaches the gospel:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.
... then Adam and Eve believe:
Genesis 3:21 (CSB) The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
God gives the sacrifice and clothes them in his righteousness alone.
God alone gives grace. Then Adam, Eve, Noah, and all believers were obedient but not until He gave grace first for them to believe.
If you walk away from this study not knowing anything about the God of the Bible, then know and see that God is consistent. In other words, God is perfect.
God called Abraham in Genesis 12. Abraham believed. Then God gives the commandment for circumcision in Genesis 17:
Genesis 17:11 (CSB) You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and you.
Was God calling Abraham to hack off some foreskin just so Abraham can check the off a list so that Abraham can go about his merry way? No! Believing in God means obeying God. If you don’t obey God, then you don’t believe.
And ultimately, it comes down to the matter of the heart. Your heart. My heart. The hearts of all of mankind. You might try to ignore it. You might try to do a few good things. But, to some of us whom the Holy Spirit is engage and revealing, you are going to see your heart for what it really is: not obeying, not worshipping God and far from God and wanting nothing from God.
God was never asking for actions. God was asking for our hearts and our lives--every square inch because it all belongs to him.
God has always been like this. God did ask Abraham to circumcise but that was a reflection of what he will do in the hearts of his people:
Jeremiah 4:4 (CSB)
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD;
remove the foreskin of your hearts,
men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem.
Otherwise, my wrath will break out like fire
and burn with no one to extinguish it
because of your evil deeds.
Look at the words of Christ as he quotes the prophet Hosea:
Matthew 9:13 (CSB) Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Gospel
Once God has your heart, you are saved to God and not a moment before
Continue on.
Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.
When I think about the salvation of man and God's gospel commandment to repent and believe in his Son, I often think of the words of the professional bodybuilder, consecutive 8-time Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman:
Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but nobody wants to lift no heavy-a** weights. - Ronnie Coleman
Here's the truth: here in America, it is easy peasy to be a Christian. Now, not too long ago, it used to be advantageous and encouraged to be in church. Why? For some, that looked good to your neighbor and your friends at work. And what was the worst that you had to do? Show up on Sunday for an hour and half, sing some decent songs and hear a preacher that wasn't saying anything too hard.
Nowadays and in the days ahead, it has become less of a benefit to be a Christian. You don't gain favor with your neighbor or co-worker by going to your local church.
People in church often talk about there is a falling away from the church. But consider this:
What if people stopped going to church because there wasn't anything in it for them anymore? They didn't want to pretend. They didn't get anything out of it. They didn't see the commandments of God to be absolutely obeyed. They didn't see God to be feared, awed, worshiped, obeyed, believed, and loved. Why? Maybe their parents didn't believe. They went to church but what was in the Bible didn't match up with what was lived out at home or in town. Maybe the people around them didn’t seem too concerned with God and their lives turned out okay. Maybe that all I wanted was to stop being single, get married and yet, no Christian guy or girl is asking me out. Is finding a God-fearing spouse really that important? Marriage has got to be better than being alone.
During the height of church attendance about twenty years ago, it was easy to look like a Christian because the requirements were easy. But when the preacher starts preaching the full council of God, or life's circumstances kick you in the gut, or the Holy Spirit keep pressing you on your ongoing unconfessed unrepentant sins, and suddenly, it ain't easy to be a Christian. Read the Bible and suddenly, you started to see what it really costs to be a disciple of Christ.
It costs you everything.
If costs you everything in your heart.
You are going to have to give up all of your sin.
And you have been here before. You have confessed, cried, promised, screamed, rationalized, and blamed others for your sin. But to be honest with yourself: you don't want to give up your sin. Don't you? Yet, that is the part of your heart that God wants.
Everybody wants to look like a Christian but nobody wants to give over their entire lives over to God. Everybody wants to be good but nobody wants to obey God and take him at his full word. Everybody wants to get to heaven but so very few of us really want God for all of eternity.
But, for those of us who are at the end of our lives--and what I mean by that is the end of trying, the end of striving, the end of pretending, the end of everything--and just cry out to God to take their heart and their lives right now, let us look at the work of God:
Deuteronomy 30:6 (CSB) The LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.
How? How does God circumcises your heart?
Ezekiel 36:25–27 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Or to sum it up in another way:
Ephesians 2:8–10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Our Response
Obey the gospel command: repent and believe
Romans 4:12 And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.
We tend to point to something in our past and say, "Look, look! I did this thing in church on this day. That means I am saved." Said a prayer. Got baptized. Filled with the Spirit. Speaking in tongues. Went to church. My parents are Christian. On staff. On the worship team. My pastor can vouch for me. Read the Bible. Prayed a few times. Gave faithfully.
I will never forget this teacher's response when one of his students and came up and asked him, "Excuse me, sir, are you a Christian?"
To which the teacher responded with, "You tell me."
What would people who actually know you say about you? In other words, do you keep pointing to this event back in the past to convince yourself that you are saved? Or can you point to God's grace today that you are not like you were yesterday or the month before or the year before?
I spent most of my life calling myself a Christian. Then right around my late twenties and early thirties, God just kept sending man after godly men my way to point me back to Christ. Then at this one job, two gents who heard me confess with my mouth that I was a Christian but my life said otherwise. You know what they did? Began praying for my salvation and just kept sharing Christ with me. They didn’t stop until God seized my heart.
Listen, this is what we know of God and his people:
- God disciplines his kids
- God conforms his kids to look his only begotten Son
- His steadfast love never ceases
- He gives grace upon grace
- His mercies are new every morning
You cannot save yourself. Only God saves.
In all of that, what is our responsibility? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ every time you get up in the morning all the way until you go back to sleep. Confess your sins quickly. Change the way you live for the rest of your life. Yes, we are not going to do it perfect. In fact, when we try to obey him perfectly we are actually sinning--not unless we have trusted Christ with our whole heart and all of our sin. Only right then can you obey him.
Romans 4:13-25 God Fulfills His Promises, Not Us
The Text
Romans 4:13–25 (CSB)
13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.14 If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise nullified,
15 because the law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
16 This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to the one who is of the law but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all.
17 As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations— in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.
18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.
19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.
22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone,
24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
The Support
So you might be asking, "Joseph, why are you beating down these gospel points. We get it--we cannot earn our salvation."
Let me approach it from the flip side. Not the flip side of legalism, which is license but the flip side of the assurance of the gospel of Christ.
As I prepared for this Bible Study, I came across a story about our assurance of salvation from the late theologian and teaching R.C. Sproul. I don't want to quote his story because I ran into the very same thing myself.
It was February 2009 and I had driven in my brother's little Kia, no cruise control, from Texas to Minneapolis in about 22 hours. I had shown up a pastor's conference hosted at John Piper's church. What was so exciting for me was not just the guest speakers but meeting other people in ministry.
I had sat down along the front row and my ears picked up on a conversation right behind me. And the conversation went something like this:
Person 1: "Are you sure that you are saved?"
Person 2: audible grimace "I mean, I am not so sure. Can any of us be so sure?"
Now, I am not trying to tell you how you should feel. But if you are a believer in Christ, and a reader of His word, that answer should shock you. Not only is the word of God without error but in the heart of British theologian, Lesslie Newbigin, I will do you one better. The word of God is perfect.
Psalms 19:7a (CSB) 7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect,
renewing one’s life;
What do I mean by all of that? God in his word gives God-given, God-bought, God-promised, and God-sealed guarantee of our salvation in him. And if you think that, "Why does it matter?" because to think otherwise is double-mindedness--which I hope I don't have to tell you is a sin against God.
The more you and I dig and meditate and read and pray in the word of God, the more that we know we are the people of God and he has perfectly saved his people--to all of those who trust him and obey.
The promises of God are not in our obedience of the law but by faith alone
Romans 4:13-15 (CSB) For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise nullified, 15 because the law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
This is why the word of God has to beat into us that is not by our efforts but rather by the might and the grace and the righteousness of God himself. Nobody else. And, this is why I love the doctrine of the Trinity--God in himself does it but does not do it by himself.
The sovereign grace of the Father through the life and the blood-soaked death of his Son by the resurrecting power of the Holy Spirit--that is the only way to bring dead sin-filled people back to life. It is the only way.
The promises of God are by faith according to the grace of God
16 This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to the one who is of the law but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all.
Remember Romans 1:17 quoting Habakkuk? "The righteous shall live by faith." The promise given by God to us and we believe by faith not of ourselves but by his grace that gave us fullness of life in the first place.
And we know that he is not the promises breaker but the only being who does not break promises but God is incapable of breaking any of his promises. To do so, he would cease to be God.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
And don't get thrown off by Paul's writing:
not only to the one who is of the law but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith
He is not even suggesting that there are two ways of being saved. No. Remember earlier in Romans 2? Who are the people who received the law of God? The Jews. Who are the people who didn't receive the law? Us, the Gentiles. No matter what, if we have the faith of God we have the faith of Abraham and both Jew and Gentile claim Abraham as the father of our faith.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
The promises of God are guaranteed by God who alone creates and gives life
17 As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations —in the presence of the God in whom he believed,the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.
In our Genesis series, I specifically referenced the creation and beginning of the life of mankind by God's righteousness (Genesis 2:4-25) for this very reason. Because God alone is God and in his Godship are the fullest, maxed out everything that in him as God. God alone is God and God alone is Creator and Lord over our lives because He alone is righteousness and holy and just and good and love and glorious.
How many times are we going to quote Ezekiel 36? One million if I can help it. But what is the response of God Almighty in Ezekiel 37 to his precious gospel being preached in Ezekiel 36?
Ezekiel 37:3-5 (CSB) Then he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I replied, “Lord GOD, only you know.”
4 He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.
And I don't have time to get into all of chapter 37. That's another Bible Study series waiting to happen. But guess what happens? The bones LIVED!
Keep reading in Ezekiel 37 and watch something interesting happens:
Ezekiel 37:11-13 (CSB) Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look how they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, my people, and lead you into the land of Israel. 13 You will know that I am the LORD, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.
Where have we heard that before?
John 11:41-44 (CSB) So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42 I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” 43 After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
Why is that? Why does God get to raise people from the dead? To answer that is to answer this question, "Why does God get to raise sinners from being dead in their trespasses not only alive to God but get to enjoy his presence forever and ever?"
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”
Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life.
In other words...
God alone fulfills his promises
The Gospel
That is the good news. What God said will gloriously come to pass. For those whom God predestined, God glorified. (Romans 8:30) Past tense. Good as done.
Christ is the only man who can do that. Because Christ is God alone.
So, here is the gospel commandment of God: believe in Him, even when it looks like your hoping against hope
Let us get back into Romans 4:
18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.
Paul will sum up all of the first half of Romans in this precious way:
Romans 8:24-25 (CSB) Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
Our Response
How on earth do we do that?
Again and again, I preach to you, our faith does not come from within us. The Almighty God must give us His Spirit and His Son and true life in order to believe and trust in him.
Do not weaken in the faith: the Triune God is in you
19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
Do not waver in unbelief: the promises of God are yes and amen
20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.
Do not indulge in self-righteousness--you are going to need a righteousness that is completely alien to you and give to you as a free gift from someone outside of yourself
22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us.
This is not the faith of your grandma, your parents, your pastor, or your best bud--you are called to believe in his Son
24b It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
You believe. You trust. You obey.
What happens in a instance? God gifts you his righteousness. Now you get to be with him forever and ever.
Romans 5:1-5 God Sanctifies, Not Us
The Text
Romans 5:1–5 (CSB)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,
4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
The Support
Romans 8:28–29 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Genesis 50:15–21 (CSB) When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said to one another, “If Joseph is holding a grudge against us, he will certainly repay us for all the suffering we caused him.”
So they sent this message to Joseph, “Before he died your father gave a command: ‘Say this to Joseph: Please forgive your brothers’ transgression and their sin—the suffering they caused you.’ Therefore, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when their message came to him. His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God is our peace and grace that is obtained only through faith in Christ Jesus.
I will never forget the first time I remember hearing Romans 5:1-5. I was unsaved (and not knowing so), going through my first divorce, and was in all out despair. I could not reconcile with my wife and I had lost everything. When my first wife left me and I came back to a cleaned-out apartment, I sat on my inflatable mattress with a pen and notepad and wrote out four things I wanted to focus on and make better:
- God
- Church
- My Son
- My Family
I figured the best course of action was to get back to a church. God's sovereign grace led me to attending Gateway Church in DFW and into the office of a pastor. I told him everything that was going on and he gave me this passage.
Hindsight between always 20/20, that passage was completely prophetic. Little did I know, this is what God ended up doing:
- Saving me
- Breaking my addiction to porn
- Pours his Spirit into me
- I get baptized
- Leading me to be a member at Gateway
- Lead a Bible study group that blew up and then multiplied out
- Interning at Gateway
- Then being blessed and sent out to join at church plant in Fort Worth church plant
"Wow", you must be thinking, "God was at work." And he was in a mighty way.
But here is the one of the things I don't mention much in my testimony that I have to confessed. When I was serving in my church plant, I was single. And oh how I sucked at being single. I was the worst. And just like a dog returning to its vomit or the Israelites trying to go back to Egypt, I kept tried to flirt with porn again. (Praise be to God that I was too cheap and broke to get decent Internet.) And I just convinced myself that if I didn't get married soon, that my sin was going to consume me. No one else was saying that. Not the church, not the Bible, not God, not nobody.
Instead of turning to God wholeheartedly, I instead try to fix my own problem.
And what God, in his tender affections and disciplines, brought up some deeply painful things in my life:
- PTSD from childhood trauma
- the relational consequences of a former lifelong addiction to porn
- depression
- suicide attempt
I do not know how God rescued me but he did. I don't know how I survived but he sustained me. I still remembered in my deepest darkest pain, I couldn't pray nor hear from God. And for the life of me, I couldn't remember anything from the Bible, save for one passage:
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
And suffer I did. All for his glory and fame of His name.
And the thing about this is: Christ was never above my suffering. He was right there with me. He was never apart from my addiction. He was tempted in every way that I was. He was never expressed grief, sadness or depression. He sat with me in my darkness and despair.
And we made it through to the other side together.
And that wasn't the end of my running away. I always prone to wonder. But God is prone to come find me and bring me home.
The Gospel
We are never defined by our circumstances. But when life is kicking you in the privates over and over again; when you sit under the crushing force of an abusive spouse; when it has felt like Psalm 22:1-2 every day for years on end...
God is good. God is there. God is our healer. God is our defender. God is our preserver. Nothing will snatch me from his hands. Nothing can separate from the love of God that is in only in Christ Jesus my Lord. There is no condemnation for me. There is only the path of life, fullness of joy, pleasures evermore, and perfect satisfaction when that one day I get to look into the loving eyes of my beautiful Savior.
Our Response
Take a hold of the truest form of peace--shalom--that comes only by being justified by God by faith in God
Romans 5:1-5 (CSB) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This peace--this shalom--is literally a peace beyond all understand. It is not dependent on any circumstances or conflicts or fights in your life or in the world. But rather, it is in the middle of your broken, neglect, abuse, sin, shame, guilt, fear, God clings to you and does not let you go.
It is the song of David in Psalm 22:
Psalms 22:1-3 (CSB)
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far from my deliverance
and from my words of groaning?
2 My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
by night, yet I have no rest.
These lines in the psalms are just terrible theology. This is not who God is--he does not abandoned nor is he so far.
But how many of us feel that God is far?
What does God do? He draws closer to David.
That is shalom.
Take a hold of Christ Jesus our Lord
2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Listen, God has given you faith, grace, peace, hope, and glory. The Father has given you Himself, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. God will give you all things--just take a hold of him.
And let Christ take you closer and closer to him forever and ever
3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
Any Christian who has been saved more than a little while knows that it is not a straight shot to the presence of God. We don't immediately step into the fullness of joy and pleasures evermore. But God clings to us and we hang on for dear life as he conforms us to the image of His Son. This is God's promise: he will sanctify us to look more like his Son. And God doesn't break promises.
It is in this hope we are saved
5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Cling to God. Just hold on to the Father. Fight for to hang on. Whatever you gotta do, do it.
Just know, no matter what you do, God has you.
Romans 5:6–11 Future Sin, Future Grace
The Text
Romans 5:6–11 (CSB)
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.
8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Our God
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.
Future Sin Future Grace: Our Helpless Estate
What is the hymn that we sing often on Sundays?
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And has shed His own blood for my soulHoratio Spafford. It Is Well With My Soul.
Why do we need the building up of character, of endurance and hope?
You and I must consider our helpless estate before we met God:
Upon the prophet Isaiah seeing the glory of Christ (John 12:41), he cries out:
Isaiah 6:5 (CSB) Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies.
David feeling the pangs of separation from God:
Psalms 22:6 (CSB) But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.
This is you and me in our unbelief:
Ephesians 2:1 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins
And this you and me apart from God:
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Let me contend that the Christian comes upon seeing the glory and beauty and the holiness of God and just becomes undone.
Now you and I might not have the Paul's Road to Damascus radical transformation. Some do. Others might have been like C.S. Lewis who just gets on their motorcycle and at the end of a very short ride through the countryside, Mr. Lewis just believes and trust in God.
But we are all undone in one way or another at the sight of God and the beauty of his grace and gospel. And once you see it, you are never the same. You can't go back to what you once was.
If your eyes were opened to the gospel of God, you cannot go back to your helpless estate because that feeling of being helpless is terrible and the worst feeling in the world.
You now know that you need help--super help, something outside of yourself. Like Paul, you cry out, "Wretched man that I am! Who is going to save me from this body of sin and death!" Or like the tax collector, standing in the back of the sanctuary, beating his chest and crying out, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!"
It was there, in that moment, when God revealed his glory to you, is when God saved you completely and perfectly to himself. For good.
You and I as sinners in the sight of God are helpless. I used to say 'helpless as babes' but even babies breath on their own. We were helpless as dead corpses at the bottom of the ocean. Who is going to save us?
7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.
Future Sin Future Grace: Far From God
Let me shoot straight: we are not born just and righteous people. Romans 3:10 quoting Psalm 14:
None of us were born good. No, not even one.
For rarely will someone die for a just person
What is Paul saying here? I venture to say that I don't think anybody here has ever been in a situation where you put yourself in danger in order of someone else to live. Now, if you have, share with us afterwards because that would be an awesome story to hear.
I was a kid of the 80s where I was constantly exposed to the greatest movie genre ever to be invented: The Action Movie! Rambo, Robocop, Predator, Transformers. Over and over, someone died so that someone else might live. And man, as fan of the genre, I got to see so many times where this played out, that I grew up thinking, "Man, this is just life for now on. I need to psych myself out and take one for the team."
And I went into the Air Force, I didn't see any action like that. My job title even had the word, "Combat" in it. Alas, no action like that to be found.
And in these action movies, it was someone being saved was if not a good person, at least someone redeemable.
But life is not an action movie. As awesome as it might sound, we do not live in constant danger with bullets whizzing by our heads every second of the day.
But this life is certainly not an action movie because the ones needing to be saved--you and I--were not good in the sight of God and by own strength, could not redeem ourselves.
But yet, in verse 6, do you see what Christ did here?
6b at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.
Let me give it to you in another the way. Let me give you some good news...
The Gospel
8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
But God
Let us start off here. Who is God? If we are ungodly, dead in our sins, how can we relate to God?
Simply put, we cannot. In his book, Cross of Christ, John Stott puts it bluntly on how we are not God and in fact, very far from God:
- God is high above our sin and idolatry
- God is far from our wickedness and depravity
- He is glorious - He shines the brightest
I am in sweet communion with Christ as a poor sinner can be; and am only pained that he hath much beauty and fairness, and I little love; he great power and mercy, and I little faith; he much light and I bleared eyes.
Samuel Rutherford. The Loveliness of Christ.
- He is all-consuming - he will perfectly eradicate all sin from everywhere
- He is rejects all sin from his presence - no toleration, does not have to live with it; he vomits it out of his being
So right from birth and choice, we are far from God.
Is there anything makes us relatable to God? We are far from him, do we have anything else in common? Is there something in us that makes him love us?
What about does God have good and bad days and whatever life circumstances give him, he deals with accordingly like we do? No. In actuality, he is completely sovereign over all circumstances. Things don't happen to him unless he allows it. That makes him omnipotent--which is a fancy way of calling him, the Almighty God.
Of all the things that he is and we are not, there are a few things that we can relate to him--even as unbelievers.
We do get to love one another. And her is the connection, but God...
proves his own love
Let's talk about love. How many songs about love have you heard. Just the words "let's talk about love"--I can name three off the top of my head.
I am not going to sugar coat this: the world has try to taken the word 'love' by God's definition and twist it like their father Satan does. But tonight, using the words of God, how God defines love.
For here is love, God proclaims the good news that He will make all things right:
>Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
And here is love, God's faithful love and mercies will never come to an end:
>Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
And here is love, God saves us from our sins:
>Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
And here is love, God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ:
>John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
And here is love, Christ loved me and lived and died for me:
>Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
And here is love, we have no condemnation and no separate from God:
>Romans 8:1; 38-39 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus... and nothing will every separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
And the ultimate form of love? The Triune Almighty God loved us first...
>1 John 4:10 (ESV) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
And what is so good about our Holy God is that he will spend all of your days in order to open your eyes and see what is actual love and how much He loves you.
I could have taken the book of Leviticus and prove to you that is the love of God for you. And you might think, "How is the law of God is the love of God for us?"
Because in delivering the law to us, he shown us how far we are from him. If you read the law correctly, you are going to shout out, "I can't do this! It is impossible!" God is saying, "I know. I know. That is why I sent my Son."
for us
And he sent his Son for us!
And here is love:
>2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Or as the ESV reads, "For our sake." That is the most amazing part. God does this for us. For our sake because we were so helpless, dead, woeful, and far from him.
That God doesn't have a generic all encompassing love generic for all things. No other created being. Not the puppy dogs. Not the kitty cats or the cute things of this world--although adorable, he does not target his love on them because he is already their Lord. He does not have this type of love for the angels because they are His already and they worship him perfectly.
No. This love, this saving love, this perfect love, this sanctifying love, this glorifying love, this satisfying love, this maxed out joy love is specifically directly targeting you, the children of God, the people of God, the sheep of his flock, the apple of his eye and the joy of his heart.
He has a specific love for his people because He made us in his image from the start. Not anything else ever created holds that distinction. We are made in his image.
And you might be asking, "But what about unbelievers who don't love and trust God." Let me reply by asking you how God replied to the prophet Isaiah: "Is the saving Almighty arm of God too short?" In other words, does our God have T-Rex arms? No! He is mighty to save. And let me submit to you because in eternity before the foundation of world God the Father and God the Son set out to save His people from their sins and we know this in full because God proved his love for us already...
in that while we were still sinners
I had to avoid the temptation of making this the main point "while we were still sinners." You can already see the main point of this sermon is God and His great love for us. But don't miss this point. Don't gloss over it. Don't speed read over this:
But God proves his own love for us in that while were still sinners
I know we are in Romans 5, but let me give you a spoiler alert for Romans 8:
Romans 8:28–30 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
You might want to say that "God looked down the corridors of time and look to see when we accepted him as our Savior and God picked that timeline."
That is a nice theory but there is one glitch. The Bible says "God foreknew us". It never says, "God foresaw us."
In other words, he didn't see us changing our minds and hearts and choosing him to be our God. No! He knew us in our sin and depravity and wickedness and evil and he knew that we were always going to run away from him unto death because He alone knows the depths of our hearts.
And you know what the Almighty God, creator of the heavens, earth, and hell, when he saw us sinning and rebelling against Him all day long, do you know what he said?
"That's who I want in my family. That person I want in my family forever. And I am going to send my Son live and die for that person and send my Spirit to give them life so we can be together forever."
He knows our hearts. And still he loves us. Because...
Christ died for us
As many of you know, God saved my oldest son, Yusef, not that long ago. And I have shared this story tons of times and I am going to share it again. I don't care. I love worshiping the Lord because He is so good.
One week, out of nowhere, Yusef tells me, "Dad, I hav always told you I could not be a Christian because false preachers and hypocrite Christians. But to be honest, that is the not the reason at all. What if I go 'all-in' into this faith and it doesn't work out. There are no guarantees in life. What if this doesn't work out."
And I simply responded, "You are right. In this life and in this world, there are no guarantees. But out of all the faiths, cults, religions, and philosophies, we Christians have a guarantee--our guarantee is in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. And you know what makes it even more amazing? All of what Christ did happened 2000 years ago. Our guarantee is an historical fact."
A few days later after that unforgettable phone call, Yusef was saved by God. A couple months later, I got to baptize him. Praise be to God!
God foreknew my son. God knew that my son's heart was far from Him. God knew my son, knew his sins, knew his disbelief, knew him to be dead. God knew that Yusef saw God as a mythological being and nothing more. God knew him and saved him.
God knew that I was deceived into wickedness and sin. I tasted the goodness of God when I was young but spent so much of my life rebelling and trespassing against a holy God. I was at war with God and his creation. I was a violent and arrogant God-opposer. God knew me and sent his Son to love me, die for me, to save me from my sins.
Because of what God has done through Jesus Christ our Lord, we are...
Saved by him through him for him
9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
Jesus Christ, the son of God who is God, the Alpha and the Omega, and the Beginning and the End, who was and is and is to come, came into our existence and timeline, stepped into our world, by the sovereign decree of God the Father, conceived by the power of the Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, live perfectly under the law of God, then was arrested, tried, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was tortured, beaten, hung and crucified on that cross, unto to death, buried in a rich man's tomb and he descended into Hell to snatch up the keys to Hades and Death, and on the third day, he was raise back to life and then ascended to the right hand of the Father forever.
Christ's life was given for me. His death was meant for me. His resurrection is that I might be born again and now live to him. His ascension to glory means that since he justified me, he also glorified me.
My salvation is secure and set because I am in Christ and Christ is in me. And guess what? If you are in Christ, your salvation is secure and set. Because our God is perfect, Christ is perfect, the Holy Spirit is perfect and what they promised to do is perfectly done. The Almighty Holy God lacks the sin and wickedness and deceit to break any of his promises.
Our Response
What? So you struggle with sinful desires and thoughts and your heart sometimes flee?
10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
Future Sin Future Grace: Christ has already saved you
Listen to the words:
reconciled... the death of his Son... reconciled... saved by his life...
Hear the past tense. Hear the already done. Hear that God is our Perfect Father in Heaven who doesn't lose his kids. Hear that Christ is the Good Shepherd who has never lost one of his sheep because the sheep hears his voice because Christ knows us and we will follow him. The Holy Spirit has put a seal upon our heart and marked us as and bear witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
God foreknew our wicked hearts. Psalm 103 says that God remembers that we are made from dust. How are we going to save ourselves? That is why he sent his Son to live and die so that we might live and never die.
11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Future Sin Future Grace: God is ours
What is the reconciliation? To appease, harmonize, to rectify, to resolve... to reunite.
To reconcile with someone in this life is one thing. In my experience, when I hear of a reconciliation between two people, I think that is simply astounding! Especially in the times of divorce or relationships ending on a whim or our jerkiness and the lack of tact and wisdom and grace on social media, we are so easily offended and often quick to dismiss and block. But when people can sit in front of each other, and give grace and understanding to one another, I think that is a miracle. I don't see it happening as often as I would like to. But that is what it is like to live in a post-Genesis 3 world.
If I am calling that a miracle, then how would you define the sons of Adam now belonging to God because of Christ. (If you want to see the details of this real miracle, keep reading Romans 5 starting at first 12. That is another sermon.)
How would you explain how Paul quotes the prophet Hosea in Romans 9:
Not my People, My People, reconciled and she who is Unloved, Beloved. reconciled And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.reconciled
Because we were all born sons and daughters of Adam and therefore away and separated from God, we are now reunited with God by power of the Holy Spirit through the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Listen to me: Christ didn't die so that you were just saved from hell and now you are on neutral ground with God. No! Reconciliation to God means you and I get it all. We get the whole kit and caboodle! The whole enchilada! Reconciliation to God means:
- we are saved to God
- predestined by God
- called by God
- justified in the sight of God
- adopted by God
- co-heirs with Christ who has inherited everything (Heb 1:1-2)
- glorified by God
- alive by God
- maxed out joy by God
- pleasures evermore by God
- completely satisfied by God
- beautifully and preciously loved by God
- forevermore with God by God for God
We are truly love by God. Nothing is going to separate us from the love of God who, as the prophet Zephaniah absolutely declares, that God "rejoices over you with gladness, who is quiet in his love, and delights in you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)
Our great God who sent his only begotten Son for you has saved you. God rejoices, loves, and delights in you. God sings and rejoices over you? Why? Nothing that you and I have ever done. We were born sinners. But God loves us because you are in Christ and Christ is in you.
The question I asked us from Romans 5:1-5, "What is God preparing us for? Why do we need to be build up in character, endurance and hope?" I am reminded of the Day 4 Advent Reading from Ronnie Martin's God Who is With Us and he expounded on Genesis 50:20:
Genesis 50:20 (CSB) You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.
I think some of you know that I suffered abuse as a child at the hands of my dad and my stepmother. And I still suffer the effects of PTSD till this day. And by God's grace, I was saved many years later--about 15 years ago.
There was this moment in time, before I had met Sarah, even with the Triune God dwelling in me and making his home in me, I had made some foolish decisions.
I was married to someone I shouldn't have. I have always said, "I am not God's brightest star" because my life is filled with regrets that had devastating consequences.
In this particular dark time of my life, I was facing so much abuse, that I attempted suicide just so I could at least see the face of my God and stop the suffering.
The world, Satan and his demons planned great evil against me, but God planned it for good.
I get that. I get that down in my bones and in my heart and in my soul.
But believe me when I said, if God approached me moments before that dark moment in my life and told me what I was about to face, I would have said, "NO!" and did everything in my power to avoid that kind of pain and anguish.
And I am not going to lie to you, if time machines were an actual thing, every single moment of my life would be overwhelming temptation to go back in time and change the past so I wouldn't have to endure that affliction... that trial... that tribulation.
And I wish I could tell you today, when that trial ended, I came out victorious! Stronger than ever! Unbreakable faith! Never end joy. To tell you the truth, I was the opposite. I was defeated. I was lost. I ran back to my old self--trying to recreate my past dead life of trash and sin.
But here is love, God rescued me once more. God was never one and done with me. He is always rescuing me because even on my best days, I fail and sin against him. And on my worst days, I surpass the chief of sinners.
God knew that. God knew that and he loved me. God knew that, made up his mind about me before he created the universe. God knew that and He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to live and die for me.
I don't know if you are struggling with regret and sins of your past life. I don't know if you are regretting something now that is going on.
Let me tell you, you are never too far from the saving grace of the Almighty God. Christ died for the ungodly. It is an historical fact that God has already proven his love for us because while you and I were sinners, Christ died for you and me.
Boast in that. Worship God in that. Give thanks to God in that. Praise his holy name today.
Romans 5:12–21 God Reigns, Not Us
The Text
Romans 5:12–21 (CSB)
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many.
16 And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.
17 If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Support
We have inherited Adam's sin--Adam's sin is imputed to us
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.
- We can say that this is not fair. We cannot be held responsible for Adam's sin--this is true and we are not
- But what cannot deny is the effect of Adam's sin on life
- Look at what transpires soon thereafter Genesis 3: murder, pride, sexual immorality. And that is just Genesis 4.
- Remember things got so wicked that God was willing to do a reset on all mankind
- He did spare his people
- Murder, pride, sexual immorality--mankind is far far worse than Genesis 6.
- We are not responsible for Adam's sin but we are certainly affected by Adam's sin--down to our core. And the wages of sin--Adam's sin, my dad's sin, your sin, my sin, all sin, everybody's sin--is death.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
Believers--those who have simply trusted in Christ alone--inherit Christ's righteousness; Christ's righteousness is imputed to us
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many.
16 And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.
17 If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Because of that righteousness, we have been made alive in Christ
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (CSB) But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
- Genesis 2:4-25: I contended that when God made Adam and Eve and mankind, God's intention was to be our forever righteousness.
- Why do I say that? When God gave life--literally, breathed His Spirit into Adam--Adam was made fully alive. Eve was made fully alive.
- Adam and Eve were once fully alive because they were automatically right-standing in God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Gospel
Here is the good news: Christ rules over death
18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Here is the good news: Christ has come to give us maxed out life--life eternal, life abundant, life beyond
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
John 10:7-10 (CSB) Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
περισσός (perissos) beyond, extraordinary
- Life was suppose to be more than this
- That is why we worship anything--our hearts chase after anything that might fill the emptiness inside
- The eternity in your heart (Ecc 3:11) can only be completely satisfied by something or someone eternal
- God is the only one that fits that description
Through just bleakness. Nothing darker. Nothing deeper. Nothing more depressing. Nothing more opposite of God. Death. All of sin results in death. And Lazarus was not immune to this. Christ knew it.
When we refer to "righteous anger", we always refer to Christ flipping over tables and remark, "See, it is okay to be upset and occasionally flip over tables." Then we go about our days trying so hard not to get so upset. What if flipping tables was not Jesus at his angriest? I can tell you it was not.
This. Right here. Christ was so full of anger, sadness, and grief because Death took one more loved one away. Christ could have had the last word--he was heading to the Cross. But in his righteous anger and sadness, He decides to do something right now. He commands Death to stand down and he calls Life into a person that belong to Him forever.
Because of the sin of our original father, Adam, sin and death reigned and ruled over all of of mankind.
Because of the righteousness of Christ who was joyfully obedient to the point of death--even death on the cross, his people were saved from their sins and death.
We have put our trust in the one who has championed over Death. Christ Jesus is his name!
It is an absolute fact: "You shall name Him, Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins."
Our Response
20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What is response to this this fullness of life?
If we believe and trust in Christ and instantly, he gives us his righteousness and life eternal, how can we respond?
Preach the good news: receive the good news
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (CSB) Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received
Preach the good news: take a stand in the good news by which you are being saved
on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
Preach the good news: that Christ came into the world to save sinners
3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
Preach the good news: You and I are never too far from the infinite arm of the Almighty God who saves!
For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Preach the good news: This is the grace of where you are at now--what do you want to do?
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Preach the good news: in whatever you do, do so that others might believe and trust the Lord Jesus Christ
11 Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.
Preach the good news: Christ is our life
Christ is not simple Lord over sin and death and demons and hell. That is only one little part of the good news.
Christ is Lord over life. Let's hear what Christ says about it.
John 11:20-27 (CSB) As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Yet even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
23 “Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”
Romans 6:1-14 God Kills Our Sin
The Text
Romans 6:1–14 (CSB)
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
7 since a person who has died is freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him,
9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.
10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.
13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.
14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
As believers, we don't get the grace to sin all the more
1 Timothy 6:3-5 (CSB) If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.
Galatians 1:6-9 (CSB) I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
Matthew 18:5-6 (ESV) “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Anybody that gives you the permission to sin against God--it would be better for your soul to walk away from that conversation.
Some people, Christians, and pastors are trying to weaken their resolve against sin in order to appear more loving and kind and gentle with our fellow man. No! Don't do it! Go deep in relationships and love one another. But in doing so, you have to call sin a sin. Call each other to true repentance and know that the moment we give our sins over to Christ, he is just as quick to forgive our sins.
Why would you let your loved one be burden with soul crushing load of sin? When the sweetest relief is right there--in the loving arms of Jesus Christ.
Let me ask another follow up question:
Where do you think your sins go?
3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
Psalms 103:12 (CSB) As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed
our transgressions from us.
If you are wanting to know is it by water baptism or by the baptism of fire that John the Baptist speaks about in John 1, the answer is yes.
Without faith, your water baptism is nothing. (I know my Presbyterian siblings would adamantly disagree.) The baptism of water is a proclamation that you actually know and trust God has cleansed you of your sins--you now trust and obey him.
But the baptism of fire by the Lord? Oh, that will refine your soul and heart 7 times over--you will be pure, you will be holy, you will look like your Lord because God has promised so.
Now you will look like our Lord Jesus Christ
5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Bank on the promise of God--you put your trust in him, he will carry you to the end.
Don't confuse this with oversimplification of "Once saved, always saved." Hey, step number one--you first have to be saved by God before you can forever be saved by God.
And don't tell me of what someone did a long time ago growing up in church. I grew up in church and ended up working in the porn industry. Don't tell me nothing. But do you see that person repenting of sin? Do you see then crush under the weight of sin and turning to God for freedom and rest?
Am I a Christian? You tell me. Do you see fruit in my life? You tell me.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin.
Your old self has died--sin and old sinful selves do not get resurrected because they are not holy unto God
Christian, stop living in sin. Stop hanging onto sin and idols and philosophies thinking that they are going to save you. No one else saves but by the blood of the Lamb!
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.
In other words, I have been crucified with Christ
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Let me ask you: have you been crucified with Christ? Let me say it another way: when God saved you, did your life completely change? Or for you kids who were so blessed to know God's love at an early age: how quick are you to confess? How quick do you run to God's love? Or are you being poisoned by a past hurt or wound and you refuse to forgive.
Are you crucified with Christ?
10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
You are alive to God, you are dead to sin
There is no middle way. There is no neutral way. There is no easy peasy soft way. There is either the wide road of destruction leading to straight to hell or there is that glorious narrow gate that leads straight to the fullness of joy in the presence of the Almighty.
We don't get to keep sinning as we want.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
John 8:3-11 (CSB) Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.
Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, Lord,” she answered.
“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”]
God
Christ has completely taken care of sin
Psalm 103:11–13 (CSB) For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
Or one of my favorite late 19th century English preacher once put it:
Now, by the sacrifice of Christ all the sins of the Church are entirely put away. He, the sinless Lamb of God, took them up and bore them away into a land of oblivion, whence even the Divine mind fails to recall them.
- Octavius Winslow, No Condemnation in Christ Jesus.
All you got to do is trust and obey
What is God like in all of this?
Per John Stott, God is high above, far from, exposes, burns, and vomits out sin. That means he does all of these things to my sin. In his holiness and righteousness, he has every right not only to reject me but to vomit me out and spit me out. More so, he has the right to pour his wrath upon me. If the Son of God were to ever hunt me down, I rather to have a mountain be thrown on me than to face the Almighty God himself.
Jesus Christ is perfectly that for us
Hebrews 7:26-28 (CSB) For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.
The Gospel
But here is the good news: God did not do the sin. God does not do evil. Yet, God does not lie. God desires his people. Therefore, God does whatever it takes to save his people.
Our Response
Go and sin no more.
Kill off sin.
Repent. Kingdom of God is here.
That is all well and good. But if you actually been plagued by ongoing, the worst thing you can do is give up hope. No. The Bible tells us to trust in Jesus Christ. That is our hope. When we hope in him, that marks us as Christians. Not our works. Not what we say. But where we put our hope in when everything is good and everything has gone to crap.
Trust in the Lord.
Romans 6:15–23 God Buries Our Sin
The Text
Romans 6:15–23 (CSB)
15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not!16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?
17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over,
18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
19 I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.
21 So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death.
22 But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life!
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Support
Romans 6:15 (CSB) What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not!
We are free under grace--doesn't mean we get to sin
Sin only leads to death. That is not freedom. God rightfully accused the Israelites of wanting to go back into slavery to sin as "a dog returning to eat its vomit."
Peter puts it this way:
2 Peter 2:17-22 (CSB) These people are springs without water, mists driven by a storm. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them. 18 For by uttering boastful, empty words, they seduce, with fleshly desires and debauchery, people who have barely escaped from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them. 20 For if, having escaped the world’s impurity through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them. 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to its own vomit, and, “A washed sow returns to wallowing in the mud.”
That prison, that darkness, that wickedness? There is nothing for you. Don't turn back to it. I cannot tell you when I have been unrepentant in my sin for longer than moment, God sets me free again but the lingering effects of sin infect my heart and my mind. It felt like it took forever to be free lingering thoughts. But God's mercy was always always upon me.
What about you? Is there a sin you have abstained and repented and confess and gave to Christ but it still lingers around. That is what sin does. A few of us might be instantly freed from sin--the rest of us, you and me, it lingers around.
We have grace to be tempted. Temptation is a fact in our fallen world. We have grace to feel the effects of sin. That is what it means to live on this side of heaven. We don't get the grace to return back to the vomit.
If you are thinking, "Why does he keep saying that word--it's so gross and disgusting!"
God also calls the Israelites who wanted to sin under grace, "those who wanted to go back to their former lovers." There is an entire chapter dedicated to it in Ezekiel 23. Go and read it when you get home.
That is the sin. It promises what it cannot give. It gives that is fleeting. It leaves you empty and broken hearted.
Take the grace that God has and turn back to him. Confess and turn to him. Repent from sin and turn back to him.
16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?
We are free under grace to look like God
We don't get grace to serve an idol and God. We don't get the grace to sin and live righteously. Sometimes, when we ask questions about our faith, the answer might be, "Why not both?" When it comes to sin and grace, there is no both.
It is either or. It is black and white. There is no middle ground.
Romans 8:5-8 (CSB) For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
There is no third way. There is no neutral way. I don't care what the Catholics or the Mormons say. There ain't a third way because there are only two. It is basic math. Go your own way which is the same as everybody else that leads to destruction or go in the path that the Lord commands you and me to walk.
I will say it this way, and I got this saying from someone else. It ain't mine but I love the quote and I think about it all the time: "There are infinite number of ways to get to God. That is very much true. In the end, all roads lead to God. But only one way protects you from the wrath of God and that is in the arms of the Almighty Savior Jesus Christ."
17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over,
18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
We are free under grace to obey God
Ephesians 2:8-10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
In other words, because you are in Christ, you get to obey Christ.
I have used this analogy many times and I do so because I want you to change your minds: sinners cannot obey God. Unbelievers don't get to obey God. Those who don't acknowledge God, suppress the truth of God don't get to obey God.
We just read that in Romans 8:8
8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
You know what people love to do? Think that they can not be really evil, do generic good things, and think that God is going to grade on a curve. "I may not be perfect but at least I am not like that."
But God demands perfection. He demands holiness. "Why would I want to follow a god that demands perfection--why even bother?" But that is just it: he provides the perfection--his Son, Jesus Christ. The gift right there. Take the gift and go and be with God.
Stop making it hard on yourself. Trust in God.
We are free under grace to be righteous
19 I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.
It is 2 Corinthians 5:21 over and over again. For our sake, for our sake--God made Christ to be our sin who in himself was sinless so that in Christ we might become the righteousness of Christ.
Because we are slaved to God and yoked to Christ's easy and light righteousness, we are shaped and formed to this perfection--to look more like His Son every day until that one day, we hold him face to face and be perfectly content and satisfied with His likeness. (Psalm 17:15)
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.
We are free under grace to be free
That is true. When we were once slaves to sin, we were free from all unrighteousness. We were as free as a prisoner might be. As unbelieving and untrusting sinners, we were free to not obey God and sin all the more.
Prisoners might be content and happy in where they are at. But if you want real freedom--that glorious freedom--it is only available to the children of God.
We might be enslaved to God. But we get to be with Him and enjoy him forever.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
Christ alone is our freedom.
Isaiah 61:1 (CSB) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;
Who is that? Who is going to bring good news to the poor? Who has come to heal our broken hearts? Who has come to set the captives free?
Christ Jesus is his name.
The Gospel
We don't get to sin more because we are in bondage to sin. That is something we have to realize about unbelievers: the best that they can do is sin. Because they are not in Christ, everything they do is in sin.
Again and again, if you are hearing this and you thought to yourself, "I am not like unbelievers because I am a Christians because I went to church all of my life" or something else you did. Trust me when I say this: you might be an unbeliever. You might be in shackles of sin and unbelief but you might behave a little better than the next person.
Just because you behave better does not make a believer.
I cannot do the work of the Holy Spirit. But there are people listening and reading this Bible Study who are entertaining sin and not really wanting to change their mind about it and definitely have no interested in changing their lives. They want to go to church, be a member, read the Bible, memorize verses, sing songs, volunteer in Kid's Ministry, even be on staff of church still thinking that they have done enough to be consider a Christian. And some sin doesn't lead to immediate death so the consequences are little. But some of you are playing with such sins that if you get caught, it will completely blow up your entire lives. But I think that you have convinced yourself when that happens, you are going to be really sorry, there might be tears, and you will try really hard.
And you will still be under the wrath of God for your unbelief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Response
What is ours to do?
21 So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death.
If you have Christ in you, you will look more like Christ
You will produce the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-26 (CSB) Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Ask yourself some difficult questions: are you picking and peeling the fruit of the Spirit that comes easy to you. "I have love but not a lot of self-control." That's not a thing. It is just a fruit of the Spirit not fruits. Don't push back with perfection argument--we have Christ who is our perfection.
Measure your self-control. Measure your kindness. Are you more so than a year ago or five years ago. Do you have friends who would tell you the truth? And if you don't have real friends, I dare you to ask the Holy Spirit. See what he says. See what he exposes.
22 But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life!
If you have Christ in you, he will bring you all the way home
That is the tricky thing about sanctification. It is completely a work of God and yet, without obedience, we don't grow and mature.
God gives the grace.
God gives the growth.
God gives the righteousness.
God gives the freedom.
That narrow gate to the tiny path to God? God walks with you. God is your friend who is there every step of the way. All the way back to God.
If you have Christ in you, you will have eternal life
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
That is the gift. That is the gospel.
Our sin causes death at every level.
Christ's righteousness gives life at every level.
Romans 7:1-6 God Rips Our Sin From Us
The Text
Romans 7:1–6 (CSB)
1 Since I am speaking to those who know the law, brothers and sisters, don’t you know that the law rules over someone as long as he lives?2 For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband.
3 So then, if she is married to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she is married to another man, she is not an adulteress.
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the body of Christ so that you may belong to another. You belong to him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us to bear fruit for death.
6 But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.
The Support
Mark 10:1–12 (CSB) He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught them again. Some Pharisees came to test him, asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He replied to them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away.” But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts. But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. Also, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
The law of God examines over us for as long as we live
Romans 7:1–6 (CSB)
1 Since I am speaking to those who know the law, brothers and sisters, don’t you know that the law rules over someone as long as he lives?
You might fire back and say, "Didn't God do away with the law." Jesus specifically says, "I have not done away with the law."
Matthew 5:17-20 (CSB) “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
You think Jesus fulfilling the law of God gives us the right to ignore God? What kind of religion do you think this is?
Christ fulfills the law so that you now can obey the law because you have the Spirit of God dwelling in you.
That is what sin does: it fools us in thinking that if I commit this sin but I work extra hard on "good things" of God, then God will be happy with me.
No.
You must give your life over to him so you can be made clean, be made righteous, be holy, in order to actually obey God.
Ezekiel 36:25-28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
Look at Noah in Genesis 6. What happened first? Was Noah righteous first or did God give grace and favor first? Look up the order. God doesn't do things out of order--so why would he save us out of order?
Go back to Matthew 5:
Matthew 5:18-20 (CSB) For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.
Only Christ can do that. Now, pay careful attention on why Christ fulfilling the law doesn't mean we don't have to obey God:
19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
And again, how can you obey God?
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
You are going to need a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. There isn't a person on the earth with that kind of righteousness. I don't care how you grew up. I don't care what Church of Christ church you belong to. You are not ever going to get the level of the Pharisee.
And guess what? They fell way short of the glory of God.
If you want to get to God, you are going to have get God. In other words, if you go to God, pray to God, ask God for God, God is going to give you God.
We were bound to sin before--
2 For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband.
3 So then, if she is married to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she is married to another man, she is not an adulteress.
If you are looking at this passage and thinking this is about all the rules of marriage and divorce, then you are missing the point.
You were once married, intertwined, submission to, held captive, imprisoned to sin. But you say you believe and trust and hope and obey in the Lord. What did we read in Romans 6? If you believe, what happens to your sin?
It dies.
Guess what. You are free to marry. Guess what. You are the Bride of Christ. You are his precious love that he clothes you in righteousness and your dress is ordained with the righteous acts of the Bride that God has set out for us to do.
The flip side of that is also true. If sin is alive in you and you don't want to let go of it--or you want both your sin and God. Guess what? You are not free to marry--you are still married to sin. You can't have God when you have sin.
Why are there so many passages in the Bible speaking about God cleanses us from sin and making us new in him? That is not an option. It is big facts. God has to cleanse you in order for you to be with him.
And if you have made up your little mind that something that God clearly called sin and you judge it not a sin, listen, I am not the one you should be debating with. I am not God. You have judged what was right in your own eyes. You need to take that up with God. He said it in his world. Sexual immorality. Slander. Gossip. Lying. Stealing. Anger and Rage. What else you got? Those don't get you the kingdom of heaven. God does.
The Gospel
But God kills our sin
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the body of Christ so that you may belong to another. You belong to him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.
Let me give a spoiler alert and jump ahead to Romans 8:
Romans 8:9-11 (CSB) You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
Want something that will give you life? Dwell, meditate, and memorize verse 11--heck, Romans 8 will sustain you during your darkest days. But if you need one verse to put on a plaque or on your coffee mug or scribble in your journal, write down that one.
Here's another one:
Galatians 2:17-21 (CSB) But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Our Response
5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us to bear fruit for death.
6 But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.
Romans 7:7-13 First, God Reveals Our Sin
The Text
Romans 7:7–13 (CSB)
7 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! But, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.8 And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.
9 Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again
10 and I died. The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me.
11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.
12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.
13 Therefore, did what is good become death to me? Absolutely not! But, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God uses the law to diagnoses the sin in our hearts
7 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! But, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.
8 And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.
In other words, God gave the law to expose to us to see what He sees.
Surely he loves us and his affections are for us as his people. But we are infected with sin, when we choose not to confess and repent of sin--when we shed a few tears in hopes that other people would get off your back so you can go back sinning some more, the law exposes what we should see in ourselves.
It is a mirror.
Is the law holy and good? Spoiler alert, the answer is yes. But is it all powerful? Yes and no. Yes because of the mere existence of the law, your sin is already called out. Yet, because you and I are not so quick to engage the word of God continuously, guess what? We cannot use the law to expose our hearts when we don't read the law and know the law.
If we never use the mirror of God to see what the Spirit sees, we stray and wonder away from his presence.
9 Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again
10 and I died. The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me.
God uses the law to cut away the sin in our hearts
How often have we quoted Ezekiel on this channel?
Ezekiel 36:26 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Is it instantaneously? Yes and no.
Yes, in that, in order for us to be saved by God, in his presence forever, he does have to change our hearts out. When he does that, we get to obey him and our heart's affections are for him.
But in a way, it takes time. For the rest of our lives.
Luke 5:31–32 (CSB) Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
God goes to work on our hearts and sanctifies and grows us and disciples us from the inside out--not the outside in. And Christ the Good Doctor goes the work you trust him and obey him. The scalpel is the law of God.
Jeremiah 31:33 (CSB) “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the LORD’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
And
Psalms 119:9-11 (CSB) How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. 10 I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. 11 I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
God uses the law to clearly expose the sin within our hearts
11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.
You never knew you struggled with any sin until you became a Christian. And it is such a temptation for a new believer to go back into slavery, as a dog returns to its vomit, because it was so much easier when you didn't know better.
Now that you have read the word, it is exposing all kinds of mess. And you don't know how to sort it out. You might confess your sins to God but you don't know what you are confessing and you are unsure about your heart behind it.
I get that. I have been there before.
But let me tell you what happens. That exposure of your sin by Scripture takes it out into the light. Do you know what Charles Spurgeon titled his sermon on this passage?
"Dragging the Monster into the Light"
Because that is what God is doing in you right now. And you confessing to the Lord drags it out into the light. And in the moment you might wonder, "Is that all?"
Let me assure you that monster, when exposed to the light of Christ, shrivels up and dies.
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But you are not left as a shell of a person with a gaping hole in your heart from where God pulled the cancer. No! God fills you with his Spirit; the Son and the Father make their home in you and dwell there all the days of your life. We just read in Jeremiah where he puts his word and law into our hearts forever.
The Gospel
You can trust the work of God on your heart
12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.
That is not to say the Bible, the law, the gospel, the prophets, the psalms are just something better than anything else. It is good. It is holy. God's gospel commandments are just that: just and good and holy.
God is a good Father that only gives good gifts.
But you have to let go of the sin you are holding on to.
But you have to engage God and his word and in prayer to expose those little sin tumors that you can't see because you never been trained to see.
And yes, I do believe you need to get therapy for our physical, mental, and emotional health--but find yourself a good therapist that will not just give you a bunch of diagnoses that sound close to the truth but points you to Christ and by the power of the Spirit to take the word of God and help you examine what is going on within you.
Our Response
13 Therefore, did what is good become death to me? Absolutely not! But, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure.
This is where we come back to the gospel and what God has called us and commanded us to do: trust in him. Trust his words. Walk this out in obedience.
This might not happen quickly but I promise you the more you do it, the quicker you will run towards God.
Romans 7:14-25 Then, God Saves Us From Our Sin
The Text
Romans 7:14–25 (CSB)
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave under sin.15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.
16 Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me.
18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.
20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me.
21 So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me.
22 For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,
23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
God
God is at work: you will begin to see the difference between the spiritual and the flesh
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave under sin.
God is at work: you will begin to hate sin that you do
15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.
God is at work: you will begin to feel the pain of the cutting of the law on your life
16 Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me.
The Gospel
We are a new creation: before, we started far from him
18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
We are a new creation: before, we started with no ability to obey him at all
19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.
We are a new creation: we are not at peace with sin
20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me.
We are a new creation: we will not be perfectly obedient
21 So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
We are a new creation: we are at war with sin
22-23 For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
Psalm 19:7–14 (CSB)
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
11 In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13 Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 119:9–16 (CSB)
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.
10 I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
12 LORD, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Song of Solomon 8:6 (CSB) Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death; jealousy is as unrelenting as Sheol. Love’s flames are fiery flames— an almighty flame!
Our Response
Praise his name: We were once dead
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Ephesians 2:1-3 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Praise his name: we are fully alive in Christ
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Ephesians 2:4-7 (CSB) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Praise be his name: go and sin no more
So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
Romans 8:1-4 No Condemnation in Christ Jesus
The Text
Romans 8:1–4 (CSB)
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,
4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The Support
Line by line:
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,
Psalms 32:1-2 (CSB)
How joyful is the one
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered!
How joyful is a person whom
the LORD does not charge with iniquity
and in whose spirit is no deceit!
John 3:16-18 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 6:6-11 (CSB) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
Chrst alone is our fulfillment of the law.
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
Matthew 5:17-20 (CSB) Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Hebrews 10:4 (CSB) For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Matthew 12:7 (CSB) If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent.
The Gospel
3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,
Hebrews 9:22–28 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.
Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Ephesians 5:2 (CSB) and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
Matthew 5:17-20 (CSB) Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Our Response
4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 1:16–17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
Romans 9:25–26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
Romans 12:1 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
If you are in Christ, you are saved.
If you are in Christ, you are a new creation.
If you are in Christ, you possess his righteousness.
If you are in Christ, then you need to give up your sin to the One who has purchased it with his own blood: Jesus Christ. Your sin doesn't belong to you anymore. It belongs to Christ.
Why?
If you are in Christ,
then he is your God
he is your Lord
he is your King
he is you Savior
and He rightfully demands your obedience, your idols, and your sin. He wants your hearts. He doesn't give a rip about what you did or what sacrifices you made. Why would the Almighty Living God be satisfied with your appeasement? "Lord, I am going to do this one thing for you but you got to leave me alone." How do you think that is going to go over?
We are so quick to give our lives over to a job, a hobby, a idealogy, politics, religion, sex, or gender but we are so ignorantly, sinfully slow to give our lives and our hearts and our passions and our sin over to God. Why are we so slow?
Don't be slow.
Be quick about it. Do it right now. Wake up tomorrow, do it again. And the next day and the next day.
We don't get to walk in the flesh. We don't get to look like the rest of the world. The world spits on our Savior. They reject him because they are in slavery to sin. We are to walk in a manner according to the calling of God upon on our lives.
Do so right now. Go, in Jesus' name.
Romans 8:5-11 How Can I Walk This Path?
The Text
Romans 8:5–11 (CSB)
5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit.
6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace.
7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.
8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him.
10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
The Support
There are only two ways in this life.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
You can think or contend or go easy and say, "All paths lead to God." To which I would absolutely agree. All paths do lead to God but only one path is under the protection of the Lord Jesus Christ.1
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God alone is life.
John 14:5-7 (CSB) "Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
John 6:68-69 (CSB) Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
There is one God. He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He is without a beginning nor a end because he alone is the Beginning and the End.
The Gospel
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.
Who is this hostility?
Who is the offspring of Eve?
Who will strike the head of the Liar?
Who will be merely injured by the Liar?
Revelation 1:1-7 (CSB) The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.
John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
And all the tribes of the earth
will mourn over him.
So it is to be. Amen.
Our Response
First:
Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB) Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
How?
Second:
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
Resist the urge to bring yourself up to God. Or worse still, try bring God down to your level. One, you will absolutely fail. Two, God has already met with us--his name is Jesus Christ. We--not our sins, our idols, our personalities, our works, our lives--shall ever be exalted above Him. Let God do what God does. And if we humble ourselves, repent of our sin, and we are contrite in heart, and we can only do this by the power of the Holy Spirit, God will glorify us. One step further: because he alone is God, and his promises are never broken, we know that he has glorified his people.2
Third:
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
We are called to pick up our cross and die. If you believe in Christ and obey Him as Lord, your sins are forgiven, cleansed, buried, and covered over.
Fourth:
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Worship God.
Here's the kick to the pants: submit yourselves now to God, repent of sin and worship Him as God. Or in the end, every knee, including Satan and his demons and every trespasser, will bow in under the forced, wrath-filled, rightful reign of Christ Jesus.
Revelation 5:8-14 (CSB)
When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slaughtered,
and you purchased people
for God by your blood
from every tribe and language
and people and nation.
You made them a kingdom
and priests to our God,
and they will reign on the earth.Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. They said with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
This is the call for those who have ears to hear: don't assume you are walking the path. I dare you to ask God where are you with him? In his righteousness by the precious blood of his Son or outside of his grace? Pray to him. Go to his word. And let the Spirit examine you right now. And then get up tomorrow and do it all over again.
Oh I wish I was clever enough to come up with this. I am not. Unfortunately, I don't know who said it. I feel like it was Dr. Steven Lawson or R.C. Sproul or at least someone from that camp. 2: Romans 8:30
Romans 8:12-13 What Do I Do When I Sin?
The Text
Romans 8:12–13 (CSB) So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
The Support
1 Samuel 17:48–51 (CSB) When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown to the ground. David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. David overpowered the Philistine and killed him without having a sword. David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword, pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they fled.
We have no doubt that we are not David in this story. David is the foreshadow to Christ--an sinful man who God had grace upon and supernaturally swapped his heart for his own. Goliath is not the circumstances in our lives that keep us down but it is the sin that breaks every second of our lives. We are the Israelites cowering in fear because we lack the power and the strength to kill off sin.
Yet, when Christ placed himself on that cross, that was where the sin of every believer went to die. Now, because Christ perfectly conquered sin once and for all and this was nicely foreshadowed by David, what does this mean us? Let us look now upon those same scared Israelites:
2 Samuel 21:15–22 (CSB) The Philistines again waged war against Israel. David went down with his soldiers, and they fought the Philistines, but David became exhausted. Then Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giant, whose bronze spear weighed about eight pounds and who wore new armor, intended to kill David. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle. You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel.” After this, there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giant. Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath of Gath. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam. At Gath there was still another battle. A huge man was there with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He, too, was descended from the giant. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimei, killed him. These four were descended from the giant in Gath and were killed by David and his soldiers.
Whoa, there were even more giants in the land? Why didn't we ever hear about this before? Maybe the teacher didn't know what to do with this. But we know because we are reading Romans 8:12-13. And because of Romans 8:12-13, we now know what to do.
We are to kill off our own sin.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God is the only way you can kill off the sin in your life because of the perfect life and death of Christ alone.
But if you think you are going to do this alone, you are gloriously mistaken.
Ephesians 6:10–13 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
David could not don Saul's armor to slay Goliath. This wasn't just mere flesh and blood but David stood "against rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens." Why would the anything man could do or invent to help us wage ware in the spirtual? Man cannot!
The Gospel
God has to give you six things in order for you to battle spiritually and against sin:
Ephesians 6:14a (CSB) Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist
God gives you His truth like a belt around your waist
John 14:6-7 (CSB) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Ephesians 6:14b (CSB) righteousness like armor on your chest,
God gives you His righteousness like armor on your chest
Matthew 5:20 (CSB) For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 6:15 Ephesians 6:15 (CSB) and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.
God gives you of peace strapped to your feet like sandals
Romans 1:16-17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
Romans 10:15 (CSB) And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
Ephesians 6:16 (CSB) In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
God gives you faith like a shield with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one
Genesis 3:1-5 (CSB) Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
“No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Matthew 17:19-20 (CSB) Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
“Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Ephesians 6:17a (CSB) Take the helmet of salvation
God gives salvation worn like an helmet
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
1 Peter 5:4 (CSB) And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Ephesians 6:17b (CSB) the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.
God gives the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God
Psalms 19:7-14 (CSB)
The instruction of the LORD is perfect,
renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
making the heart glad;
the command of the LORD is radiant,
making the eyes light up.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are reliable
and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold—
than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey
dripping from a honeycomb.
In addition, your servant is warned by them,
and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule me.
Then I will be blameless
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
Hebrews 4:12 (CSB) For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Luke 24:25-27 (CSB) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Our Response
1. Pray for all the saints:
Ephesians 6:18-20 (CSB) Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
2. Be zealous, repent, be with God, and go and conquer:
Revelation 3:19–22 (CSB) As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. “To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Romans 8:14-17 Who Bears Witness For Us?
The Text
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB)
14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,
17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The Support
John 20:17 (CSB) Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Galatians 4:1-7 (CSB) Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
God is our Father. Christ is our eldest brother. Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
The Gospel
Matthew 7:13-23 (CSB) Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
“Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
Ephesians 1:3-14 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.
In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 2:1-10 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Titus 3:3-7 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Our Response
Trust in Christ.
Believe in Christ.
If you do, then know it is because His Holy Spirit dwells in you.
Then it won't be just you trying to justify yourself before God.
At the end of days, you will stand in line before the Judge of judges. You see countless people in front of you giving their own testimony before God on what they have done for God. You notice that there are no other witnesses that can give an account of who they are before God. One right after the other, Jesus calmly gives the sentence, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’1
You will fear. You would be insane not to! Yet, you starting to see more and more of His beautiful glory and you can't wait to see just a little more. That love! That love that was there the moment God saved you. There is that feeling-will-thought-idea-belief-emotion-knowledge-security-peace. The more you see of him, the more you long to see the face of the one who saved you from death to life.
Now, you stand before the throne. You look into the loveliest eyes you have ever seen. You glance at the face that is a beauty like no other.
Your breath is taken. Your heart races. Your only rightful response is to fall to your knees and worship the King of kings and Lord of lords.
In the back of your mind, you think a dreadful thought:
"Who will bear witness for me?"
You know that you know that you have no defense before the Perfect and Almighty God? Your own righteousness is filthy rags before him. You have nothing of your own. What are you going to do?
It is at that precise moment, you hear a gentle, soothing, comforting, loving, merciful, and gracious voice--that voice that called you from the moment you heard God, that voice that guided you every step of the way, that voice that that called you to witness and minister to others, that voice that spoke in order for you to proclaim the gospel with a supernatural authority, that voice that guided you out of temptation and sin, that voice that comforted you in your darkest moments, that voice that empowered you as a saint to do the work of the ministry, that voice that brought every single word of God back to remembrance, that voice that spoke life, that voice that put death your sinful deeds--speak tenderly about you to you and yet boldly to the Throne, "This your son, O Father, by the Son has ransomed for Himself!"
The Son stands. His name is Faithful, True, and the Word of God. He alone judges. He alone makes war against evil. His eyes lit up like cities that burn with a million fires. Sword on his right hand. Rod of iron on his left hand. Crowns upon crowns rest rightfully upon his head because on his robe and tattooed on his thighs, as it is written:
In emboldened ecstasy, he looks up to his Father, and smirkingly asks, "What do you say, Father?"
In an awe-struck and fear-trembling moment that shakes the heavens, a voice sonic booms to eternity in order to vehemently declare, "This is my son in whom I am well-pleased!"
It is in this moment, the Son of Man runs down from His throne, takes off his robe and covers you with it. He lifts you up and it is now, only now, you get to gaze into the sweetest eyes of the only Savior that you have ever known. He has always been your loveliest friend, your God, your Lord, your Savior, your Redeemer, your Keeper, your Avenger, your Protector, your Rock, your Tower, your Fortress, your Beloved, your Brother, your All-in-all.
Your soul is complete, finally, perfectly, and definitely satisfied. Your soul releases all the sadness, grief, madness, chaos, terror, persecution, weight that sin had an effect on your life--you cry all of your cries. And as quickly as you cry, his nail-pierced hands wipes every tear and kisses your cheeks over and over again.
Because God loves you so much.
He brings you close and holds you. With one final act in this heavenly courtroom, with the Holy Spirit, the angels, the elders, the saints, and the Father looking upon you, Christ Jesus, the Gracious Almighty God justly declares:
NO CONDEMNATION! Now enter into the joy of your Master.
Brothers and sisters, I tell you all these things that your joy may be full!
To the whole world, I tell you all these things because that is love!
Matthew 7:23
Romans 8:18-25 Who Defines Us?
The Text
Romans 8:18–25 (CSB)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope
21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.
23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?
25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
God
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
Who defines us: not what happens to us or the circumstances that we find ourselves in
God is glorious and Romans 8:30 says that he glorified his children.
Genesis 50:15-21 (CSB) When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said to one another, “If Joseph is holding a grudge against us, he will certainly repay us for all the suffering we caused him.”
So they sent this message to Joseph, “Before he died your father gave a command: ‘Say this to Joseph: Please forgive your brothers’ transgression and their sin—the suffering they caused you.’ Therefore, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when their message came to him. His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Not the sins of others and not our own sin will define us and give us our identity.
How can I be so sure? That is repentance! Christ has commanded each of us to repent of sin. We are to give our sin over to Jesus Christ. Therefore, if your sin is no longer yours because you have repented of your sin, sin doesn't define you.
Yet, because of the Fall of Mankind, we will continue to twist the law of God to redefine what he calls sin not sin. All of that Scripture twisting is foolishness and tiring. It wears me down and grinds my bones to dust just thinking of that.
Take the easy route: repent of your sin, trust in God, and He will be your identity.
The Gospel
Nothing in this world and what the world has to offer will be enough to satisfied our real need and be enough to define us--no matter how hard we try.
19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
Who defines us: God is our Father
John 20:17 (CSB) “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Romans 8:14-17 spells this out. But here's another way of saying that:
Galatians 4:4-7 (CSB) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.
Who define us? God is our Father in heaven. We are his blessed children and if what Christ said was true, we are in the double grip snatch of the Father and the Son:
John 10:25-30 (CSB) “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.
23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Who defines us: The Spirit dwells in us
John 14:15-17 (CSB) “If you love me, you will keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.
John 14:23-26 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. 25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
The Spirit doesn't just reside in us and lays dormant until the end. No! The Spirit is too powerful--he is the Almighty God. If God dwells in you, congratulations, you are not like the legalistic Pharisees. You are going to be changed from the inside out.
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
You are going to see change in your heart. Don't fight it nor resist it. Give into the love of God for you.
Galatians 5:22-26 (CSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?
25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
Who defines us: Christ is our Hope
Colossians 1:3-6 (CSB) We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.
1 Corinthians 15:19-22 (CSB) If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone. 20 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (CSB) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Our Response
Christ defines us: remember your adoption by the Father
Romans 8:14-17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Christ defines us: remember your calling by the Spirit
Ephesians 4:1-6 (CSB) Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
Christ defines us: remember where your real hope is found
Colossians 1:3-6 (CSB) We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.
Romans 5:1-5 (CSB) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 8:26 Who Defines Us in the Midst of Our Weakness?
The Text
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
But don’t you see? Your cries are exactly like those of the children of Israel. The Old Testament is your prayer and the New Testament is your answer.
What, you can't do it? God knows and He shows us His great love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us? (Romans 5:8)
Remember before God saved you to himself and filled your heart with His Holy Spirit? When you were “once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” (Titus 3:3)
Yes, God was mindful of you, saw you, and saved you despite your own wickedness, evilness, and malice towards the Himself.
If God is so good and powerful to do that, what do you think He’s going to do when you know you are weak, sick and more need of a Savior? Leave you? NO! You are His precious adopted child to whom all that belongs to His only begotten Son also is yours.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
That gift includes the world. But that includes something much greater than all of anything that we could want or desire on this earth:
Our God
God himself.
God the Father, whose mind, compassion, grace, sovereignty, and love is yours.
God the Son, whose life and body was in your place on the cross so that you could be with "His God, your God, His Father and your Father”. That's yours.
God the Spirit, by whom is the power, connection, intimacy, closeness and the very voice that brings you and God together forever never to break apart or be forgotten. That's yours.
By the power of the same Spirit that Jesus was able to walk this earth and live as we should have lived.
By the power of the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
If His Spirit dwells in you, you are now fully completely alive.
God WOULD NEVER ABANDON YOU, FORSAKE YOU, NOR FORGET YOU.
So why would he leave you at your weakest?
The Gospel
Paul goes on to say:
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
When sin crouches like a hungry lion ready to devour our souls.
When the Devil and his demons shower you a million arrows of arrows to consume your flesh.
When everything that has worked before and now nothing does.
When you are at loss for words and nothing comes out.
That’s when the almighty Spirit steps in, shatters the mouth of the lion, shields us and absorbs every single arrow aimed for our hearts. He actually gives you the power to overcome all fears, anxiety, and sins, and speaks perfectly to God, our Father, on your behalf. Giving what is the very best for you when you couldn’t figure that out yourself.
That is powerful love.
Our Response
Yours to do: is to give the only thing you and I have to offer to the Son of God who is God: our sin.
Christ does not invite us and the world into his kingdom. Christ does not have a soft "come if you want to--if you are not too busy" under his rule as though he is throwing some sort of party.
Matthew 22:8-14 (CSB) “Then he told his servants, ‘The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ 10 So those servants went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests. 11 When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes? ’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
This is the gospel--this is the good news: Christ is commanding you and me and every single child born of Adam to repent of our sins.
What does it mean to repent?
Give your sins over to Christ.
You don't have to figure out what is sin and not sin. You don't have to figure out how to keep sinning when God has commanded you from death to life. You don't have to do Biblical gymnastics and try to skirt around His law.
God's law is bond. Listen, we have all fallen short. James says, "when you have broken one law, you have broken all of the law." So for you and me to fulfill God's law on our own is a fool's errand. We are not strong enough. We are too weak.
God knows. That is why he sent his Son to live and die for us. God knows our weakness. We are so weak, we can't even pray right. God knows. So that is why the same Spirit who raised Christ Jesus from the dead, and raises us from death unto life, also intercedes--constantly, consistently, perfectly prays for saints.
Even when we are at loss for words, God never is. He contends for us. He cares for us. He speaks goodness over our lives. He sings over us. He rejoices over us. He loves us. Forever.
Romans 8:27 Who Defines Us in the Midst of Our Sin?
The Text
Romans 8:27 (CSB) And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
The Support
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
Our God
This is a fantastic God
What compares to the knowledge of God when He alone reveals all truth and science to us? Yet, he is not merely the best supercomputer in the world with every single piece of knowledge and scientific fact ever.
What compares to the knowledge of God that he numbers the stars in the all of the cosmos, grains of sand on all the beaches and even the number of the hairs on your head? But he is not the greatest calculator that can count really, really high.
What compares to the knowledge of God that he not only knows the past but knows the future. He is not some brilliant scientist who has discovered time travel. He knows the future because he made the future.
What compares to the knowledge of God that he searches the whole world but he is not merely the best surveillance system ever.
This is the God who actually, perfectly knows each and every one of us. But what does that even mean in our world today? Where we put ourselves on social media but only show the world what we want them to see. But every single one of us are yearning to be truly seen and truly known—maybe not by everybody but by somebody.
Maybe we think, “I hope that God sees the good inside of me.” But what if this God saw a lot deeper than that. What if he saw past your social media posts, and then your walls, and then past your personality? What if he could peer inside your soul and see the deepest corners of your heart? What would God see then?
What if he saw your bad? Your fears, your doubts, your sin, your trespasses? You might think if he saw that, he couldn’t possibly want you or even love you?
The Gospel
Here’s the truth: he knows all of that. But this is the mind of the Spirit: way before you were born, the stars were placed in the sky or even before there was even dirt, he made up his mind about you.
Long before Genesis 1:1, he saw into the future and saw you not at your best or your greatest but at your weakest, sickest, and most terrible. Before you could even fathom a thought, God thought of you, loved you, and set the plan in motion not only to create you but to save you.
Who is truly like this God who is not scared nor frightened of your deepest sins? Who is like him whose heart breaks for what broke yours? Who grieved over your pain and also, who was rightfully jealous when you ran away from him?
Ah, but he knows you and sees you truly for who you are.
His reaction is not one of condemnation and tosses you away. He does not strike you down where you stand. He does not turn his back on you. Instead, he comes after you: not like the Devil Lion who would only consume your soul but the like the Protective Hound who simple chases you down, places you gently into his jaws and carries you back to safety.
I know this to be true because he sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who came not into the world to condemn you but only through him, to save you.
My Beloved, if you are his adoptive, precious child then do not fear that God knows you inside and out as he is only here to remind you of your fears and weaknesses. That is the Devil’s job. But Rejoice! For God sees you, knows you, loves you and wrote your name in His Son’s book of life. Run to him! Flee to him! Let him comfort you in the only way a perfect Father could ever do.
Hosea 2:14 (CSB) Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.
Zephaniah 3:17 (CSB) The LORD your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.”
Because he loves you.
Oh, the mighty love of God be will with us all today and forever. Amen.
Our Response
But what if you don’t know God like this? What if this is all foreign to you? Just know that our precious God made sure there is more than ample room at the foot of the cross of Christ for you.
Let the Almighty God take you into his strong arms as he begins to constantly, consistently, thoughtfully, and lovingly pray and intercede for you according His own will because he loves you.
I pray that everyone who reads these words would know that God didn’t create you and left you behind. He didn’t save you and then distance from you. God didn’t rescue you and then be disconnected from you. No! He saved you, pulled you in close, whispers blessings into your ear, rejoices and sings over you in gladness!
Romans 8:28 Who Define Us in the Midst of Sin Around Us?
The Text
Romans 8:28 (CSB) 28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Our God
Herein lies love: all things work together for good for those who love God. Within our world, one might dare to ask, “What about those who don’t love God? What about my friend or neighbor or co-worker who is basically a good guy or gal? What about them?”
But what is goodness? Is it good/better/best or a quality that is wholesome and pure and without sin or evilness?
While we cannot assume the opposite is true in some cases, we can actually make that statement here: all things do not work together for good for those who do not love God. Or if things do work together for good, then it is for good/better/best and not at all for goodness according to the God.
Paul is saying nothing new. There is a distinction between those who love God and do not love God. We just got done reading at the beginning of Romans 8: “For those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on things of the flesh… Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”1
Perhaps you might think Paul is too harsh. Let's think through things for just a moment:
There are always talks about harmonizing the Gospels of the New Testament but when you study the teachings of Christ and the writings of Paul, what I think is happening that Paul is simply giving a theological explanation to the words and deeds of Christ.
I dare to say that Paul is not giving anything new outside of what Jesus Christ has already said and done.
So when Paul talks “mind set on the flesh and spirit” or in our case “for those who love God”, how is that different than when Christ spoke of those on his left hand and his right, goats, and sheep, child of hell versus sons of God?
Or here:
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Paul is simply going into a more detailed explanation of what Christ said.
The Gospel
Why is this so important? All the promises of God are both yes and amen, but the promises for you, if you are a child of God, go many more AND deeper, more meaningful, more lovely and beautiful than anything we could have imagined.
Romans 8:9-11 (CSB) You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:14-17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
So who loves God? We just read that:
Romans 8:27 (CSB) And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
That God knows the heart and that is such good news that he looks and sees us intimately.
So, what are all things? That circumstances and sin and wickedness do not dictate the statuses and the faiths of the children of God. Abuse does not. Trauma does not. Being ignored does not. Being betrayed does not. Being tempted does not. Being poor does not.
Let the world take everything-my innocence, my money, my family, my job, my education-everything that I could put all of my identity in and fall into idol worship. But because I have God, I have everything.
Our Response
How’s that you say? Again, let us use the words of Paul:
Let me live and I will live to Christ.
Kill me and Christ is my gain!
Philippians 1:21-26 (CSB) For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.
Take my job and force me into poverty and I will be content.
Philippians 4:10-14 (CSB) I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.
Throw me in prison and I will preach the gospel and see that the guard’s and their households are saved.
Philippians 4:21-23 (CSB) Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Let all things come my way and try to destroy me.
Romans 8:36-37 (CSB) As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
All the bad. All the good. Everything in between that has happened in your life--God will absolutely use to draw closer to Him.
Romans 8:5-8
Romans 8:29a Who Defines Us Before The World Ever Began?
The Text
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
The Support
There are many verses that can be used to aptly say what verse twenty-nine so succinctly and definitely says here. I can think of two passages:
1 Peter 1:20-21 (CSB) He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
And.
Ephesians 1:3–14 (CSB)
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.
5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ
10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.
13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.
14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
Our God
In order to understand God and his love for his people, we can take this little verse, walk through it, and answer the following questions:
What did God see in us in that we would be saved to Him? Many have speculated and theorized that foreknowledge of God simply means that God saw into the future and determined God saw those who would believe in him and not believe in him and pick accordingly.
We teach our kids the story on how God saved Noah:
Genesis 6:5-9 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the LORD. These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
And because of our philosophies born out of the world in which we live today, we surmised that it was Noah, first, that lived a righteous life and it was only then God saved Noah.
But does that line up with any story of salvation that you ever heard in the Bible or is Paul correct when he says:
The Gospel
Romans 5:6-9 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
Notice it doesn't say,"while we were really good" or "doing our very best, that Christ died for us."
Let’s go back and look at the passage and walk through it step by step:
God saw the evilness of humankind - The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually
God regretted making mankind and it grieved him - And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
God had a plan to make everything right-standing with him - God So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
And give grace to some - But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
And save them - … Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.
Let’s consider all of the Bible. What makes actual sense? Did Noah act right in order for God to save him? Or if we are to read every single account of salvation in the Bible and since the creation of the world, could we logically, theologically, and reasonably concluded that:
- Noah was wicked ✅
- every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually ✅
- that God was grieved to the heart because of Noah ✅
- that because of his righteousness and holiness and love and mercy, God saved one family out of many and bestowed unmerited grace upon him ✅
- And because we are only saved by grace alone, it is that Noah was declared righteous and blameless by God and walked with God as he would a friend, (✅, ✅, and ✅).
As old dead white guys would say two hundred years ago, let us lay an axe to our pride and to anything that would cause us to boast before the world, each other, and most importantly, God, that we could say, “I am good, save me!” with the same intentionality as one philosopher would say, “God has to save me-it is what he does”.
Should we be audacious before the throne of grace? As the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirits, then yes! But as a child of wrath with no thoughts or convictions about our own sin or zero affections and love towards the Saviour of the world? No! For the child of wrath is declared by the all-knowing God to be unknowable.
And you might say to me, “This foreknowledge to too much for me to dwell on. How can I comprehend it?” My friend, it is not a belief in foreknowledge of God that would save you but it is faith and belief in the one who lived a life that we could not possibly live, the one who died dying a death that we should have death, resurrected back into life by which we have no power over unto the glory that belongs to God alone. I ask you to comprehend and trust the risen Christ! It is Christ alone who came into the world as a baby and to grow in a man faced every type of temptation just like you or me. But unlike us, he never sinned. For in that glorious work of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are now able to see the Father!
Our Response
So in all of this, I must concede to one answer to the question of “What did God see in us to save us?”
Before Genesis 1:1, before time and space began, before the formations of the sun, moon, stars, and planets, before the dirt and mountains and sky and birds, and fish, and animals and anything in all of creation, he looked upon me and saw my wickedness, my pride, my sins, my thoughts, and my intentions, and powerfully, mightily, gracefully, lovingly, mercifully, righteously, and justly declared,
“He is mine! He is in my family! And by the power of My Spirit, I will bring in him into my family because my Son will do everything in order to save him to me!”
What kind of love this? The heart can barely contain the amount. Praise God for his love.
Romans 8:29b How Did God Save Us?
The Text
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
The Support
Isaiah 48:9–11 (CSB) I will delay my anger for the sake of my name, and I will restrain myself for your benefit and for my praise, so that you will not be destroyed. Look, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. I will act for my own sake, indeed, my own, for how can I be defiled? I will not give my glory to another.
Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God?
Our God
But because God is so glorious, the overabundance of that glory is my joy:
Psalm 16:11 (CSB) You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
But how did God save us?
In other words, was it enough for God to save us by sending his Son to be born of an unwed, virgin, teenage girl and to live as a carpenter's stepson?
Was it enough for the Son of God, filled with the Spirit of God, to wait until he was 30 years old to start his earthly ministry, all the while spending his entire life completely sinless and perfectly obeying the law of God?
Was it enough for Christ Jesus to finish his life and ministry by being falsely accused, falsely arrested, falsely tried, and falsely executed upon a Roman cross for crimes and sins he did not commit?
Furthermore, to be buried in a tomb for three days, and by that same Spirit of God that dwelled in him, risen again to be made alive, and then continued his ministry on earth for 40 more days and then ascend to the right hand of the Father?
Was all of that enough for Jesus Christ to save His people?
Anybody who has grown up in church all of their lives will shout the answer, “You must believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved!” That is the answer. Just believe in the one who lived and died for you and you shall be saved.
The Gospel
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
But let us think about this: what if Christ came to live and die and no one believed? Would his life and death be in vain? Absolutely not, because Christ death on the cross on actually and factually accomplished something.
The Bible speaks of this through and through. I believe it is most evident in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 1 verse 21:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Read that verse. Does it give the mere possibility of saving his people from their sins or does it say distinctly will save? Does God fail in anything that he will set out to accomplish? Even if his word goes out, it will accomplish something and does not go out in vain , what more than God alone who all powerful, all knowing, and ever-present will perfectly set out what he wants to accomplish.
We say believe but did God die for the possibility of saving everybody? If we have established that God will perfectly execute his plans then we know that even the mere possibility indicates possible failure. Even we can bring up a couple verses starting in 1 John:
1 John 2:1 (CSB) My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one.
But reading 1 John as a whole especially starting with chapter 2 verse 1, we can see that John's intention was not to say “the whole world is saved” but rather that all brothers and sisters for all around the world are saved because of the propitiating work of Jesus Christ who is our advocate with the Father when and if we do sin. To even suggest that the whole world would be saved would directly contradict Matthew’s witness account of Jesus: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”1
And I would say that John would be contradicting himself in his own gospel account in the aforementioned John 3:16. But look closely: John did not write, “that whoever believes and doesn’t believe in him should not perish” but “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”2
Yes, John did write in verse 17 “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” but see how he ends the chapter with verse 36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36)
Both John, Matthew and the writers of the Bible are not mincing words when we speak of who God does and does not save (especially when you read about the Kingdom of God in Matthew chapter 13]. Instead of looking at individual verses and making them stand on their own, let us be like Christ when he walked on the road to Emmaus and understand the entire Bible speaks about himself, Jesus Christ.
So we know that God is powerful to save. We know it wasn’t our “good works” or right decision that attracted the grace and favor of God upon us. We have established that God didn’t send his Son to die in mere hopes that we would make the right decision. Think about this:.
We must always remember that, unlike Christ, we came into this world “foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”3
We were all born sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God — remembering that this is the same glory that God spoke about by which he would save His people.
We have all fallen short of the glory of God that saves us.
What are we to do if we are not already saved?
Without God, we are blind and cannot see. We are deaf and cannot hear. We have minds but cannot understand. We inhale breath but we are not completely alive.
In other words, we are completely dead in our trespasses.
But open your eyes and see this good news: Just as Moses lifted the serpent up in the wilderness that the Israelites might look upon it and be saved4, God appeared:
Titus 3:4-7 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
God saves us
- According to his own mercy
- By the washing of regeneration
- Renewal of the Holy Spirit
- Poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior
- Justified by his grace
- So that we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life
- Might not as in mere possibility but based on the strength of the love our God our Father by the power of the Holy Spirit through the broken body of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
There is no greater news than this because there is no greater love than this.
Our Response
In this immense love and grace, receive the gift!
Receive the gift of God's forgiveness
Ezekiel 36:25–27 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Receive the gift of repentance
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
Receive the gift of sight to see and behold God
Mark 10:48-52 (CSB) Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David! ” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50 He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you? ” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.
Receive the gift that is God!
Psalms 34:8-9 (CSB) Taste and see that the LORD is good.
How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!
You who are his holy ones, fear the LORD,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
Matthew 6:33 (CSB) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
Luke 11:13 (CSB) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
Romans 8:32 (CSB) He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?
Yours is to do nothing but sit still, know that He is God, that He is good, that His steadfast love endures forever and ever and receive Him.
The moment we listen to the lies of Satan, this world, and our old hearts that we have to earn God's sweet, precious love is is anti-Christ--because Christ did it all.
Zephaniah 3:17 (CSB) The LORD your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.”
Do you know because of Christ, the Triune God looks upon you and delights you in singing and rejoices over you in gladness--continuously forever without ceasing.
As a dad, I delight in my children but I cannot do so perfectly nor continuously because I am broken man who is being healed and sanctified by God. As your brother-in-Christ, I am delight in you because I love you so much but not 100% all the time--because I am limited.
God can and does because He is unlimited, infinite and compassionate. Forever and ever.
Amen.
Romans 8:29c By Whom We Are Saved?
The Text
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
The Introduction
When we speak of Romans 8, most Christians rightfully cling to the verse 1: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. But Romans 8:1 is not the very first line of this epistle from Paul to the church in Rome. What I am getting to is that idea didn’t just come out of nowhere. What was Paul responding to? Perhaps we can look at the verses right before:
Romans 7:24–25 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
Our God
Seem familiar? Don’t we hear the same desperation in anyone, who by the grace of God, see their own sins as an affront and treason against holy and loving God? It is the great cry of the tax collector, “standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” 1
Even more than that, it seems to be the same question Isaiah asked:
Isaiah 64:5–6 (CSB) You welcome the one who joyfully does what is right;
they remember you in your ways.
But we have sinned, and you were angry.
How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?
All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment;
all of us wither like a leaf,
and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
The Gospel
Isaiah the great prophet, to whom Christ unraveled his glory before him and Christ then sent an angel to touch Isaiah’s lips with a hot coal and cleansed his soul from all unrighteousness even asked, “Shall we be saved?”
I know that Paul answers all the cries of all the saints who clearly see their own sin before a glorious God, “THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS!”
Let that be one of the many banners over our souls and hearts: “THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION BECAUSE I AM IN CHRIST AND HE IS IN ME FOREVER!”
But this is not some standalone “theory” that we have to do doctrinal gymnastics in order to arrive at this point. The world wants to make the Bible more difficult than it needs to be. By either claiming to be nonsense, or it is a book filled with fantasy, or that God is an angry god or there are just too many contradictions. To such counters I will say two things: One, you cannot understand any gift of God without the Holy Spirit of God2. Two, once you have the Holy Spirit and by his will, power and wisdom alone, you can now begin to grasp the Bible for it really is—the word of God. All of a sudden, when we read passages like Luke 24 when Jesus taught his disciples about all the Scriptures, we realize that the Bible is really all about Him.
If the Bible is all about Jesus, then logic and reason dictate that salvation comes through Christ alone.
Let’s see what the rest of the Bible says:
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
John 1:12–13 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 5:9-10 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
1 Corinthians 15:1–11 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Ephesians 2:1–10 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Titus 3:3–7 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
And the Old Testament says nothing less about it even despite our “Age of Information” brains who can only search by keywords. Go back and start at the beginning.
Genesis - beginning of the promise of Jesus Christ
Exodus - Jesus will save his people from their sins
Leviticus - the weight of the holy law upon the shoulders of Christ
Numbers - the progressive sanctification of his people or to put it into other words, being conformed to the image of His Son.
But how do we know that Christ was the Savior of those in the Old Testament when they didn't even know His name? Paul says that in Romans 3 that God put Jesus Christ forward as a propitiation with Christ’s own blood to be received by faith. Not only with us the New Testament saints but the Old Testaments as well. God was passing over their sins in divine forbearance because those saints believed in Christ Jesus.3
Saints of old and saints of new were all perfectly saved by Christ alone.
We know that those old saints were under the burden of the law with sacrifices and shedding of blood. But the shedding of the blood of ox and goats or even following the law perfect never intended to save God’s people.4
Jesus Christ was born, lived, died, rose again, and ascended to the right hand of the Father to rule and reign over everyone, everywhere, and everything.
And Christ rules, reigns and saved his people because He went to the cross in humility and joy.
Jesus Christ is the literal crux where God’s steadfast love and God’s faithfulness meet and He is where His righteousness and His perfect peace kiss each other.5
Our Response
Because of all that he has done and because of what he is doing now and will do, there will be one fine day that I will stand in the presence of my Savior, just as Joshua did before the Commander of the Most High or as the adulteress caught red-handed and thrown before this King of Kings. I saw my Savior’s beautiful face but can I approach him? I can say nothing. But I fall to the ground in worship and in true awe before the one who saved me.
But then, the Holy Spirit bears witness with my spirit, “Father of Lights, this is your precious son!”
And I can imagine Christ turning to his Father and the Father’s voice booms the heavens, “THIS IS MY SON IN WHOM I AM WELL-PLEASED!”
And upon that declarative state, Christ descends from his rightful throne, lifts me up to stand with him and finishes the holy judgment before angels, elders, and the other saints:
NO CONDEMNATION! Come and enter in the joy of your master.
It is then and only then that I will have a chance to hold my lovely Saviour’s face, look deeply into his eyes and kiss him a thousand kisses all because of what He has done for me.
Luke 18:13 2: 1 Corinthians 2:12 3: see Romans 3:21-26 4: Hebrews 9:1-28 Cf. Romans 8:1-4 5: Psalm 85:10
Romans 8:29d Why Did God Save Us?
The Text
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Our God
Think for a moment and try to come up with a definition for the word ‘glory’. Consider Webster’s:
- high renown or honor won by notable achievements.
- magnificence or great beauty.
- praise, worship, and thanksgiving offered to a deity.
- luminous ring or halo, especially as depicted around the head of Jesus Christ or a saint.
- take great pride or pleasure in.
But according to the Bible, it speaks of God’s glory as each of his attributes to the maximum infinite degree. I say both maximum and infinite because to suggest maximum might suggest a limit somewhere. To say infinite says there is unlimited potential, but we can fall short of that. In who God is—whether it be love, mercy, justice, holiness, righteousness, presence, strength, knowledge, or grace—God is maximum unlimited.
So when we say “God saved us out of love”, that is true but is far much more than that. I can say that with utmost certainty because you see, God is perfect and was never was or will be in sin and thus, everything that he does is never out of good intentions or in hope of but completed perfectly to the end. Consider our born state and the world we live in: many times, while we might do our best to do things out of love, we either fallen short with good intentions or do so with selfish gain.
Take any book of the Bible, look for the mention of the glory of God and see what I am saying. For instance, in Luke we see that:
God’s glory in the mere ability of God becoming man, Jesus:
Luke 2:8-21 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
God’s glory in His all-knowledge and all-wisdom:
Luke 4:15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
God’s glory again in His all-power over brokenness:
Luke 5:25-26 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
God’s glory in his all-power over death:
Luke 7:16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”
God’s glory in all-justice:
Luke 9:26-27 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.” (See Revelation 19:11–21]
God’s glory in His command of time:
Luke 9:32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
God’s even in the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross:
Luke 24:26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
The Gospel
Why did God save? Because he loves us but more so than that, because He is glorious!
Consider this: if God was not for his glory, then he would cease to be God. Remember, until we see our Savior completely face to face, we will never know perfection on this side of heaven. (Some pastors say you can obtain perfection while on earth and I am here to tell you that they are wrong). But what if we were without sin? That is so impossible to imagine but that is what God is. And in his absolute perfection, He operates within the maxed out of his attributes. He operates in glory.
To put this in another way, God does not have to lessen something that he is his in order to do what he wants. He doesn’t suppress his righteousness and holiness in order to love us. He doesn’t have to suppress his love in order to be fully holy. No, not at all! But sometimes we want him to let off his righteousness and holiness? Don’t we? Like “Lord, thank you for eradicating all of my sins but how about don’t work on this little sin deep in the recesses of my heart. How about leave that alone? I need my pride, my lust, my fear, my vanity because that is who I am!” How crazy is the notion that we would want God to grade on a curve or overlook this one little sin in our hearts? Don’t you want to be with the God who has ZERO SIN in and around him which automatically equates to perfect peace, fullness of joy and blissful pleasures forevermore? If God allowed sin in his presence—yes, even our “itty bitty little” sin— then we would still have sickness, disease, despair, death, broken hearts, some joy, some love, and mediocre pleasures in a short amount of time. Doesn’t that already sound a bit familiar? (Hint: look around you.)
But because God is glorious—in other words, because God is fully, perfectly, one-hundred percent-ly all the things that the Bible says he is, then it is because His glory that we are saved.
Isaiah 48:9-11 (ESV)
For my name's sake I defer my anger;
for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,
that I may not cut you off.
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.
For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
for how should my name be profaned?
My glory I will not give to another.
And yet from this one prophet, consider how he was saved:
Isaiah 6:1-7 (ESV) In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
Our Response
How do we know this to be the glory of God? Jesus said so:
John 12:41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.
Praise God for his perfection and glory.
Praise God for his ability, willingness, and actually completed his salvation of His people.
Praise God for his absolutely amazing love!
Romans 8:29e To Whom Are We Saved?
The Text
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
The Introduction
When we carefully walked through verse 29 of Romans 8, we saw that there was more than a few questions that rose to the top, namely:
What did God saw in us? We now know that he didn’t see anything good, righteousness or lovely. What he saw was my traitorous sin and depraved wickedness. But in His power, goodness, and love, He saved me. Not by my own will, mind, or righteousness, but in his grace alone.
How did God save us? We now see that it was by the perfect life, sacrificial death, Spirit-powered resurrection, and glorious ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the right hand of the Father where He alone rules and reigns over heaven and earth is actually how we are saved.
By whom we are saved? Again, from the sovereign grace of the Father, through the blood-drained and broken body of Christ upon the cross, by the power and might of the Spirit. In other words, God.
Why did God save us? Again, it was not because we were good or made the right decision or merely born into the right family, but for the glory of God which is the fullest, maximum infinite display of everything that God is—holiness, love, righteousness, just, mercy, and grace, just to name a few.
Our God
So by the term “firstborn among many brothers”, we can then ask this question:
To whom are we saved?
Not to Sunday School this and end it quickly, but the immediate and correct guess would be Jesus Christ. If God is our Father, Christ is His Son, and we are adopted by him into his family, that would no doubt make Christ, what older, dead white guys would rightfully call, our Elder brother.
For
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
And just so we are clear: the term firstborn might be a weird adjective to describe the Word of God who has always been from eternally past. But remember that Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End —the creator, founder, begetter, and perfecter of our faith.
And since he proceeds everything, in a strange, “outside-of-time” way, it is the firstborn, founder and perfecter of all the faith of the saints, both in the New and in the Old Testament.
So, we see He is first and preeminent. But God did not just merely save us in order to be first. Let’s take a look at the promises of God:
More than just merely saved from Hell and sin but to the presence of God himself:
Psalm 16:9–11 (CSB)
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely.10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
That we won’t simply die in sin, or stay the same but we will look like Him:
Psalm 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
That once belong to Him, no one can take us away from him:
John 10:28-30 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
The Gospel
Forever, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ and no separation for those who are in Christ.
We are saved to God forever and ever. Amen.
But here is the real kicker: not only are we saved to Him, the one who is firstborn, forever but also to one another i.e. the brethren.
In a strange sense, the salvation plan of God was two-fold: to himself forever and to each other forever.
Now, if you grew up in church, you have heard this verse thrown out just in mere passing that is sometimes used as some sort of heavy-handed law of God. “Don’t you dare miss church OR ELSE!” And I am going to repeat it here just to get it out of the way but not in mere passing but within context. Let us look at the entire passage.
Hebrews 10:19-25 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus — he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh) — and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
We are to meet together not to throw guilt, shame, and condemnation at one another but to build up each other in encouragement. (Sounds familiar? That’s why we have the gifts of the Spirit, particular with the gifts of encouragement and prophecy. )
Let us not neglect the meeting of the saints so that we can encourage and lift up one another and we do so not just by sincere encouragement, and prophesy that is tested by the word of God but primarily by the exposing of our sin by the law of God and the ocean of grace and love that awaits for us within the gospel of His blessed Son, Jesus Christ.
On the flip side of that: when the church fails to do that, in other words, when it fails to be a safe place for the saints, what are we to do? Then neglect meeting with one another.
Our Response
Listen, we are the Bride. You are saved to the family of believers. You are not alone. I totally understand that if you need to depart and take it easy for a time but don’t totally close yourself off. Keep in touch. Let people know if you need help. Reach out. Allow those who you feel are safe to reach out and help and continue to encourage you.
I have seen too many people who just depart without saying a word to leaders or even to one another. And then they end up all alone. A sheep that stands alone in the world is the easiest prey for the wolves. They will come and devour you.
Maybe leaders are not safe either. God acknowledges this. In John 10, Jesus calls shepherds who turn and run at the first sight of danger not actual shepherds but just mere hired hands. But in Jeremiah 23, the Good Shepherd looks after his sheep and if those in charge of the sheep fail to do their job, he will remove them and set up new shepherds. I know that it seems as though those in power always remain in power and seem to be untouchable. But not in His church. And what we are witnessing in America with the cleaning out the house, we are seeing that in His church as well.
Ephesians 3:7–13 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Paul will elaborate on the church as a mystery that is similar to marriage with Christ and His Bride later on in chapter 5 starting at verse 20.
This all falls back on what Christ proclaimed to be the greatest and second greatest commandment:
Matthew 22:36–40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Jesus Christ will one day return. Until then, He sits on the throne at the right hand of God. He didn’t leave us as orphans but sent His Spirit, who is God, to come dwell in our hearts forever in an unbreakable love.
But we are saved just to stand in this world cold and alone. God is so good and so loving to save us to one another. Sometimes, the church is not perfect. Sometimes, it incredibly messy and painful. I have seen terrible pain and abuse in the church. But only by God’s grace, I cannot quit His Bride. For me to leave Her would be like me giving up on her. And I cannot. She is the bride of Christ, who, and as crazy as this might seem, will be adorned in splendor, beauty, and perfection for Her Bridegroom.
We are saved to Him and to each other. That is all-incredible love.
Romans 8:30a Loved & Predestined by God
The Text
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
The Introduction
We have now established that God loved us not just for the sake of love by itself. It is a warm and sentiment notion to be sure but when it comes to God, it is not just simply His love as though he can be reduced to one feeling. Likewise, while his love remains supreme, it isn’t all that he is. When we speak of God and receive God and take him as our own, we get everything about him. And God is love but God is also holy, righteous, just, merciful, kind, gracious, patient, all-knowing (omniscient), present everywhere (omnipresent), and almighty (omnipotent) just to name a few. Not only that, God is unlike any other being ever in that he is one hundred percent of everything that he is. Furthermore, he doesn’t have to give up one part of himself in order to be the fullest in another. He is maxed-out love, righteousness, holiness, and merciful.
That is the glory of God.
Our God
And we know that God saved us because He is glorious. In other words, He didn’t have to give up something about what makes Him fully Him. It’s like getting into a relationship but giving up a part of your personality, a part of who you are, in order to be with someone you have affections for. “I like this dude but he only like quiet, mousy girls so I am going to suppress my boldness when I’m around him.” “Oh I really like this girl but she doesn’t like guys who are really into God so I am going to give that up.” It’s like a terrible romantic comedy. You laugh but it happens in real life more than I want.
God saved us because He simply saw us and He chose us to be with Him forever.
The Gospel
Ephesians 1:3–10 (CSB)
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.
5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ
10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
Take a look at this passage: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world…” Paul is exhorting us that God is blessed and God has definitely blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. However, for our sake and our thinking is contained within the element of time (while God is not), those blessings did not start with us, within the family we were born, the place in the world where we grew up, nor the people we know although we do know God purposely chooses all of that for us so that we “should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.” (Acts 17:27) It started before the foundations of the earth were laid and even before time and space were spoken into existence. It started before Genesis 1:1.
There is no doubt we grow up in a world that certainly celebrates self-accomplishments especially when you have come from nothing. We love the pull-up-from-our-bootstraps stories. Just be born, work hard, and surely good things will come your way. We sometimes think that God loves and adores us not because of everything He has done for us but rather what we have done for him lately. And that is how most of us understand our salvation in Christ. It has to be because of what I did first. Why else would he love me?
Or flip it the other way: I have done so well all of my life. I did the right things. I voted the right way. I am fighting for social justice. I am on the right side of history. See me! See that I am good. God loves me, saves me, and will bless me because I do good! Despite the fact that Romans 4 adamantly declares that we do not put God into our debt.
The argument of “From eternity past, God saw me and saw that I choose him.” We know that Romans 5:8 says otherwise.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus said it distinctly:
John 15:16 (CSB) You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
We are saved for His glory. And this started with Him choosing us from a long, long time ago. Not because He predestined us to lest we believe that we are saved by election alone.
From eternity past, God saw me in my wickedness, my shame, my sin, and trespasses and just simply declared that I want him in my family. And I am willing to send my Son and my Spirit in order to get him.
Forgive the conjuncture but I always imagined it this way:
Father: I love you
Son: I love you
Spirit: I love you so much
Father: You know who else I love so much.
Son: Joseph
Spirit: I was just about to say that.
Father: Oh I see him now. Yikes, Joseph sins a lot. I mean. Look at him: he’s working in pornography while being married with a kid.
Son: I know. But I still want him with us.
Father: You know what it will take?
Son: Of course.
Father: You ready?
Son: Always. Spirit, you ready?
Spirit: exhales slowly I am ready!
Father: Let’s do this.
Son: Father, I love you.
Father: Son, I love you. Spirit, I love you.
Spirit: I know. I love you.
Father: Let’s do it.
BOOM!
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Our Response
And now you know the rest of the story.
You might ask me, “How do we know that we are chosen? How do we know we are elected or predestined.” Old, white dead guys will tell you to knock it off! Stop trying to get a hold of salvation at the wrong end. Election, much like all of salvation, belongs to God alone for He alone is mighty to save.
I recall a conversation where this lady boldly declared, “I have two sons. And no matter what they do in this life, if one is predestined and the other is not, then only the one who is predestined will go to heaven.” Again, salvation is not because of predestination.
Recall the cry of the tax collector who cried out to God, “Have mercy on me, a sinner!”, whom Christ declared justified.
Lady, if both of your kids know and love God, if both of your kids walk with Him in their days and keep his commandments not because they are super trying hard but by the power and grace of His Almighty Spirit through the broken and blood drained body of the Son of God, then my friends, I can almost assure you that both of your kids are saved to God.
God’s maxed out love is so tremendous and wonderful that sin, death, hell, Satan, nor his demons would be able to stop Him from rescuing his people. That is the very best love.
Romans 8:30b Loved & Called by God
The Introduction
And here is love:
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
So if there was nothing in us to attract, sway, or convinced God to love us and save us, what did God see in us before He saved us?
There is a war in our world to determine the value of a human’s life. Life today is no longer precious. Consider the life of a newborn or the life of a refugee. What are they to the world as a whole but lambs up for a slaughter.
But even biologically speaking, life of a human is determined by lungs breathing air, heart pumping blood. We could take it one step further that a life being lived to it’s capacity is one that is functioning on a brain or muscle capacity. And even further still, one that contributes to society.
Our God
But I am here to tell you that without the mark of the Spirit of God upon our lives as sons and daughters of God the Father, we are not fully made alive.
All humans born, or as the Bible puts it as all those born of Adam, do breath air and hearts pump blood. But to be born is to be born under the curse of our original father. That is, to be born is to be born into sin.
And there is no escaping that. It is impossible for any baby to be born without the sperm of a male to be joined to the egg of the female. It would take a miracle of God to be born of a woman alone and thus, not to inherit the curse of Adam’s first sin.
Now, because we are born into sin, we are born to die. Consider Paul in Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:1–3 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
or this in Paul's letter to Pastor Titus:
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Because of sin, we are dead. We are nothing more than spirit-less corpses toiling around until we fully expire. But the world wants to convince us all that there is actually life apart from God. And not only the world, but we ourselves as believers are strongly tempted to sin and stray outside the grace of God.
The Gospel
So how does God go about that?
First, salvation by God starts with God’s sovereign choice. But salvation certainly doesn’t end there.
All throughout the Bible, there is a certain thing that God does over and over again—constant and perfect—prior to someone experience God’s salvation. While we would never know God’s choice in all matters but we can see the effects of some of his choices. And none quicker and clearer than the powerful and effectual calling of God.
Now, we see this in Genesis 12 when God called Abram to trust and obey him. We see the calling of God upon the birth and life of Isaac. Onward with Jacob, Joseph, Noah, Moses, and on it goes.
But we only see where it was 100% effective. Does God ever call on someone and they don’t follow him? Jonah tried but was made to be convinced otherwise.
The Bible never lists those who don’t follow God upon his calling because God’s almighty word never returns void. In other words, His word does not return back to him without fulfilling what God wants to do. Consider this parable from Jesus:
Matthew 13:1–9 (CSB) On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown. Let anyone who has ears listen.”
Matthew 13:18–23 (CSB) “So listen to the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”
Christ said to himself that many will hear the word of the kingdom and yet, only a few where that word takes root, grows, and thrives. But we cannot confused the blanket preaching of the gospel to everybody to the ends of the earth (which we can joyfully participate in) along with the effectual calling of God.
For all that God intended to save, God will actually saved. So where we see when God calls individuals, God actually saves individuals. And now, we who possess His Holy Spirit now take the fullness and the power of gospel to everyone and everywhere, proclaim it forth and it is God who still saves.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (CSB) What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
So God predestines. From there, God calls. When He actually calls, He actually saves. Salvation includes and new heart that springs forth new desires for God and His Spirit dwells within us.
If God charged a prophet to a call out to the valley of dry bones and they live, how much more powerful is the calling of God on those who are far from Him.
Consider the ultimate calling of God from death unto life.
John 11:38–44 (CSB) Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 “Remove the stone,” Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42 I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” 43 After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
We know Jesus has raised those who were extremely ill to the point of being thought of as death. But Jesus quickly corrects with, “She’s just asleep” as he did with the synagogue leader's daughter. But Lazarus was someone who was dead for four days. His body was wrapped and laid in the tomb.
This is the first time we’ve seen Christ step before not just His friend’s dead body but at Death itself. Through the deepest and darkest grief and pain of losing his friend, even for a moment, Christ looked upon His Father and with tears running down his cheeks, he simply prays, “Father, I thank you that you hear me and have heard me. I knew that you always heard me but I want everybody around here to know that as well so that they believe in me.”
It is Jesus Christ—the Lord ruling over heaven, earth, and hell; the upcoming victor over Satan and his demons—faced death and with His own voice cut through Death’s power and call his friend back to himself: “Lazarus, come out!”
This was the first time Christ faced death and won. But wasn’t the last.
As Christ broken, hung, and blood drained upon that cross, through excruciating and torturous pain and grieve as he had taken all of all the sin of all believers of all time everywhere and as He was absorbing the wrath of God for us, He called upon His Father and declared, “It is finished”, and gave up His Spirit and died.
We might think that Satan, demons, hell, and especially Death absolutely believe that God was defeated and Christ was dead and by what they have seen, all of mankind would perish forever.
But no! It was when Christ died and gave up his life as ransom for many is the precise moment that Satan was crushed, demons were lorded over, hell was controlled, our sins abolished, and Death defeated once and for all.
That is a love that is simply unfathomable but that is exactly the fullest of God’s love for us.
Our Response
Believer, be in Christ today. Amen.
Romans 8:30c Loved & Justified by God
The Introduction
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
This is the steadfast chain of salvation that links us to God forever and ever.
Predestination is God's mere thoughts, affections, will, and decisions towards us. From eternity past, God thought of us specifically and was mindful of us intentionally.
Calling is the voice of God that actively makes us alive in our dead and sinful state. The calling of God is the voice of the Father bringing us to life and calling us according to His purpose.
But, to be justified by God? That is the awesome grandeur splendid of his glorious majesty.
How come? The justification of God for his people alone was not done as predestination in the secret community of God himself before time and space were created. Also, being justified by God was also not clearly observed by the intended target, namely the individual saved by God.
Justification of the people of God was done on the grandest scale that changed the course of mankind for all of eternity. Atheists disbelieve in God. Agnostics question the existence of God. But since it happened, there is no human with access to written history can ever deny the historical evidence nor significance of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ upon that cross on Golgotha as ordered by Pontius Pilate some 2000 years ago.
Our God
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Death, who laid so many claims to so many lives, would have its own existence claimed by the death of the Son of Man upon that same hill.
But why such extremes? Why did the Son of God have to perish so that others will live?
For you see, apart from God and without God we stand before God with no representation. We stand before a good and right judge who rightly judges his people from not his people.
Divide those who called upon His name to be saved and those who suppress their own knowledge in order to defy his plainly observed existence.
Acts 2:21 (CSB) Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 1:18–23 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
Bifurcate those who have the gift of the Holy Spirit from those have experience and claim the deeds the power of the Holy Spirit for themselves.
John 1:33 (CSB) I didn’t know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
Matthew 7:21–23 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
Separate those who live according to the Spirit from those who live according to the flesh.
Romans 8:1–8 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Redirect those who have entered the narrow gate of life away of the masses on the wide gate to destruction.
Matthew 7:13–14 (CSB) “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
The Gospel
Justification is often referred to as a legal term because one, it is and two, a trial actually occurred.
Matthew 27:15–23 (CSB) At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.” 20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” “Barabbas!” they answered. 22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!”
Barabbas is us and Christ is Christ! There is no coincidence nor mistake in the timing of the feast of the governor and the trial of Jesus.
And there is no mistake that the gospel of Matthew has more details about this occasion than the other gospels. This was the rhythm of the Old Testament: animals killed and drained of their blood and then grilled to a burnt crisp upon the altar. Also, the priest praying, laying on hand upon the goat and to release that scapegoat into the wilderness with all the sins of the people to be forgotten forever and ever. All of that didn't accomplish what it represented but it pointed to this one singular day. Barabbas versus Jesus.
Barabbas was guilty as sin. Yet, Christ stood in his place to appease the blood-thirsty crowds.
We are guilty as sin. Yet, Christ stood in our place to satisfy the just and holy wrath of God upon those do not believe and obey the Son of God.
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
And here is love, the cross of Christ! Psalm 85 says it best:
Psalm 85:10 (ESV) Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Our Response
In the end, we will all stand before that same Son of Man. I will stand before my Savior. But instead of Jesus being mocked, stripped naked, shamed, and in excruciating torturous pain crying out to His Father, Christ Jesus will be glorious, sitting in majesty and at the right hand of the Father.
And I imagine that one person right after the other attempting to talk their way out be damned apart from him. They will give the grandest defenses and blame everything everyone but themselves. They will even claim that they were able to exercise the power of God by prophesying or casting out demons. They will even claim all of their good deeds that they have done all of their life. And Christ will simply say, "Be gone from me, you workers of lawlessness."
I have heard some good intentioned Christians hope they have the sense of mind and spirit to claim the blood of Christ while standing before him.
But don't you see? What do you think the Triune God would appear to us? Would he dare soften and lessen his glorious state just for our sake? I think not.
We will stand before him in complete awe and shock. Likewise, what do I have before my sweet Savior who loved me and gave himself up for me?
I have not enough tears to express the depth torment of my sins that plagued me since birth. But I have no song that will be good enough to express His worthiness of my praises. I will have no joy great enough that could properly convey the loveliness of my beautiful God.
How can I defend myself?
I cannot!
I lay prostrate, my face hot with tears, as his glory is too bright and my eyes are too blurred to take it all in. I cannot imagine I will know what to do or what to say.
But then I hear the whisper of the One who has been with me from the moment my Father called me out of the darkness and despair. He tells me, "Do not be afraid".
In that same sweetest and most joyous voice, I hear His Spirit bear witness with my spirit, "Father, this is your son!"
Christ turns to His Father and My Father as if to say, "What do you say?"
The Father bellows out in a voice that shakes the heavens, "This is my son in whom I am well-pleased!"
It is then my glorious God, the Son of God who is the Son of Man, the Living Word, the Spotless Lamb, King of kings, and Lord of lords, descends from this throne comes to me, sets me upright before him, drapes his own spotless robe over me, and declares with once and for all to hear, "NO CONDEMNATION!"
I stare into the face of the loveliest face that I have ever seen in my existence and for the first time, I know that I am truly and fully known. I simply mouth these words, "Thank you, My Lord."
He looks into my eyes, and with the sweetest smile, he says to me, "Enter in the joy of your master."
It is only by the sovereign grace of our Father, through the power and might of the Holy Spirit, by the glorious life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus that we are justified to God forever.
Romans 8:30d Loved & Glorified by God
The Introduction
And here is love:
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Our God
We look up all of Romans 8:30 as a chain that begins and ends with God. To that end, predestination and glorification are things that our minds cannot fully fathom. But we rest assure that every single person predestined is called is justified is glorified.
There is no whittling or dwindling of numbers as we move along the list, Christ said:
John 10:28–31 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
The salvation and thus, glorification of the people of God are wholly dependent on the Father and the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit alone. This more than an unbreakable chain, to which there has never been a scheme or power by Satan powerful enough to break. This chain is unbreakable by the power of God and the logic of God: for no child saved by God is lost by God.
Do you believe and trust in God? Don’t give me the response, “Well, not perfectly.” But do you ever? Did you ever weep with grief at your sin before God but cried with joy that He is the God who is mighty to save?
The Gospel
“But there is often I don’t seek or chase after him. Am I saved?”
Do you know that his grace is upon grace for you? Do you know that his steadfast love never ceases? Do you know that his mercies never end because they are brand new every morning? Do you how great is his faithfulness?
My child, do you know that God is the Prodigal Father who waits patiently and eagerly for your return. Do you know that even those with the tiniest repentance and the smallest of faiths find themselves in the wide open of a sweet and glorious Savior who loved us and died for us?
It is the salvation and glorification is what I call the sheer madness of God. For I try to peer deeply into the brightness of his holiness and redemption and love and above all, glory, that surely I will go mad for it does not make sense.
For you see, it is not just that God thought of us before the foundations of the world. It is not just that he spoke and cut through the darkness of my sin and my death so that I would be fully alive. It wasn’t just that He would send His only begotten Son to live for me, die for me, raised from death for me, and then glorified for me.
No! My Lord and my God, who is the perfect maximum of everything, is completely, all-time, and never ever suppressing Himself, has the wherewithal and the audacity to glorify me with him.
Our Response
For me, who came into this world naked and helpless.
For me, just a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
For me, dead in my trespasses and sins in which I once walked, followed the course of this world, followed the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in other sons of disobedience— among whom I once lived in the passions of my flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
For me, foolish, disobedient, led astray, slave to various passions and pleasures, passing my days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating everybody else.
For me, the clear chief of all sinners, a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent, acting ignorantly in unbelief.
But for me, God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved me, even when I was dead in my trespasses, made me alive together with Christ—by grace I have been saved— and raised me up with him and seated me with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward me in Christ Jesus. For by grace I have been saved through faith. And this is not my own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that I cannot boast. For I am his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that I should walk in them.
But for me, God my Savior appeared by his goodness and loving kindness, he saved me, not because of works done by me in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on me richly through Jesus Christ my Savior, so that being justified by his grace I might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
But for me, since birth, even when I didn’t know him nor loved him nor trusted him, He has been my God!
But for me, I received mercy when the grace of my Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
But for me, this is the saying that is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
But for me, I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
But for me, God made Christ be sin who never knew sin so that in Him I might become the righteousness of God.
But for me, the Son of God became man so that I might become a son of God.
For the angels, who are perfect in splendor and majesty and stay in the full presence of God would not receive this same glory!
To this end, what can I do?
I give thanks who has given me strength; He is Christ Jesus my Lord because He judged me faithful and appointed me to his service.
I can only love the God who has done nothing but rescued me and let me be with him for all of eternity.
He is the Lord, most high above all the earth. I will exalt him far above all other gods. I can only worship the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Romans 8:31 Christ Saved Us
The Introduction
And here is love:
Romans 8:31 (CSB) What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
The love of God cannot be simply defined by the merest of affections and words that we might share with one another. Is our relationship to our spouse, children, family, coworkers, or neighbor compare to one’s relationship with God? Although our relationships should be held in the light of God’s relationship with us, it is preposterous to think that anybody we know would compare to God is perfect in all things especially when it comes to love.
Yet, if we are not careful or perhaps we just do not know any better, we can let what other people do and say including circumstances and abuse and trauma and failures dictate what love is all about. Never mind the fact that we sin and we fail and we have fallen short of what is good and right.
John so boldly stated that God is love but we have no right nor authority to redefine what love is in light of our past experiences and current situation. In order to find out what good and perfect love is, we have to go to the One who is love.
Our God
How do we do that? How can we go to God and define what love actually is. We can certainly go by what he said. But when it comes to God’s love for us, we see time and time again in the Bible that God does not use just mere words but concretely and certainly backs up those words with real action. Namely:
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Christ’s death is not only the ultimate display of love for any living creature on this earth, it is the fullest display of all the attributes of God. It the absolute proof that God will stop at nothing to save His people and bring them back to himself—even if it meant the death of His Son.
So when we see the question that Paul asks in verse 31, we must understand that question is not merely rhetorically or unspecifically generic, but instead, there is a correct and direct answer that Paul is searching.
Fair enough. Shall we look in the context of the verse in order to get the answer? My friends, I suggest to you it is mere more than just a few verses before or even the chapter 8 itself. Not to be overly dramatic, but I think at bare minimum, we have to consider every single thing Paul said in his Epistle to the church in Rome and examine and thinking through these things.
Let us walk through from Romans 1:1 to where we are at now in 8:37 for the straight facts:
- Romans 1:1-17 The Gospel of God - The gospel is the power of God in salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the Greek, and in that same gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, for it is written, “the just shall live by faith”. To that end, we are cannot be ashamed.
- Romans 1:18-32 The Depravity of Man - God’s wrath from heaven is revealed against those who suppress the truth of God and by doing so, do not believe in and obey God.
- Romans 2 Our Stony Hearts towards him and yet His Soft Heart towards us - While our hearts remained hardened towards Him and his gospel, God continues to be slow to anger, rich in kindness and patience and abounding in steadfast love in hopes that we would repent.
- Romans 3:1-8 The Law of God - Those who were born without the law will perish without the law. However, those who were born under the law had every advantage of the nature and being of God and yet perish because they do not seek nor love God.
- Romans 3:9-20 Everyone is Unrighteous - All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
- Romans 3:21-26 We are saved by grace alone
- Romans 3:27-31 There is no boosting - We have done nothing yet God has done everything to save us
- Romans 4:1-8 We do not put God into our debt
- Romans 4:9-25 We are saved by faith alone
- Romans 5:1-8 God did not save us because we were good but because we were sinners
- Romans 5:9-11 We were once enemies of God and now we are reconciled to God
- Romans 5:12-21 We were dead because of Adam and because of our own sins but we live because of Christ and what he has done in us
- Romans 6:1-14 Where law increased the sin, the grace of God abounded all the more
- Romans 6:15-23 Likewise, our old selves are dead and buried in the ground Because Christ has risen, we have risen with him through faith in him who saved us. Further still, we are no longer obedient to sin but slaves to righteousness
- Romans 7:1-6 We are released from the yoke of the law so now we have the ability to obey the law of God freely
- Romans 7:7-13 Even still, I struggle with obeying God
- Romans 7:14-24 I am wretched! Who will save me?
- Romans 7:25 Christ Jesus is his name!
- Romans 8:1 Because I am in him and He is in me, there is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION for me
- Romans 8:2 Once dead, now alive
- Romans 8:3 Cannot be saved by the law, can only be saved by Christ alone
- Romans 8:4 Christ is the righteous requirement for his people
- Romans 8:5-8 There are only two paths: One, being led by the flesh which does not possess the ability nor the will nor the power to please God which only ends in death; Two, being led by the Spirit of God which only leads to life abundantly and pleasures every more.
- Romans 8:9 We are led by the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwells within us
- Romans 8:10 If Christ is in us, we are alive because of the righteousness of God
- Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of Christ who raised Christ from the dead dwells in us, the Spirit of Christ will give life to our mortal bodies through the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us.
- Romans 8:12 We are not debtors to our old selves We are free from our old dead selves!
- Romans 8:13 But if by the strength and might of the Spirit of Christ, if you place your hands upon the neck of your sins and choke it unto death, you will live!
- Romans 8:14 If you are led by the Spirit of God, you are a son of God. Period. End of discussion.
- Romans 8:15 You are no longer a slave to fear, but you are a son of God who by the Spirit we can call upon our Father in heaven!
- Romans 8:16 You no longer have to defend yourself—the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God
- Romans 8:17 And because we are sons of God, we are heirs of God and coheirs with the Son of God who has inherited the whole world
- Romans 8:18 Here’s a promise of God: we will suffer but we will receive his glory
- Romans 8:19-21 Even all of creation, which was subjected to death because of our sin, waits and groans for all of the children of God to be finally and completely saved
- Romans 8:23 Along with creation, we also wait eagerly to be saved perfectly and completely
- Romans 8:24 For it is in the hope that is Christ Jesus that we are saved
- Romans 8:25 While we wait and hope, the Spirit of God gives us strength where we are weak; the Holy Spirit intercedes for us
- Romans 8:26-27 The Spirit of God searches hearts, knows the mind of God, and intercedes for us according to the will of God
- Romans 8:28 No matter what we go through or what happens to us, all of those things are meant for our good—for it is only for those who are called according to his purpose.
- Romans 8:29 To those whom he saw as sinners and extended grace to them, He has decided that he would mold, shape, and nurture his children to look like His Son so that his Son would be the eldest Brother
- Romans 8:30a For every single person he predestined, he called.
- Romans 8:30b For every single person he called, he justified.
- Romans 8:30c For every single person he justified, he glorified.
The Gospel
So what shall we say to all of these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
But who can actually go against us? We know for sure that it is not the people on this earth. They are not our real enemies. They are prisoners of war and by only God’s sovereign grace and mercy, they shall be set free!
Isaiah 61:1–3 (CSB) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify him.
Luke 4:16–21 (CSB) He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”
What are our actually enemy? Paul perfectly defines it:
Ephesians 6:10–12 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
So if the ONLY ones could go against us would be the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil, then let us see what the Bible says about our real enemies.
Who can go against us?
Definitely not the rulers and authorities of this age, namely, Satan and his demons:
Colossians 2:15 (CSB) He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
And
Romans 16:20 (CSB) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
What about the gates of hell:
Matthew 16:13–20 (CSB) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.” Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah.
Certainly cannot be the sin you have done:
Colossians 2:13–14 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
What about the sin you will commit?:
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And
Psalm 103:8–14 (CSB) The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love. He will not always accuse us or be angry forever. He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
Not even Hell itself nor Death itself:
Revelation 20:13–14 (CSB) Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
Our Response
If God is for us, who is against us?
Who is left standing against the children of God?
God has perfectly and completely conquered the wicked foe! When the people of God announced to the world that there is one God who reigns over heaven, earth, and hell, completely decimated the walls of Jericho.
God has perfectly and completely conquered the wicked foe! God is the David who flung the single headshot to the vicious enemy of God who is Goliath who only came to kill, steal, and destroy the children of God while we sit and trembled in fear, loathing, and doubt before our mighty Savior. And with that thundering smashing of the pebble against the skull of the Giant that struck him dead, our David pulled the sword from sin's sheath, and bared the weight of this own Cross, and sliced open the neck of our enemies once and for all.
God has perfectly and completely conquered the wicked foe! God is the raised hand of Moses who turned the tide of war in favor of the Israelites.
God has perfectly and completely conquered the wicked foe!: Christ is the heel of that crushes the head of the serpent!
God has perfectly and completely conquered the wicked foe! Christ is the dead bronze serpent mounted on a pole so that everyone who looked upon him will live!
John 3:14–15 (CSB) “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
God has perfectly and completely conquered the wicked foe!
Christ is the worthy lamb that was slained! Christ is crucified for us!
John 19:28-30 (CSB) After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, “I’m thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it up to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.
God has perfectly and completely conquered the wicked foe! Because Christ was crucified and has conquered, we are saved to Him forever.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
So, again, I ask you:
If God is for us, who is against us?
The question that Paul asked was never rhetorical.
The absolute answer is that no one can ever stand against us because of everything God has done in us.
Give thanks, saint, for here is love. God has saved you!
Thanks be to God!
Romans 8:32 Christ Is For Us
The Introduction
Romans 8:32 (CSB) He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?
I could sit here and blast you with God’s holy words about God alone provides for us, and we need nothing.
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
It is more than “I don’t want” like we are monks in Timbuktu living off the land but rather, because God adopted us, we are co-heirs with the One who has inherited all things.
Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
But is it that simple? To live in the world that we do now?
As an American, I live in the wealthiest land not only now but of all time. But are these verses right for me as my brother or sister on the poor side of town or in the run-down rural town not even fifteen miles from where I am sitting now?
And we even know that God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” 1
There is a disparaging difference between the rich and the poor or how we are finding out now, depending on which zip code you were born and lived. Never mind the fact that God alone determines what time you would be born but what socio-economical status aka your zip code you would be born into just so that you would seek God.
Now, I remembered being homeless just in the last 18 months. But I now live in the most beautiful home I have ever seen in my life. I also remember when I made minimum wage. But I also remember when one year God doubled my take-home pay the proceeded to steadily increase my salary by 20% on average for seven years straight.
And I tell you, and I promise it wasn’t because I sowed some seed into a ministry. It wasn’t because I was living righteous. It wasn’t because I was paying tithes faithfully. It was none of the pragmatical reasons that you might try to figure out right now. You might think you are asking, “How can I get that?” but if I know the American mind, what you are truly asking is, “How do I get God to do that for me?”
Our God
Let me tell you what exactly I did:
Up until last year, I was in a marriage where I was under constant abused. But unfortunately, I was too emotionally and mentally immature and ignorant to realize it until years later. When I started therapy, I was initially diagnosed as a narcissist but then again later with Bipolar Disorder before finally and correctly being diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Yet, the abuse and stress too me to such a dark place that I contemplated suicide. I even placed a chef’s knife against my jugular in front my of then wife and my two oldest children.
But God spared me. And God continued his healing upon my heart and mind.
But then when God did grant me peace, you know how I responded? I ran away from him promising to live a life of apathy and debauchery. (For those keeping score, this was just little over a year ago.)
But God ran after me and saved me again. And not only did God continue his work, but God also finished his work of healing upon my heart and mind.
So, listen to all of the prosperity “gospel” preachers who lie through their teeth and try to tell you that God will give you riches and make you healthy if you would just give money to their ministry. I pray that God would save these people who lie about who God is—otherwise they are twice the children of Satan and the judgment would be far worse if they never attempt to preach one syllable in their lives.
You listen to what they have to say, and then you examine my life when God blessed me in every way.
But you see, if we think of money or houses or jobs or things, then our thinking is so tiny and small.
And I tell you, when my thinking of His perfect provision more right-standing with Him and His word, you cannot convince me otherwise that He has blessed me more than any other person who has ever lived or will ever live.
The Gospel
For you see, my friend, He has given me His Son, Jesus Christ.
You might reject this because it is an easy answer. I assured you when the Father gave up His Son so that His children are saved to Him, that was not easy! We do know that Christ gave up his Spirit and the Father pour his wrath upon His Son—the two most God-awful things that will ever happen to a person. But Isaiah says, "It pleased God to bruised his Son."
And what's even more incredible than that? Jesus Christ wanted to give his life up for mine.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
And Christ went to the cross and hung himself there with great joy for my sake so that I would be set free in Him.
Our Response
Paul speaks all the time about being content. Paul speaks of having everything and nothing and content with just the same. But I think every one of us now has a tough time grasping that concept. Heck, bills have to be paid. Car needs to be gassed. Clothes on kids wear out. We always need food and water. And none of that comes cheap nor easy.
But I hope that we can each pray the prayer of the wealthiest man of all time:
Proverbs 30:8-9 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
and pray this for always:
In Christ, you have given me so much that heaven and earth can give me no more.2
I hope and pray that we would be content with having everything because we have Christ. And because we have Him, we shall not want.
God has provided all because He is a perfect Father who loves his children.
Matthew 5:45 2: From the Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions.
Romans 8:33 Christ Justified Us
The Introduction
Romans 8:33 (CSB) Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.
This world and its inhabitants, princes, rulers, and principalities crouching, and ready to pounce and devour your heart and soul. They are not always going to do it with outright accusations, but they might resort to that.
“Look at your life! Look at all the mistakes you’ve made! You can’t even stay married.”
“You are a failure! How many times have you switched jobs in your lifetime? Pathetic.”
“Why are you so fat? You are disgusting. No one can love you. No one is going to look at you.”
“Why are you so stupid? You can’t figure out shit!”
“Why even try?”
“Why do you think such wicked and evil thoughts? Why do you call yourself a Christian? Surely, you are not saved.”
“You are a fake and everybody knows it. God knows it.”
I have sinned! I have sinned against countless people. I’ve worked in the porn industry. I have trafficked women for pleasure and profit. Who can out sin me? NOBODY! And if the Bible is correct (bonus: it is), then all of my sins are ultimately against God himself.
Psalm 51:4 (CSB) Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.
Was Paul is the chief of sinners? Try again, chief! Paul couldn’t out sin me on his best day. I stand at the top as the chief of all sinners past and future. I have brought wickedness, destruction, chaos, hostility, evil, and trespass against God. I have railed against God. I have warred against the Almighty. I was the greatest enemy of God because I sinned and continued to sin all the while thinking I am saved by Him while displaying no fruit of that salvation.
And I had Satan, and his demons, and the world to constantly remind me of my failures and sins—those still remain against God alone.
Our God
But in his great love for me, God saw my wickedness, my depravity, my continuous evil thoughts and actions, and traitorous acts and definitely and defiantly declared, “That is my son! I want him in my family! And I will do so sacrificing my only begotten Son to make it happen!”
Let the charges pile up. Let the accusations come. I stand accused as the adulteress thrown at the feet of Jesus or the prostitute who saw the armies of the Lord approaching her home. I stand charged as Stephen before the Pharisees and an all-approving slayer of Christians. I stand condemned as a man born evil and always has done evil against the only God who is just and right and good.
But in the furious flames of charges that are poured upon me, Christ alone is my Rock of Ages that protects me as I rest on the cool side as His elect.
I have not sinned against the Devil, demons, hell, death, or even the world. I have sinned against God alone! All of my sins—past, present, and future—was a clear statement that I have hated God and his people.
The Gospel
And yet, it was God who saw me in my great evil, depravity, wickedness, and vileness and only because He loved me, He sent his Son to die for me:
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And it was God who has chosen me before the world began:
Ephesians 1:3–14 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
And it was God who stepped into creation, called my name and raised me from the dead:
Ephesians 2:1–3 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
While I was doing nothing but evil:
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Our Response
And yet:
Titus 3:4–7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
And it was God who is rich in mercy:
Ephesians 2:4–7 (CSB) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
And it was God who gave me grace and faith:
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
And it was God who overflowed his grace with the same faith and love that are in His Son, Christ Jesus, my Savior, and Lord:
1 Timothy 1:14–16 (CSB) and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.
And it was God who gave me a new heart and His Spirit so that I can walk in his statutes and obey him by loving Him and loving others:
Ezekiel 36:25–28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
I am elect and justified and saved all because what Christ has done for me:
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I have sinned against God alone but it is God alone who justifies.
Who is like our God and who compares to Him? He alone is love.
Romans 8:34 Romans 8:34 Christ Raised For Us
The Introduction
Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Let’s try to find a verse that sums up the whole Bible concerning the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and you will have your choice of a few verses:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
… just to name a few.
But if we contend that Romans chapter 8 is the summation of the gospel of Christ, then I submit that verse 34 is the summation of the chapter itself.
In verse 33, we gave the possibilities of the list of people who could charge you with one wrongdoing or another. But using the theology and logical thought, we have concluded that no one could bring any charge against the chosen of the Justifier.
In passionate rhetoric, Paul immediately asks one question that you might ask and quickly answers it only to follow up with another pertinent question you might ask and directly refutes it.
You see, in this particular case, when you are reading, unless the author instructs the reader to take a moment to think through what they have written, the author expects the reader to continue reading.
But in this case, the questions asked and the answers given are given in such a way to where the person is reading, equipped and filled with any doubts or disbeliefs, would have no time to build a case against the gospel of God.
“But the author does not know what I have done? How can he be so sure that I am not subject to condemnation?” While it might be true that the author does not know you or I and the time he when wrote this a little over 1930 years ago, Saint Paul does know of all the saints of the past because of the Old Testament that was available at that time. And if we have read our Bibles, we can see that no one born of man was good except God alone.
Let us run down the list of the believers before us, shall we?
Noah- Built the ark to be sure but not only was he wicked and continuously had evil thoughts in his heart , you should take the time now and read his mess in Genesis 9. (For the life of me, I cannot figure out we don’t get to hear this side of Noah in church.)
Abraham- Ah yes, the father of our faith, who not once but twice pimped his wife out for fear of losing his own life.
Isaac- The sins of the father is in full effect here.
Jacob- What hasn’t he done? Whose name means “Trickster,” he has stolen his brother’s birthright through lies, dishonor, and scheming against his father.
Joseph- The folly of his pride was his downfall (perhaps don’t tell your brothers that they will worship you someday) but by the sovereign grace of God, it was not his ultimate demise.
Moses- Circumcise every male as a sign of the work of God upon our hearts? Check. Except for Moses forgot that little part of the covenant and consequently, God comes to kill him.
And that’s just the ancient patriarchs of our faith!
David- This one is a keeper. Whom God called “a man after my own heart,” who cheated on his wife, got the girl pregnant, and then murdered her husband to cover it up. Hence, we get the 51st Psalm out of it.
Our God
And yet, look at what Paul says about all the sins of the Old Testament saints:
Romans 3:21–26 (CSB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
The old saints were just as jacked up as any sinner who ever lived, but they were not given a free pass. What saved the saints of old is the same thing that saved the saints of the new (including you and me) and that is the cross of Jesus Christ.
The old saints never knew Jesus Christ. They didn’t even know his name. But they knew the explicit promises of God proclaimed by God and his prophets that everything is jacked up, but God will make it right by sending Someone to come and save them.
What the Old Testament saints didn’t know (except John the Baptizer) is that Someone was going to be God himself, becoming fully man and staying fully God, in Jesus Christ His Son.
So, because of Jesus Christ, who lived, died, buried, and rose again to save his people from their sins, His people will face NO CONDEMNATION because of God who loves us.
The Gospel
First, he is at the right hand of the Father. That might not mean much to you or me. My kids sit at my right hand all the time when we are watching cartoons. But to God, it is everything:
Daniel 7:9–14 (CSB) “As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
And to naysayers who would say, “Nah, I don’t care how obvious the Son of Man reference is. That is not Jesus Christ.” Except, Paul writes:
Ephesians 1:15–23 (CSB) This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
So Christ is ruling and reigning over all creation. Cool, cool, cool. Got it.
But secondly, Christ is interceding for us.
Christ is praying for us. Not the world. Not everybody. But praying and interceding, along with the Spirit , for the people who he has definitely and perfectly saved once and for all.
Do you think your King and your God and your Lord who is Almighty and powerful and sovereign and gracious and kind and giving and generous and tender and loving knows you to the core of your being and your heart? Do you think that Christ knows all your wicked thoughts and sins and yet, loves you and saves you?
He does because He is God.
And He never stops thinking about you because He loves you.
Our Response
Do you think your King and your God and your Lord who is Almighty and powerful and sovereign and gracious and kind and giving and generous and tender and loving knows you to the core of your being and your heart? Do you think that Christ knows all your wicked thoughts and sins and yet, loves you and saves you?
He does because He is God.
And He never stops thinking about you because He loves you.
Romans 8:35 Christ Defined Us
The Introduction
Romans 8:35 (CSB) Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
I am not here to try to define for you what each of these circumstances means. I am 43 years old who lives in the Bible Belt of the United States and have been a believer for a quarter of my life. Because of God’s goodness and sovereignty, He determined when I lived and where I lived1. So my life experiences and the full range of possible circumstances are so different compared to someone living in China or Sudan or someone who had lived 50 years ago or even 50,000 years ago that I cannot possibly sit here and define what each of these things means because they might say something different to you.
And you know what, the author Paul didn’t get bogged down in those definitions either. The Apostle Paul, who went from arresting and executing Christians because they were Christians to becoming a man being called by God to be an apostle to the Gentiles (non-Jewish) and oh yes, write a few books for the Bible. But because of his faith and his fervency for doing what the Lord Jesus Christ told him (and you and me) to do, Paul was stoned (and left for dead), arrested, imprisoned, shipwrecked (consequently bitten by a snake), under house arrest and finally beheaded at the execution of the Roman government.
So tribulation and distress and persecution and famine and nakedness and danger and sword look very different to him than it does to you or me. And yet just the same as Paul, we are all commissioned by Christ to go and proclaim the gospel to the end of the earth. And because we Christians do believe in God and trust in God, and proclaim His gospel, we might experience tribulation and distress—not exactly like him for most of us but distress just the same.
But I can tell you one thing: nothing of those things matter—not in the sheer comparison of the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our God
Now, the Lord’s love is strong and powerful and mighty and tender and never-ending and continuously gracious and kind and slow to anger. But we might hear these words, and because of the past hurt and trauma and broken hearts, we tend to think maybe that the Lord’s love is strong, but it is not infinitely strong. Each of us can be fooled into thinking that while the Lord’s love is tender, he might not care about what I went through because I have been hurt too bad and he didn’t stop it from happening. We might hear the Lord’s love is never-ending but why is it when I go my own way and do my own thing, God seems to be so far away from me. Or even better yet, when I did everything that God asked me to do, bad stuff keeps happening to me.
I am here to advise and encourage you saints to live by faith in the Son of God who loved us, gave up his life for us, and more importantly, saved by God the Father who does not lose his children. I don’t care what happens, God the Perfect Father in heaven is not in the business of losing his kids.
John 10:25–30 (CSB) “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
The Gospel
There are two distinctions: the unbeliever and the believer. The unbeliever does not believe because they do not follow Christ. “Well,” you might say, “if they could believe later on, would they then belong to Him?” Paul goes on to say in Romans 10:
Romans 10:8–17 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Hence, the importance of proclaiming the gospel so that they might believe and confess.
But ah, the believer who does confess Jesus Christ is Lord and lives accordingly? That person belongs to Christ, and God marked by the seal of the Holy Spirit forever and ever.
You might say, “What about the ones who said the sinner’s prayer when they were younger and went to church all of their lives but yet, fell away from the faith.” No matter how the world so badly wants to make all the religions the same, we cannot make the same mistake of lumping Christianity in with Judaism or Islam or Buddhism. You can be a non-practicing Jew. You can be a non-practicing Muslim or Buddhist. But according to the Biblical tenants of the Christian faith, there is no such thing as a non-practicing Christian. You cannot. The two words “non-practicing” and “Christian” are contradictory of terms. You either or. Or you are not. There is no in-between. There is no neutral ground when it comes to proclaiming Christ as your own.
Let me contend one possibility: is it possible that even though they experienced God but their hearts was not changed by God. It happened to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel had the power of God to not only know what Nebuchadnezzar's dream but actually interpret it. Nebuchadnezzar has a falling out acknowledging logically who God is but then immediately and blasphemously erects a golden statue to be worshipped.2 “But I saw them speak in tongues and give prophecies and cast out demons.” The author of Hebrews states that one can taste the power of the Holy Spirit and yet fall away from God.3 We know this to be true because Christ himself declared those who would defend themselves by the works they did in his name as “workers of lawlessness” and they would not even enter the kingdom of God.
And I cannot begin to judge the heart for only God can see and judge the heart.
Our Response
But those of you are reading these words: you see your heart, at least in part. You would know your thoughts if you took a moment to be completely honest with yourself if you are not honest with anybody else.
What if you and I just took one minute to dwell and thought through would my heart looked and what kind of thoughts went through my head if there were some technology that put it on display to the world. That's a frightening concept, isn’t it? And some of you, upon thinking this, stop examining your heart and mind because it was too scary—there was too much wickedness and pain and torment.
God has this power of seeing our hearts4. And God is real. And God continually sees your heart and mind. He cannot stop knowing your heart, and he cannot stop paying attention to your heart. God only actively knows our hearts, not passively. To do otherwise makes Him not God because He is all-knowing. He is omniscient.
What’s your heart reaction? What’s your feeling about what I just said?
There will be some who disbelieve: you might wall up, go invulnerable, and try to shield your heart away from these hard truths. You might have contempt for these words here and give a thousand excuses trying in a feeble attempt to suppress your knowledge of the just and holy God—just as the Bible said you would do4. Yet, there is a cure for your hard heart, and it is not doing better, or start going to church or start reading the Bible or not cheat on your taxes or not scream at your spouse. It is putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Trusting Him and trusting his words which are the Bible5.
There will be some who do believe but who might have doubt about God: You might say things “I believe in God, but some of the things I read are hard to believe.” My friend, you might be in good company. Let us look at what Peter says about the writings of Paul in 2 Peter 3:
2 Peter 3:14–18 (CSB) Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace. Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures. Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
Peter even says that Scripture is hard to understand, so the leader of the Apostles of Christ gets what you are saying. But the solution is not to dismiss the word of God and not ever to engage with the Scriptures again nor should we "make it up" as we go along but rather do as the Apostle Peter instructs us, “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” How do we do that? Start by praying to God because when you believed, God the Father has given you the Holy Spirit, who is God himself, of whom Jesus said, “will bring to remembrance of everything I have said.”6 and of whom Paul said, “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”7
And there are some of you who feel your faith is so little. You even know the words of Jesus when he keeps telling his disciples “Oh, ye of little faith.” But do you not know that even the saints with the tiniest faiths can move a mountain, see people healed and saved and made whole. For you see, it is not size nor depth nor quantity of the faith that you possess but rather the object of your faith that is Christ Jesus, who alone is mighty to save. Nineteenth-century Baptist pastor, Charles Spurgeon once said:
The gulf between the unbeliever and the ones with the smallest faith is abysmally infinite. However, there is no gap between the ones with the smallest faith and the arms and the heart of the loving Savior.
Charles Spurgeon
See how Christ did not correct nor rebuked the father who cried out, “I believe! Help my unbelief!”. Christ only responded in love and healed his son.8
Now, to all the children of God--to those with any amount of faith will do: God has captured your hearts! The Triune God-—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—now dwells in you. Because of this, you are now able to walk in his statutes and obey his commands. Now, because of everything Christ has done from the sovereign grace of the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit, you get to go out and proclaim the amazingly good news that there is the God who loves mightily and is the only ones to save you from your sins and torment. Christians, we get to live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself up for us.
And it is to you, the saints living right now who Jesus adamantly proclaims that you are greater than John the Baptist9 because you believe and know these things:
One, you know that you were born a sinner and your sins abound.
Two, you trust in the work of Jesus upon that cross and His resurrection from the grave.
Three, because you trust Christ, your sins are forgiven. Why? His grace abounds all the more.
Listen here: and God didn’t lose any of the saints in the Bible. He did not lose any of this kids. And you are the not the exception no matter how much suffering we experience. God promises we will suffer for his namesake, but that suffering will not compare to the glory that will be revealed to us. Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword can do its worst. My friends, during our worst times, we might fall to the temptation of giving up or even deny Christ. Perhaps even three times:
John 18:15–18 (CSB) Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” “I am not,” he said. Now the servants and the officials had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.
John 18:25–27 (CSB) Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Peter denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.
To deny Christ is a sin. Christ said it himself:
Matthew 10:32–33 (CSB) “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.
How do we reconcile this?
There are some who give up once and fall away until their last breath. It can be confirmed then that they only tasted the power of the Holy Spirit as a religious or emotional conversion and nothing more.10
Alongside of all the testimonies of the martyrs of our faith, we must also read the accounts of those Christians who, under the heaviest persecution, buckled, gave in, denied Christ to save their lives or the life of someone they love. But what the world would count as a failure, their hearts grieved, kept their faith in God and turn back to the community they once loved.
We reconcile this by Christ alone. Peter denies Christ three times. How does Christ respond? By confirming Peter three times:
John 21:15–19 (CSB) When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”
Remember when I talked about how tribulation and distress and persecution might look different to one Christian and another? A teenage girl questions Peter and he buckled like a belt to save his own skin.
Yet, Christ is more gracious than our own lack of faith. Christ is more love then when we cannot see past our own circumstances. Christ is more powerful than our weakest moments.
There was a very recent time in my own life that I suffered abuse at the hands of someone claimed to love me. And when that person was no longer in my life, instead of praising God for peace, I instead turned to my own ways and purposefully and intentionally went headlong into sin--giving up God, community, calling and my life. How did God respond? He sent three people after me to speak the truth of God’s amazing love. And with each conversation, I began to once again wholly trust God, repent of all of my sins, and started immediately becoming obedient to His voice. Do you think that was me? No! That is Christ in me! That is the Holy Spirit leading and filling me. That is the sovereign grace of the Father at work in me.
Listen to what I just said: I wanted to turn away from God. It was like God gave me six weeks, looked at his watch, and said, "Okay, you're coming back home" and snatched my butt back into his presence where I belong.
If you think for one moment that it would be far more loving of God to allow me to bury myself into the depths of sin, then repent of your wrong thinking. That is not love and that is not who God is for God is love.
Instead, know that God sees the heart and welcomes only those who come humbly and lowly back to him. We know this because God is love.
Acts 17:24-28 2: Daniel 2-3 3: Hebrews 6:4-6 4: Romans 8:26-27 5: Romans 1:18-23 6: John 14:25-26 7: 1 Corinthians 2:12 8: Mark 9:24-25 9: Matthew 11:11 10: Hebrews 6:4-6
Romans 8:36 Christ Died For Us
The Introduction
Romans 8:36 (CSB) As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
So what if a little “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”1 comes our way? God promises suffering for his saints. There is no way around it.
Just in case you are at odds with the rest of the authors of the Bible and only want the “red letter edition”, let us consider the words of Christ himself:
Matthew 10:34–39 (CSB) Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.
And.
Matthew 12:46–50 (CSB) While he was still speaking with the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to the one who was speaking to him, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Our God
Right away, you know that choosing Christ as your God and Savior and Lord might put you at odds with your own flesh and blood. I have had normal visitation with my oldest son since his mother and I separated and divorced when he was about two years old. On that day, he was 16 years old. And as much as I have tried to get him into church and share as much as I can with him about the gospel of Jesus Christ, he calls Christianity “a mythology”. My faith puts me at odds with my son who says it is impossible to know if there is life after death. This is the same young man who passionately wants to be in control of his own destiny (until death), make choices for himself, accepts the rewards and consequences of his own actions but for the life of him, cannot figure out why he has always felt like he is in shackles.
And that is just one example in my own life.
Mark 10:23–31 (CSB) Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.” Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and eternal life in the age to come. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
We could forsake everything like Peter and the world will still persecute us.
And that is a sign of the times we live in:
Luke 21:7–19 (CSB)
7 “Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”8 Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.
9 When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”
10 Then he told them, “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11 There will be violent earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.
12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.
13 This will give you an opportunity to bear witness.
14 Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time,
15 for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
16 You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you.
17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name,
18 but not a hair of your head will be lost.
19 By your endurance, gain your lives.
Jesus Christ even promised the “laying on of hands”. My Charismatic friends, that is not the good kind but the opposite of good-“bar fight with a bunch of drunk dudes at 2am in the morning” kind of laying of hands.
John 15:18–25 (CSB) “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they don’t know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. The one who hates me also hates my Father. If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.
The Gospel authors Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all testify that Christ said these words.
Tribulation, grievous trouble, severe trials, and suffering, is coming for those who love, believe, trust and follow Christ.
Distress, great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction and trouble is coming for those who love, believe, trust and follow Christ.
Persecution, judgment, and execution based on one’s faith, is coming for those who love, believe, trust and follow Christ.
Famine, the loss of basic necessities in order to live, is coming for those who love, believe, trust and follow Christ.
Nakedness, that is, the loss of basic material possessions, is coming for those who love, believe, trust and follow Christ.
Sword, terrible violence, is coming for those who love, believe, trust and follow Christ.
The Gospel
And it is so easy to be like David in Psalm 44: on the one hand, only God saves but then immediately yells to God, “you have made us sheep to be slaughtered... Wake up, Lord! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don’t reject us forever!”
Because we have all let our own circumstances in life determine our faith in God or even more so than that, let the persecutions and the trials and sufferings of this present time dictate just how much love God has for his children. Remember when Paul said:
Romans 8:18 (CSB) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
We can take a loss of a job, a loss of a spouse, a loss of marriage or family, a significant drop in income—whatever is your idol—and let that shape your views on God.
Or even one step further: I was the good kid growing up and I did all the right things. So why is my life a total mess right now? God, why didn’t you give me what I deserve? First, let us be careful that we only live a certain way in order to try to put God into our debt because Romans 4 says that is not going to happen. Second, we know that the world is completely broken since sin entered into it all the way back to Genesis 3.
More so than that: God gave us everything. Why do I know that? Because God gave us Christ Jesus, who:
Isaiah 53:7 (CSB) He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.
God gave us Christ to not only live for us and die for us but ascended to the cross in perfect obedience and joy.
Our Response
Persecution? Trials? Suffering? All of this is to be expected.
But we are not lambs destined to be slaughtered, for Christ is the lamb that was slain.
And because Christ suffered and will receive the reward for His suffering, we are so much more than sheep to be slaughtered.
His persecution and death and burial rescued us! His work saved his people from their sins. We are certain to face persecution! We are going to suffer because we are at odds with the world because the world hates us for no reason. But we are still in this world. And God has commanded each us to love one another. Love your neighbor. Do good to one another.
Can we do it perfectly? No. We can't. We are not perfect. We are still in need of sanctification because we are still being conformed to the image of the Son. But we are saved. We are completely saved. We are saved by God to worship and love him and to love others.
Rest in that, beloved. Rest and dwell in that. Suffering is certain. Persecution is near. But the Triune God has made his home in you. Rest in him today.
Romans 8:35
Romans 8:37 Christ Loves Us
The Text
Romans 8:37 (CSB) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
All of the questions, pushbacks, and opposition that Paul was facing with teaching this one particular truth of God as a through but simple exposition of Christ’s own words when He said:
John 10:28–30 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Now you would think that people, especially devout Christians, would welcome this bold and declarative statement of our own Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with great affection upon our hearts and great peace for our souls. Sad to say, there are many Christians today who would vehemently contend that, yes, it is certainly possible for one person to lose their salvation.
Why would one teach such a thing when the whole word of God teaches the opposite of that. When I read the Bible, I don’t see that at all. In fact, in the face of great tribulation, distress or persecution, I see Christians who hold fast to Christ. I read about the martyrs of our faith, who have murdered for refusing to proclaim anyone else but Christ is Lord and that all started with the Apostles themselves who all (but John) died horrific deaths at the cost of the gospel.
The world calls that insanity or delusional.
Christians know this not as a truth that can be selected from a multiple choice test of truths but rather absolute truth. It is not a mere “what is true for you is only true for you” but rather Jesus Christ, who lived, died, rose again, and ascended to heaven, is in fact ruling and reigning over all of creation demand everyone and everything to repent from their sin and put all of their trust in Him alone.
Now, some of you who know Christian history know for every martyr burned at the stake, many did deny Jesus to save their own lives. What about them? Did you know that one of the discussions in the church were whether or not to allow these people back into the fellowship of believers? Now, what each individual church decided, I do not know. However, just as Christ said:
Luke 12:8–9 (CSB) “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
and further prophecies that Peter himself would not just deny Christ once but three times1, but it was the same Christ in John 21 who called and confirmed Peter not once but three times.
So what about now? We have so many people who grew up in churches who then decide to turn away and live their lives as their own.
And we would say, “I have seen them move in the power of the Spirit. How can they be not saved before?” To which I would state that the author of Hebrews already addressed this:
Hebrews 6:4–6 (CSB) For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.
to explain what Christ said:
Matthew 7:21–23 (CSB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
I say this never to say “once saved always saved.” I am not even going to try to explain it away by giving the excuse of “perhaps they were not saved, to begin with” as though I had the God-alone power that searches and knows the hearts and minds of every person in the world because I do not.
I would say with my own testimony that I know this to be true.
I was saved by God back in 2007. It was in a realization of God’s love he had for every person I have ever known including my mother who abandoned me, my father who sexually abused me, and my stepmother who aided in that abuse all up to and including this young woman I watch in a porn video not 15 minutes before God saved me. God at that moment gave me a new heart and his Spirit and among so many things, freed me from a crippling addiction to pornography.
But not ten years later, after going through additional emotional abuse that included manipulation, coercion, co-dependency, and attempts to control, I was prepared to spend the rest of my life as a lukewarm Christian. That is, doing what I want and barely participating in his work. Even when God had granted me sweet peace from this abuse, I simply was content to walk away and live the rest of my life not pursuing and even desiring God.
But you see, God is my great Father. And being that He is our Father, He alone is Perfect. The logical conclusion is that the perfect Father in heaven does not lose his kids. In that same vein, God sent three saints (I call them ‘prophets’) to come after my soul. I call them ‘prophets’ because God the Father send them out with the Holy Spirit within them called out three things in me. One, God has healed your mind, heart, and soul. Two, if you go in the direction you are going, you will head into despair. And three, God has called you to stay where you are at and continue the good work of healing and restoration that Christ has started in you.
When I heard my dear lovely friends’ sweet words contending for my soul, I repented. I repented of my sin, lust, foolishness, and destructive behavior and yet once again, I turned to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.
Now, I don’t necessarily need to hear any other testimonies and stories to know that all of us Christians are weak. Weak in faith, weak in the spirit, and weak in our flesh. We even sing this in little children’s song, to which I correctly sing, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, we are weak, but he is strong.”
But if that is being the case, the fact that we are weak, how on earth does Paul call us not only ‘conquerors’ but 'more than conquerors.’ To add even further insult to injury, the term that Paul uses here ‘more than,’ he uses one other time in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 which some translations use the phrase “beyond all comparison” or if you grew up with the King James Version, those translators use the phrase, “far more and exceeding.” Yes, the Apostle Paul has the audacity to call us, little weak children, "far more and exceeding conquerors"! How can this be?
My friends, we do not wage war against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.2 This is not a battlefield that you or I have ever seen in wartime nor even in history books nor video games. It is a war that God started not with a war-horn blasting through the sky but with a simple righteous declaration of redemption and restoration:
Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
And when the saints of God, after going 400 years without hearing a prophet of God, heard the voice of John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness, “Make the straight the way of the Lord!”
And then the final battle cry that is the gospel of Jesus Christ, who commanded and marched toward the final decisive battle, to the place, Golgotha, the place of skulls, where the fate of the world rested on the outcome.
Jesus makes his intentions well-known:
Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Jesus Christ, the Commander of the Most High, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, begins his perfect, unbeatable, unstoppable, conquering juggernaut not towards overthrowing some pitiful Greco-Roman empire but rather to His cross where he died for each of those whom he predestined, called, justified and glorified.
His path to the cross was paved with the mounds of defeated demons to his left and his right. It was at the foot of the cross where Satan was removed from power once and for all. More than that, it was at the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea where our sins were buried and Death itself received the fatal death-wound.
Jesus Christ is the Almighty Conquerer who loved us.
Jesus Christ did all of that but then audaciously declared that every one of his followers who would have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And therefore, we would go on to do greater works than the works of the Almighty Conqueror.
It is not because we are strong that makes us more than conquerors.
It is only because of God sovereignly and graciously calls us by the power of the Holy Spirit through the bloodshed body of Jesus Christ our Lord that we behold the title, “Far more and exceeding conquerors through Christ who loved us!”
Amen!
John 13:38; 18:25-27 2:Ephesians 6:12
Romans 8:38-39 NO SEPARATION!
The Introduction
Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In these days, we have Christians contending that their faith would be unshaken if the resurrection never took place. That argument is nothing new. For the orthodox Christian, this is not our first rodeo. Paul was already dealing with this argument thirty years after Jesus ascended to glory:
1 Corinthians 15:12–14 (CSB) Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith.
Many people today and throughout history love to believe in the love of God, abide in the love of God and attempt to the best of their ability to live by the love of God. But they do that will no mindset or thought about Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
If you receive the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, then there are implications. Namely, I am a sinner in need of a great Savior.
But if I change or disbelieve in sin, sin’s effects upon me and my life and the results of separation apart from God forever—if I think sin is not that big of a deal— then the only thing I have to contend for is just the love of God apart from Jesus Christ our Lord.
What I hope that you, the reader, realize is that there is no love of God apart from Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sure, God has grace for the good and the evil, the just and the unjust.1
That is the everyday grace of God. The common grace of God that he gives all of mankind. His common grace cannot be confused with his saving grace. Your life is good? So good. Don't confused that with you are good with God.
This is what must happen for us to be saved by God:
John 3:12–21 (CSB) If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”
In writing this particular Gospel, the Apostle John never intended for verses, let alone for singular statements to be set apart and taken out of context. (Actually, no author, Biblical or otherwise, wants that.) But verse 16 is known throughout all the land. By itself, we can deduce that God did love the entire world and out of that love he gave his only begotten Son.
Here is the rub: the world expects that that they will be saved because God love them so much by given them His Son. I am not saying they are explicitly thinking this. But they are living under a presumption of the love of God that saves everybody. But we can clearly see in this passage that there is a distinction between those who do not believe and those who believe.
John goes on to say:
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
This verse (and with the rest of the Bible) flies in the face of what the world thinks is the love of God.
The love of God for you has to be through Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior in order for you to be saved to God. Apart from Jesus, you then remain under the wrath of God.
To the Christian, the 8th chapter of Romans is a full-blown out description of Christ as "the path of life, the fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore"2. This is a book that cries out, “See what God has done! Come to Him, one who gives great love and sweet rest for your tiresome soul!”
Let me contend to you that God has spelled out precisely what His love is all about—that is, it was all about Jesus Christ his Son.
The birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ is the love of God manifested to us all. Believe in him, trust in him, and obey him and you will have eternal life.
But if I am honest with myself, my belief, trust, and love for God waivers. I get distracted. I have let the world wear me down. Here’s a frightening thought: what if God’s love was solely based on my own love for Him?
That thought terrifies me because I can do nothing perfect. Ever.
But by the sheer grace of God, I do not have to be.
Let me fall away seven million times, but I am counted righteous unto him and get up seven millionth and one more.
Let all of life wear me down. And then watch the Father come running after me to rescue me yet again that I might live to Him.
Let death come knocking on my door.
But yet, Death is a defeated foe because my Savior championed over Death. I will step on Death’s prostrated neck and spring forth to glory and perfect relationship with God.
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation In Christ. Banner of Truth. 385.
Let angels, rulers, and powers come at me! For my Christ Jesus is the Commander of the Most High and the Grand Champion and Conqueror over Satan, demons, sin, hell, and death. He is my shield, my sword, strong tower and mighty fortress. I shall not be moved!
Let circumstances fall where they may. There is nothing that I have done or will ever do that would reconstruct the eternal chasm between God and myself. Why? Jesus Christ fills the void and is the measure and distant between the eternal God and me.
My God ascends to glory far above and away from my sins. Yet, despite the dark depths of my sin and depravity, my Christ Jesus went deeper still to eradicated my sins once and for all.
Let the cosmos fall. Let this planet be torn asunder. Let the unthinkable happen. My Lord is Lord above all and in his hand are power and might over all.
For here is love:
>Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
And here is love:
>Deuteronomy 7:6–8 (CSB) For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be his own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. “The LORD had his heart set on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors, he brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
And here is love:
>Psalm 103:15–18 (CSB) As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known. But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
And here is love:
>Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
And here is love:
>Ezekiel 36:25–28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
And here is love:
>Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
And here is love:
>Romans 9:25–26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
And here is love:
>Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
And...
>1 John 4:10 (ESV) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
And here is love:
>Romans 8:1 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,
And here is love:
>Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other no created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing, absolutely nothing will separate me from God’s love for me that only comes through Jesus Christ my precious Lord and Savior. Amen.
Matthew 5:45 2: Psalm 16:11
Romans 8 The Conclusion: Here is Love
Here is Love
For here is love: Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
And here is love: Deuteronomy 7:6-8 “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
And here is love: Psalm 103:15-18 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
And here is love: Lamentations 3:22–23 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
And here is love: Ezekiel 36:22-28 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
And here is love: Matthew 1:21 She shall bare a son and you shall call his name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins
And here is love: John 1:16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
And here is love: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
And here is love: Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And here is love: 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
And here is love: Romans 9:25-26 … Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’
And here is love: Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
And here is love: Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
And here is love: Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And, 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The world and Satan and his demons are so desperate to try to get you to believe something wholly incomplete about love.
Love is a feeling.
Love is a verb.
Love is an emotion.
Love looks like this.
But in the times we live today, love is being redefined as this: "What the Bible says is a sin is not a sin because the God of love would never do that."
And yet, what the Bible says: if you believe and trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then God has taken all of your sin, wickedness, and trespass and placed them on Jesus Christ to be crucified and buried forever.
My friends, we do not have to attempt to cherry-pick our sins and take them back from the cross. If I trust in Christ, then my sins do not belong to me. They belong to Him. And since our sins are buried with him (Romans 6), they stay dead. Sin is death, not life. Our sins stay dead because sin is not holy like our God.
Only if you turn to, believe, and trust in the Holy One of God who alone has the words of eternal life.
What the world fails to know and what Satan wants to keep from you: God loved us so much that he was willing to do whatever it took to bring His people back to himself.
And if that meant God's only begotten Son, would have to die an excruciating death upon that cross on that hill of skulls, then he would please to send His Son, place our sins upon him and crush him for those whom he thought, seen, knew and loved infinitely before the foundations of the world were in place.
Likewise, Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is God, would gladly be obedient to His Father with the joy that was set before him, nailed Himself to that tree all for the sake of atoning, bearing punishment for, cleansing, removing, and saving His people from their sins.
And again, Christ could only live as we should have lived, died the death we should have died, and be resurrected as we cannot, and ascended to the right hand of His Father as only he can only by the power of the Holy Spirit, who, the only God that searches everyone and violently removes the hearts of stone and replaces it with God's own soft heart of love. The Spirit himself gives Himself, God's saving grace, everyday mercies, steadfast love to His people. And in turn, the Spirit is only one worthy enough to seal us forever and bear witness that we are the children of God.
Do not listen to Satan, demons, and the world when they try to change what God has said. Moreso, your thoughts, anxieties, and idols have no power to save you.
God has shown to the world and has made it perfectly plain: God is love.
Trust Him right now and believe. Be saved to him today. Don't waste a second of your life doing otherwise.
Romans 9:1-13 For His Mercies Will Never Come to An End
The Text
Romans 9:1–13 (CSB)
1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit—2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.
4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.
5 The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen.
6 Now it is not as though the word of God has failed, because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7 Neither is it the case that all of Abraham’s children are his descendants. On the contrary, your offspring will be traced through Isaac.
8 That is, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but the children of the promise are considered to be the offspring.
9 For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.
10 And not only that, but Rebekah conceived children through one man, our father Isaac.
11 For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—
12 not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger.
13 As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
The Introduction
So we are now starting a new book, entitled 2nd Romans, because clearly Romans chapters 1 through 8 is distinctive and apart from Romans 9, 10 and 11...
As Richard Hayden once so eloquently stated in the wonderful and brilliant movie, Tommy Boy:
I hope you are picking up on my sarcasm because I am laying on pretty thick.
As crazy as it might sound to split up the Romans epistle, there are many scholars and theologians stating the case for it. And if you are not in academic circles, then just ask any Evangelical pastors. When you ask them about Romans 9 and what does it mean, nine times out of ten, they are going to respond as though Romans is split between 8 and 9 with statements such as, "Well, that part is just for Israel," and "that is not intended for us."
I know that they mean well but parts of the Bible not for intended for the church? Really?
Just I made the case for Romans 7:25 through Romans 8 should be read as though you must erase the large numeral 8 out of your Bible in order to get the context for all of Romans 8, so you must do the same with the numeral 9 when going from 8:38-39 into Romans 9:1 1
Romans 8:38–9:3 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.
Now we have Romans 9 in proper context, how do you read it now? How do you begin to understand now?
But more importantly, let me address this: some people want to contend for the author's intent. How about for starters, Paul did not bifurcate it. He didn't write Romans in two parts and therefore, didn't intend his epistle to be read into two parts. One letter was sent to the church in Rome and the congregations in Rome sat under that reading--under that preaching of the word of God.
Romans 9. Romans 10. Romans 11 are perfectly where they should be. Because God put those there.
1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit—
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.
By his precious love: believe on the Lord Jesus now
Usually, when sermons are preached, the preacher will present the gospel at the end in hopes that that will be the last thing you hear and it will sink deeper.
Today, Paul lays out the assurance of salvation for the people of God and then he pleads:
My own flesh and blood DO NOT BELIEVE IN CHRIST! If I could do anything to save them unto God I would in a moment--even in my life.
Every one here has loved ones, people who raised you, people you were raised with, friends, families, co-workers, neighbors that you love affectionately and tenderly and yet, you know they are so far.
Nothing in the world can separate us from the love of Christ. Once you are saved you are captured by Christ. The Almighty God of the Universe does not lose his kids and Christ does not lose his siblings. Go to any corner of the earth, his earth is filled with his glory. Go to make your bed in hell, he is there. Go to the heights of heaven and he is there. But my beloved, look inside yourself and remember your confession and your baptism and your life and the Triune God dwells there in you.
I have tried to run. The Holy Spirit is too quick, too powerful, and too patient for me to escape.
So is for the people of God who were saved before the foundation of the world. No one is outside the saving grace of God.
You believe now, trust him now, repent now, you have God now. That is the only guarantee I got. Turn to God, ask for God, God will give himself to you. It's the only set guarantee because he sent his Son to save his people 2000 years ago. The salvation is done. Come to him now.
Our God
It is this desperate plea to you is the desperate plea that cut Paul to the bone. He so wish that the Israelites, those who were physically born of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, there fathers, would just to turn to Christ. For:
4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.
5 The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen.
6 Now it is not as though the word of God has failed, because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
By his precious love: you were not born into salvation
But we know from the Bible, just because you were born into a particular people group or in a certain nation or a certain time, does not make you autosaved. And let me be super direct: just because you were born in America and went to church all of your life does not make you saved.
John 1:11–13 (CSB) He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
You went to church all of your life? Good. You need Christ.
You went to bible college? Seminary? Awesome. You need Christ.
You are a pastor, a preacher, an evangelist, a teacher? Beautiful. You need Christ!
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
So is the church going people need Christ, the direct bloodline of Abraham, shared with Christ himself, need the blood of Christ.
7 Neither is it the case that all of Abraham’s children are his descendants. On the contrary, your offspring will be traced through Isaac.
8 That is, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but the children of the promise are considered to be the offspring.
We do not perish: Jesus is the Christ
James, the stepbrother of Christ, flesh and blood, didn't understand what Jesus was doing. He was with his family and trying to pull Jesus out of his ministry because Jesus was saying crazy things like, "Your sins are forgiven--go and sin no more."
But Christ lived and died and resurrect. James believed. So much so, we went on to evangelize, to pen an epistle that belongs in the New Testament, and lived unto God until the Pharisees threw him off the roof, and then proceeded to be club and stone James to death. All because James never stopped proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ.
Those who beat and kill the people of Christ was the same people that Paul was so desperate to be saved.
And their own racist beliefs--the belief that they were born naturally into the family of God--was going to send them straight to hell unless Christ saved their wicked souls.
The Gospel
9 For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.
10 And not only that, but Rebekah conceived children through one man, our father Isaac.
11 For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—
12 not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger.
His mercies never come to an end: vocation of God is justification of God
Read the following carefully and slowly:
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
For some of us, like myself growing up in church, you never heard this verse read out loud, let alone, preached on. And when you pressed a pastor to explain it, they are certainly going to squeeze in the free will of man--as though the fallen son of Adam could ever freely choose God. (Heads up: he cannot.)
Now, if you are in a church that preaches the doctrines of grace, you are going to get your fill on this verse and this passage--mostly because we missed hearing it growing up.
But I want you to look at this logically, almost mathematically. The text does not say, "And those he predestined, some were called." The word 'some' is nowhere to be found anywhere in that passage and in the Bible when it comes to to the salvation of God. In other words, let me summarize Romans 8:30: "For those he predestined, he also glorified.
A = B = C = D. Ergo, A = D.
Now, you might be asking, "Preacher, why the math lesson?" Because in Romans 9:9-12, Paul does the same mathematical formula.
Romans 9:11–12 (CSB) For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger.
If you are elected, you are called. But we know from Romans 8:30 right before, if you chosen by God, you are going to be called by God, justified by God and glorified by God.
Sarah shall bear a son, Isaac. Then Isaac's wife, Rebekah, will bear twin boys, Esau and Jacob. But "the younger will serve the older."
And you want reassurance of your salvation? You want assurance that God could save a wretch like you? Listen to what Paul preaches:
not from works but from the one who calls
Go and read the life of Jacob. You know what his name means? Trickster. He was a low-down, good for nothing, trickster. Manipulated his mom. Fooled his dad. And stole everything from his brother.
And God came to him, brought him to the end of his life, and broke his life and pride--to make him walk with a limp for the rest of his life.
Before Isaac could do anything, he was called. Before Jacob could obey God, God justified. Before you and I can even begin to do one thing good unto the Lord, God must save us.
Our Response
13 As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
His mercies never come to an end: before the foundation of the world, we are loved.
For all the blessings bestowed upon Esau despite losing his birthright by God, Esau never turned to the Lord. Never trusted him. Esau did some good things--forgave his brother, spared his brother, and had mercy on his brother. But unbelievers do that all the time. Like a friend from work told me once, "Christians didn't invent grace and forgiveness." Which is absolutely true. But among the common grace that God gives both believers and unbelievers alike, he gives everyone the ability to give grace and forgive.
Esau may have done good things but it wasn't enough. Most of us who don't know God are just hoping that we have done enough good things and if God would grade on a curve, he will let us in.
Jacob was a dirty, rotten, sonovagun. He was despicable. Rotten to the core. But God came to him and called Jacob, not Esau. God came to break the pride of Jacob, not Esau. In the end, God saved Jacob to himself, and not Esau.
Here is the gospel, on our best days, like Esau forgiving his brother for his wrongdoing, we are far far short of God's glory. Our great days could out weigh our bad days and we still have an infinite distance to go.
Can you strive infinitely? I can't. You can't. Jacob couldn't. To span that infinite gap, you are going to need a infinite being who is willing and able to come to us to bridge the gap. And that infinite being is Jesus Christ, who lived, who died, who rose again, who ascended to the right hand of the Father, making intercession for those whom he loved before the foundation of the world.
Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
Just to be clear, the chapter and verse numbering, although extremely helpful, are not inspired by the word of God. Only the original manuscripts, written in Hebrew, Greek and a smattering of Aramaic, through the hand, heart, and mind of the original authors, from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Not even our wonderful, God-provided, insert-your-favorite translation is God inspired. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) No, not even the King James Version. KJV-Onlyists, don't at me. I will create a mail rule to filter your emails out. For further discussion, read the 1689, Chapter 1.8 The Inspiration of God on Holy Scripture: Theologicus
Romans 9:14-23 His Mercies Are New Every Morning
The Text
Romans 9:14–23 (CSB)
14 What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not!15 For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
17 For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.
18 So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19 You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will?”
20 On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”
21 Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?
22 And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction?
23 And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—
The Introduction
14 What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not!
New Daily Mercies: God is perfectly just
To understand anything about God--that is his love, mercy, grace, salvation, election--we must understand that God is perfectly just.
In the 1689 Chapter 2.1, among all the attributes of God like
most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him
perfectly and without conflict coincide with:
and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
Our world cannot fathom this. That we hate sin and therefore we are judgmental and hate those who commit sins that either we don't struggle with or it is the sin that we absolute struggle with. I am quick to point out and be upset when some guy is acting like a jerk but that is me. I am that jerkwad.
Or someone struggles with a particular sin and you look down your nose at them because by God's sheer grace, you don't struggle with that sin--yet, you might catch yourself thinking you are better than them. (For the uninformed, that is pride.)
Yet, this is what makes God so mysterious. God is fully love and compassionate and kind and yet "withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty." In other words, God absolutely get to have it both ways.
Because God is holy and without sin, he must be just. We beg him to be just against those who do us harm but when we harm, we beg for mercy. >15 For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
New Daily Mercies: God is perfectly merciful
We might all be familiar with the story of Noah. But let us start with Genesis 6 verse 1 and see the state of mankind before evoking the right judgment of God.
Genesis 6:1–8 (CSB) When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves. And the LORD said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men. When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”
Read that passage again. Whom was corrupt? Who was wickedness? How bad did it get? Did some or every inclination of the human mind was towards evil?
Noah...
Stop right there. This is not a trick question. What Noah human? Was he part of mankind.
Now before this point, what did we just read? If Noah was man and man was corrupt, wicked, and the mind of man was bent and thought evil all the time...
Was Noah wicked?
Was Noah corrupt?
Did Noah think evil thoughts continually?
Go back to Romans 9:15. What did he tell Moses?
I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
What did Noah do to deserve mercy? What did Noah do to deserve compassion?
Forget what you might heard in Sunday School. Remember the gospel.
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Did God regret making Noah? He absolutely did.
Could God rightfully wipe Noah off the face of the earth? He would be well within his rights.
But look at our God
Genesis 6:8 (CSB) Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.
God gave Noah his grace. Doesn't that sound familiar? Yes, that is what we call the good news of God! That is the gospel of God!
Noah was just as wicked as everybody around him. But for no reason other than the sovereign grace of our great Lord, he saved Noah.
Titus 3:3–5 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
If we know that gospel is true and that the Scriptures do not contradict one another, then what happened to Noah after God gave him saving grace? You know the gospel.
Read on in Genesis 6:
Genesis 6:9 (CSB) These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
Noah did not earn his salvation. For:
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
God alone is gracious. God alone is merciful. God alone has perfect compassion. You did not deserve for God to look your way. But he did. He didn't saw you were a pretty good person in needing of a God to get you to that next level so you can go on living your best life. NO!
He foreknew you. He foreknew just how far you were from him.
16 So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
New Daily Mercies: God is perfectly giving
John 1:11–13 (CSB) He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
Ephesians 1:3–6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Ephesians 2:1–5 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Well, that is just Paul who talks about that. He doesn't really mean predestined. Except:
John 15:16-17 (CSB) You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. “This is what I command you: Love one another.
1 John 4:9-10 (CSB) God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
We can do this all day.
Our God
Romans 9:17–18 (CSB) For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
New Daily Mercies: God is perfectly holy
“That attribution of greatness and goodness to God can be summed up as “He is holy,” because holiness incorporates both greatness and goodness.” 1
Could this Pharaoh been saved by God? There is no doubt. The Bible needs not go into every sinful detail of Pharaoh's heart. But his actions: let us never forget that Pharaoh's father declared war on God's people. That Pharaoh, with his massive army, and chariots, and horses, and machines of war did not attack the able-bodied men of Israel nor even the women.
But he attempted to slaughter every Jewish baby boy.
And that Pharaoh raised up this Pharaoh to think of himself to be a god.
And God sent Moses and Aaron to preach the gospel, "Pharaoh, you are not god. I Am is God alone. So let his people go!"
God sent 9 terrible plagues. And the Pharaoh hardened his heart over and over again.
On the 10th plague, the Bible never said Pharaoh soften his heart towards God. No! The Pharaoh was never repented over himself being a god. Pharaoh was sad that his narcissism and folly bore consequences--the death of his oldest son. Paul called that "worldly sorrow." That's not salvation. We know that. God always knew that. Pharaoh could have repented, let the Israelites go, and surely God would have blessed the Egyptians. It did not have to end like this. But it did.
God is holy. Make war against a holy God, this is what you should expect to happen--God will stop at nothing to make all things right with him.
Our world makes war against him. From Genesis 3 onward. Every day with with every action and every thought, we puny, feeble, weak, depraved little humans make war against God.
What does God do? Wipes off the face of the earth? That day is coming.
But he sends his Son to proclaim to all of mankind, "you are not gods, I am God. Put your sins upon me, and you shall be free indeed."
Don't reject the gospel. Take the free gift. He is holy. Take the free gift.
19 You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will?”
New Daily Mercies: God is perfectly sovereign
We might wage war against God but it is not dualistic. Dualism suggest that there are two nearly equal powers struggling against one another. It's like Jesus and Satan arm wrestling over the souls of man:
We know that is ridiculous. Yet, without the preaching of the good news to ourselves, we will default and try to war with and manipulate the will of God. Open Theism suggests that God doesn't know the future and we can bend his will towards our whims. If you think there is no church on earth who does that, think again. It is what Galatians (and the Bible) preaches against: upper tier, upper class Christianity. If you believe hard enough, do enough good works, give a lot of money, or read your Bible enough, or pray enough--the end goal of getting humans to do more stuff is so that God will do what we want him to do.
Romans 4 absolutely declares we do not put God in our debt.
God is sovereign. Which means that God is free to do what he pleases--and he does. But it means that God is Almighty--which means if God wants to do it, he can absolutely do it. 2
20-21 On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?
New Daily Mercies: God is perfectly Creator
Consider
“If God is eternally righteous, then it is unthinkable that He would ever sin. If it is unthinkable for God to sin, and if He created all things, how can there be evil in the world? Why, within His universe and under His sovereignty, are creatures like us running loose and doing evil? The confession says that God not only permits us to sin, but in His sovereignty He ordains that we sin. Paul anticipates this objection from the creature: “You will say to me then, ‘Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?’ But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” (Rom. 9:19–20).” R. C. Sproul. Truths We Confess.
Our desire for autonomy is at war with the One who created us and everything around us.
In Genesis 2, God gave mankind dominion over his creation. In Genesis 3, because we sinned and disobey God, we lost that dominion.
And as part of the Fall: our now born sin selves--whether it be our physical, mental, emotional, will, or heart--did not get that memo. We still think we have dominion over some part of creation. We see that in marriages and parenting. And the grossest part of it all: we think we have dominion and sovereignty over our lives.
But we were born into sin and keep sinning just like fathers did.
That is why Jesus is the last Adam: he came to perfectly obey God, and with his death and his resurrection, perfectly subdue all of creation. And that includes us.
Now, the rest of creation will submit to him and be made right-standing with him. With mankind, it is not so one direction.
22 And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction?
New Daily Mercies: God is perfectly God
Matthew 13:36-43 (CSB) Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He replied, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; and the good seed — these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness. They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.
Either you are with him or not with him. There is no middle ground. There is no neutral field. There is no grading on a curve. I think R.C. Sproul said it best, "All paths do lead to God; only the narrow path through the Son gets the protection from his wrath."
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
As creation, we are subjected to Christ. All of us.
Philippians 2:9-11 (CSB) For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow —
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth —
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
The question remains: do you bow your knee today or do you bow your knee, under the wrath of Christ in hell?
Choose on this day whom you will serve.
The Gospel
23 And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—
New Daily Mercies: God is perfectly saving
If you have read Romans 9 thus far in light of Romans 1-8 and you still think "it's just about Israel", or "it's about Calvinism prooftext", or "God is a jerk", I don't know what to tell you.
This is the word of God through the lens of Romans 9:
God is Creator.
God is good.
God is holy.
God is just.
God punishes sin.
God is compassionate.
God is merciful.
And there is no one like him.
Our Response
What do you say and do in light of the Almighty power and sovereignty of God who alone is right and just and holy and does not and cannot tolerate even a drop of sin?
Proclaim this with David in Psalm 103 and magnify our great God!
Psalm 103:1–14 (CSB)
1 My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.2 My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits.
3 He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He revealed his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
God does not deal with us as our sins deserve.
God does not repay us according to our iniquities.
But he is not an apathetic deity who has chosen to look the other way. No!
For his children, for his people, for those whom he bought with the price of the death of his Son:
His love towards us is as high as the heavens are from the earth. (Please give me a rough estimate of the distance between heaven and earth. I will take miles, kilometers, or lightyears. The answer is below.) 3
And because he loves us so much, he took our sins and iniquities and removed them as far as the east is from the west. (Again, miles, kilometers, or lightyears. And again, the answer is below.) 4
Our Father God loves us and gives us all the compassion because he saved us.
He saved us because he knows we are made from dust--we are just mere mortals.
We know this because we have His Son, Jesus Christ, dwelling in our hearts forever.
Amen
R.C. Sproul. Truths We Confess. 46. 2: Nonsensical questions like "Can God put a square peg into a round hole?" or "Can God create something he cannot lift?" will not be entertained by me ever. I will mark you as spam and block you. 3: The answer is infinite. 4: The answer is still infinite.
Romans 9:23-33 Great is His Faithfulness
The Text
Romans 9:23–33 (CSB)
23 And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—24 on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
25 As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved.
26 And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
27 But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, Though the number of Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved;
28 since the Lord will execute his sentence completely and decisively on the earth.
29 And just as Isaiah predicted: If the Lord of Hosts had not left us offspring, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah.
30 What should we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness—namely the righteousness that comes from faith.
31 But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law.
32 Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
33 As it is written, Look, I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and the one who believes on him will not be put to shame.
The Introduction
There are more than a few reasons why I was so excited and fearful for diving into Romans 9.
Excited: because it is right after Romans 8 and I know I will have to use the context of chapter 8, all of Romans and all Scripture to exposit this passage responsibly and faithfully.
Fearful: I have long avoided expositing this passage because all of my life in church, I have well-intentioned pastors and teachers who have "explained away" Romans 9, 10, and 11. When you ask about what does it mean when Paul says:
Romans 9:15-16 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
"Oh Romans 9? That is just about Israel. We don't have to pay attention to that", they would reply.
Then my face would go like, "Wut?", and a little red flag would pop up. When I was younger in the faith, I wouldn't have the guts to say it but now my insta-response would be, "But isn't all of Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work?" 1
And if Romans 9 is Scripture, isn't then this passage "profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work?"
Obviously, my question would be rhetorical. Romans 9, 10, and 11 do pertain to all of the church--all believers. Not just Jewish believers but both Jew and Gentile alike. And it contains such good news. Romans 8 sets the stage. And that stage is Mount Everest. From there, you will see the glory and majesty and the wonder and the love of God for us--his people. Romans 9, 10, & 11 just magnifies and theologically explains the gospel of God in his sovereign goodness.
But I will say this, where Paul makes the distinction about the Jewish people (as he did in Romans 2), then he is very much talking about the Jewish people. Don't get those confused. (That was a quick reminder for me as well.)
Our God
To remind us of the context of verses 23-24, let us read the passage:
Romans 9:22–24 (CSB) And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
If you are coming to the Bible and to Romans and to this passage and you read this passage and you still think that salvation in some part dependent on you, let me say this, in the most loving way that I can, you are not understanding what you are reading. And I get that. The Bible is completely supernatural. Just because the Bible is translated into the English language that we can read and understand does not mean we can understand it.
We can comprehend words. We can go and get English degrees. Write books on reading comprehension. And yet be totally stumped when it comes to understanding the Bible. For the Bible states:
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
What has been given freely by God to us? Surely, the Lord Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit. Himself. His salvation. Our faith. New hearts. The list is endless.
But have we ever stopped to think about his word? The Scriptures. His word has been freely given to us by the inspiration, preserving, and preaching of his word throughout all of human history. (Now how we got his word in our hands--that price was high and was paid by the blood of martyrs throughout the history of the church--that is another sermon series for another day.)
Who can give us understanding about his word that is a gift that he has freely given to us? Only the Holy Spirit whom dwells in us. (By the way, if you come upon a passage that you don't understand, pray. Pray for understanding. God will answer your prayers.)
Lets get back to the passage:
And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
What if he did? Guess what. Paul is asking a rhetorical question. Because the answer is: God did do this. Romans 9 lays it all out. We see where God explicitly raised up Pharaoh to power and turned him over to the wickedness of his own narcissistic sin-filled heart to his own destruction just so he would be able to save his people from slavery?
Do you not think that God would send his only begotten Son, to raise him up on a cross just to save his people from sin?
The Gospel
The answer is obviously yes!
25 As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved.
26 And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
Do not read this passage thinking he is just talking about the Jewish people! This is you and me. We were once not his people and now we are his people. We were once foolish, disobedient, slaves to various passions and pleasures, dead in our trespasses and sins.
How did God respond?
He appeared to us. He called us. He saved us. Saved us from our own soul-crushing, back-breaking, heart-killing self-righteous works that were only demand more and sent to hell quicker.
Instead, he saved us. Not just from hell of his wrath but he has called us to be with him. So much so, he adopts us and calls us sons of the living God!
To the Jew first and also the Greek.
To the male and female.
To the Israelite and the Gentile.
He has called and we are saved.
27 But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, Though the number of Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved;
28 since the Lord will execute his sentence completely and decisively on the earth.
To those with the eschatology--the end-times theology--that speaks that all of the Jewish people will be saved just on the fact that they are Jewish. This passage counters that terrible, wicked, hell-damning false teaching. The Jewish people are not saved by their birth or race or nationality. For:
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
And
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
The Old Testament spoke over and over again: you are not saved based on your Jewishness.
Look at verse 29:
29 And just as Isaiah predicted: If the Lord of Hosts had not left us offspring, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah.
If God did not had chosen little Israel--remember not because they were large and mighty but because they were small, feeble, and weak, and scared--and made a covenant with their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, those believe in God know without a shadow of a doubt: they would have been wiped from the face of the earth just like the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
Show of hands, who has met a Philistine? Nobody. God wiped them from the face of the earth. Our modern sensibilities might balk at such a notion, "How could God do that?" Because they were wicked. They worshipped demons and never turned to the living God.
The Jewish person, who wrestles with the complete Bible, reads it, and by the grace and the understanding of the Holy Spirit alone, "if not by God, there go I".
And the Jewish people will always be preserved no matter how many attempts are made to wipe them from the face of the earth. See God's preserving hand on them. But if they do not turn to Christ, they will thrown into the fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth--just like Jesus Christ preached to them when he was here on earth.
Our Response
31 But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law.
32 Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
Adam. Eve. Seth. Enoch. Noah. Abraham. Sarah. Isaac. Rebekah. Jacob. Leah. Rachel. Joseph. Moses. Zipporah. Joshua. Deborah. Samson. Ruth. Boaz. Jesse. David. Bathsheba. Nathan. Solomon.
They are not saved because they were Jewish! The are saved because they put their faith in the holy Triune God who alone could saved them.
God preached the gospel first to our original father, Adam!
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
What happened?
Genesis 3:21 (CSB) The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
God covered them. In other words, Adam believed and it was counted to him as righteousness.
From the Fall of mankind, God has done nothing but save his people. Over and over again.
A remnant will be saved. Not all. But some. The door is narrow to God. The path to hell is wide.
Call upon him. Be saved unto him.
33 As it is written, Look, I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and the one who believes on him will not be put to shame.
Christ, the King of Jews, descended from David two ways--through Solomon to Joseph and from Nathan to Mary--Jew of Jews--fulfilled over 200 Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. This is whom God has set as the stone in Zion. Right in the middle of Israel. Right in the middle of the Jews. In their wretched state: under the rule and reign of Caesar and wicked rulers. God gave them a King. The One True Final King. The Son of David.
This is the stumbling block to the Jews. This is foolishness to the Gentiles Unbelieving Jews and Gentiles both cannot get it. The cannot conceive it.
What is this stumbling block?
Christ crucified!
1 Corinthians 1:22-23 (CSB) For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
Why would God do that? Why would he raise up vessels of destruction just to show his mercy to his people.
24-25 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Christ is the gospel. Christ is the good news. Abraham saw the day of Christ and rejoiced because all the promises of God came true--just like he believed they would.
Choose on this day whom you will serve.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Romans 10:1–13 God Saves
The Text
Romans 10:1–13 (CSB)
1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation.2 I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes,
5 since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.
6 But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?” that is, to bring Christ down
7 or, “Who will go down into the abyss?” that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.
8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim:
9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,
12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him.
13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
The Introduction
1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation.
God Saves: Our Flesh Does Not
We are not auto-saved. Listen, I love the Presbyterian's teaching of the covenant of grace. Essentially is this, those who are born of a believing father and mother within a believing home, will never not know the love of God that is for them. And you don't have to be Presbyterian to affirm that. There are many in here, by the grace of God, especially our little ones in the nursery, from the moment they could think and act and hear, have always know the love of God and the gospel of Christ. And I think it is the sweetest testimony to have: "I have always know the love of God."
But knowing the love of God, having believing parents, your pastor knowing you really well, attending church for a long time does not save you. It does not.
And if you have an eschatology--an end-times theology--that flirts with the Jewish people that is automatically saved because they are Jewish, please read the Gospels and tell me how is that possible?
The Jewish people, like the Gentiles with them, must have the heart by God placed with in them and they must have the same Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwell in them and in us in order to be saved by God.
There is only one name by which we are saved.
2 I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
God Saves: Our Zeal and Knowledge Does Not
There are two ways to look at this: zeal and ignorance. It does not matter how long you went to Sunday School, which Christian private school you attended, what Bible College you attended, years at Seminary, served as a pastor, wrote books, taught, preached--if you do not believe that Jesus is the only Savior and Lord, you will not be saved.
We are not saved by whether or not we can ace a theological pop quiz.
But that does not mean the opposite is true:
Hosea 4:6 (CSB) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons.
All that means is that you are suppressing the knowledge that God has made evident: that God is real.
3 Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.
God Saves: Our Righteousness Does Not
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
I have always known this verse and by it, knew that any work--my self-righteousness--I have done prior to my salvation was discarded like polluted garments. Just straight hot trash.
I remembered hearing a story of wife exhorting her husband in the midst of church scandal: "All of works we do now are as filthy rags." Wait a minute! Are my works that I do now still filthy?
Christian, your works and my works we do now did not save us, do not save us now, and will never save us in the future.
"Well, if God just discards my righteous works as trash, why even bother doing them?" you might wonder.
For as our works--tainted, skewed, infected, unpure as they might be--God certain does not need them. He knew that. That is why he sent his Son: to do the works that are pleasing unto God and to do them for you. All you needed to do is open your hands and receive him. Those righteous, pure works that Christ has done now belong to you. For "if we are children, then heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:16-17)
But you know who does need your good works now that you have been redeemed by God? Your neighbor. Which if we understand the Christ's parable of the Good Samaritan, that means everybody else. For:
Matthew 22:37–40 (CSB) He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
How we are born into, our zeal, our passion, our knowledge, and our righteousness does not save us.
What does save us?
How about if we obey God? That's it. That is trick right?
Our God
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes, 5 since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.
God Saves: Our Obedience Does Not
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
Give me a show of hands of those who have perfectly and always obeyed the law of God.
I think we sometimes confuse the law of the land versus the law of God. Like, me going five miles over the posted speed limit does not warrant me an overnight stay in the local jail cell.
But we think a lie, a theft, a look at porn, a moment of anger, cruelness, gossip, something small should warrant the wrath of Jesus Christ.
But God doesn't just see the action--God only sees what man and the police and the judge cannot--your heart.
In our acts of disobedience springs out of a heart of defiance. We yearn to do the bare minimum so that the God of the Universe can give me a good and easy life and then leave me alone.
Yet, God has made us in our own image. Some of you will go to your grave denying this but we need each other. We need to connect. We need relationships. And God is so personal, and he created us in his image, that we need him. Desperately. And we sometimes hate that. Because we think he is going to demand too much of us like to perfectly obey him.
And it is that attitude has us fleeing away from God. And God knew that. Even if we could obey the law, our hearts would be so far from him. We just want the checklist of to-dos for our best life now. But in our born flesh, we don't want God.
6 But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?” that is, to bring Christ down 7 or, “Who will go down into the abyss?” that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.
God Saves: Our Good Intentions Do Not
But then we think we know what is going on with our hearts. We think we can feel our way to God. Or somehow, if we feel the right things, that God will look on it has what is truth and accept us on our good intentions.
Matthew 7:13–14 (CSB) “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
That road of feeling good and good intentions are just suppressing the truth and you just don't want to admit it.
But what if you could open your heart, feel the feels within and be honest with your feelings? Learn to be sadden by loneliness. Or grieve at death. Or anger at abuse.
There is no salvation in doing the right thing nor appearing to do the right thing.
The Gospel
8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim:
God Saves: Our Words Do Not
Even saying the right thing will not save you.
"I thought we had to profess and say it with our mouth?" But look how Paul prefaces it:
This is the message of faith that we proclaim
It is a message of faith. Faith that does not come from you but is given to you for the source of faith:
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
The word says, "it is God's gift." What is the 'it'? What is God's gift?
- Saved
- Grace
- Faith
The answer is 'yes'. D--all of the above. Salvation is a gift of God. Grace is a gift of God. Faith is a gift of god. For:
Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB) Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The ESV states it: "the author" of our faith.
To proclaim belief and trust in God is a message of faith. That faith didn't originate you just like the message didn't originate with you.
9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
God Saves: the Spirit of God Must Bear Witness
There is no exception:
1 Corinthians 12:3 (CSB) Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
And:
1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
We can talk about our sincerity but that can be fake. We can talk about "do we mean it" but that can manufactured as well. And why would we want to do that when all that means we are going to hell while playing with church here on earth.
Why waste your time doing so?
But here is the real truth, as Christ explained how to pray in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, and it can be summed it this:
If you turn to God, run to God, ask for God, you are going to God.
In this life, I have no other guarantees other that life and the world and some people will to try to take a poop on you and expect you to love it.
The one guarantee in this life, and it ain't by me but by the Almighty Creator God who has created the heavens, earth, and hell: go to God, ask for God, he will give you God.
How do I know this? A little over 2,000 years ago, he sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be born of the Virgin Mary, to grow in stature and wisdom, to perfectly obey the law of God, to preach the gospel of God, to suffer under Pontius Pilate, to die illegally only to be resurrected unto life and then ascended to the right hand of the Father where he now rules and reigns forever and ever.
Disbelieve God at his word. Sure. Disobey him. Continuous. Rebel against his sovereignty? All day every day. But do not be so foolish and say there is not God. Because all that Jesus Christ did to save his people from their sins is a historical fact. If you hold an ounce of eduacation, you cannot deny this.
Our Response
10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,
12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him.
13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
For those who do not believe and cannot believe, I am telling you, praying for you and pleading with you: go to God and ask for God. I double dog dare you.
But the fact that you are asking for him already means that God dwells in you. The fact that you repent of sin means the Triune God has made his home in your. The fact that you are praying to God means that God has taken out your heart of stone and given you his own soft, fleshy heart and His Spirit so that now, you can obey him by loving Him with all of your heart and loving your neighbor has yourself.
And when God sees you doing good things for others in worship to him, he has already forgotten your sins and instead, sees the covering by his perfect Son, Jesus Christ.
Call on the name of the Lord. Ask for God. You will get God. Amen.
Romans 10:14-21 God Proclaims
The Text
Romans 10:14–21 (CSB)
14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?
17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
18 But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
19 But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that lacks understanding.
20 And Isaiah says boldly, I was found by those who were not looking for me; I revealed myself to those who were not asking for me.
21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.
The Introduction
So those of us who fallen in the trap of dismissing Romans 9-11 as though it was just mean and preached towards the Israelites, we can clearly see just from the context of Scripture and of Romans and Romans 8 leading into 9, 10, 11 is that this is meant for the Christian. For Scripture is divinely inspired by God and is profitable for teaching.
But make no mistake: the Scripture is profitable for teaching not as a self-help, history, science nor even as standalone little verses that have nothing to do with one another but all the Scripture is about Christ. As preachers of old love to say: Old Testament is Christ concealed and the New Testament is Christ revealed.
But why does it seem as though Paul has taking a sharp turn in addressing the Israelites. Remember, just like the Hebrews were written to the Jewish Christians (which in that time was the majority of Christians in comparison to Gentile Christians), Paul was writing this to the Christians im the city of Rome--which again, the vast majority were Jewish and grew up in the Jewish faith.
Paul is writing to this Roman church that Christ is the will of God and the fulfillment of their prophecy and covenant. In other words, all of the OT promises made by God were fulfilled by the revealed Son of God that is Jesus Christ our Lord.
God proclaims: Christ is the will of God fulfilled
But let us go back all the way to the Torah. Up until Deuteronomy, we have clearly seen that, while God did not exclude any Gentile from worshipping and obeying him (Moses' wife and father-in-law), starting with Abraham, he started to form a shape a people for themselves.
Out of all the nations, he would could have chosen some one powerful, with lots of connections, with military might or wealth. But out of Abraham, he chose the opposite.
Deuteronomy 7:6–7 (CSB)
6 For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be his own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.7 “The LORD had his heart set on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
Now why is that important? It was out of this people group that God will fulfill his promise to "crush the head of the serpent" (Genesis 3:15). It was out of this nationality that Mary shall bear a son and they will call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21) Make no mistake, the King of kings and the Lord of lords is the King of Jews because Christ himself is Jewish.
It was the will and the providence of God alone that the Jewish people would be set apart and be the land and the nation that Christ would be revealed.
But to that end, they are not automatically saved. They were born in sin when Adam broke the covenant. But they must put their faith and trust into the Lord Jesus Christ to take a hold of a new covenant. There is not extra covenant--no side covenant with the Jews. Just the one whom the will of God has revealed--the Lord Jesus Christ.
I tell you this for those of us who will dare to explore eschatology--the theology of the end times--be sure that you theology is rock solid and your doctrine is rock solid. That is, that your theology and your doctrine is based and about and through and revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Our God
Now watch this. In this Romans 10 passage, starting at verse 14, let us see how Christ is revealed to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16b)
14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?
God proclaims: Christ is the supreme preacher of God alone
When the world and mankind were right with God, there was no need for the gospel, no need for good news, no need for salvation, because we were once right-standing with God.
The moment that sin entered entered into the world, all of it broke:
Romans 8:19–22 (CSB) For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.
The moment sin entered into the world, this is what the world felt. These are the words that describe the pain and suffering we instantly entered into it.
Adam and Eve knew the before and after. They knew what it was like to be live carefree and joyful and righteousness. Now they were stricken with a sickness that they can never heal themselves.
How does God respond?
By smite? By justice? By wrath? No! God does not wipe his creation out of existence because the Source of good declares it good.
He brings a new word into our vocabulary: redemption.
Genesis 50:20 (CSB) You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.
We chose to war against God. God does not reverse time and made it like you never did the sin. But rather in the midst of our sin and despair and wickedness, it goes out of his way to show that good triumphs over evil. For:
John 1:5 (CSB) That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
And he does so not by instantly vanquishing his enemies. That will come in due time. But rather, saving his people from their sins. For:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
God does this by preaching the gospel.
Speaking words.
We know that God speaks everything in existence and there is absolute power.
So why is it when we are told that the power of God in salvation is only found in the gospel, then it blows the mind. For:
Romans 1:16 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
And
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
The Scriptures are the mouth of God. The gospel is the power of God in salvation.
What is the primary means of gospel proclaim? Not action. Not doing. Not time travel. Not pretending it never happened.
But preaching the gospel.
15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
God proclaims: Christ is the sermon of God alone
Preaching is the primary. But if you are out here giving your hot takes, ten ways to counter culture, or 15 ways to live your best life, congratulations you are not preaching.
Your preaching must be about Christ. Even when you preach from the Old Testament--for it is about Christ. You preaching must be a about the Son of God who is God who has completely, perfectly saved us from our sins. If you are a preacher, you must be preach the word of God:
2 Timothy 4:1–5 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
But look at this verse in Romans 10 quoting Isaiah:
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
We are not simply commanded to preach the word. We are blessed. Moses simply saw the backside of God's glory. We get to see the glory of God and seeing him switch people's hearts out and filling them with his Spirit and watching them observe his statutes and obey his commands. 1
I love how people are quick to say, "God can do anything with what we do and don't do." This is true.
But here's a thought: how about just doing what he commands and commission us to do.
Mark 16:14-15 (CSB) Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?
God proclaims: Christ is the message of God alone
I don't care what your theology is. Your theology does not include trying to control and manipulate others into believing the gospel of God.
Don't you know that believing the gospel and having faith in the one that saves is completely, perfectly supernaturally. It is not in your flesh to believe. It is not natural for you to put your trust in God. For:
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
The Gospel
17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
God proclaims: Christ is the gospel of God alone
Christ is the good news. From Genesis 3:15 on, Christ was always the good news.
And we get to see the glory of God in the Son:
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
And
Titus 3:4–5 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God, was born of the Virgin Mary, lived and died in our place for our sins not a matter of blind faith or great myth but it is an historical fact. Look it up in the history books. Look at the Romans' historical accounts from this era.
1 Timothy 1:15 (CSB) This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.
18 But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
God proclaims: Christ is the voice of God alone
There are two types of people on this earth at any given time: those are who have heard the call of God and those who have suppressed the knowledge of God. There is no middle ground. It is either you are saved or your damned. Your good works are hot trash before a holy God. Your church going is not going to save you. Your pastor is not going to save you. Your believing parents cannot save you.
You can only be saved by Jesus Christ. In order to see the kingdom of God, you must be born again. You must be a new creature. You must have a new heart and His Spirit in you.
And you hear this for the first time and you yell back, "How do I receive this great God! I cannot do this! I don't know how!"
And what does God say?
Ask for him. Call upon his name. You will be saved.
Our Response
19 But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that lacks understanding.
20 And Isaiah says boldly, I was found by those who were not looking for me; I revealed myself to those who were not asking for me.
21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.
God proclaims: Christ is the understanding of God alone
God proclaims: Christ is the revelation of God alone
God proclaims: Christ is the obedience of his people to God alone
You today do not have to go the way of the disobedient people before you. I don't care about how wicked your family might be.
My grandfather left my grandmother and his three boys and adopted baby girl.
Not evil enough for you?
My dad sexual abused me and brother and sisters.
Not wicked enough for you?
I used to deal in pornography. Wholesale.
Let me bare witness to you right now! My grandfather was saved by God! My dad was saved was God! I was saved by God!
And I have two sons. And the men in my family were self-righteous, slothful, wicked, and depraved.
And in the middle of 2022, let me confess my sin to you: I looked at the porn. I could not grieve the loss of my younger brother and I turned to the only thing I thought would comfort me.
I sinned against the Holy God.
And I also sinned the merciful, kindest, most compassionate being who ever exist.
How did God respond? In striking me dead? In his wrath? In his anger and fury?
None of that. What God does only he can do:
He saves my 20 year old son who lives in isolation with no friends.
Then he turns around and saves my 10 year old son who made this proclamation, "I have read the Bible 3 times and I believe every word of it. I need to be baptized now."
And then the Source of good who only does good gave me the mercy and grace to preach my first sermon ever.
This is our God. This is our Lord. This is the one who is mighty to save.
Praise be his holy name forever.
Ezekiel 36:24-28
Romans 11:1-10 God Preserves
The Text
Romans 11:1–10 (CSB)
1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel?
3 Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!
4 But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.
5 In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.
6 Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.
7 What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,
8 as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.
9 And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually.
The Introduction
Most of the time, God is excellent at proclaiming absolute truth. We already know that in our modern culture, the world fights hard at absolute truth and proclamation as though it is true. "How can you be so sure?", they will ask because when the world is so good at suppressing the truth, the last thing they want is the truth to be truth.
And American Christians do not do a great job of handling the truth. They will take the truth of God and add on their own opinions--like a bill being sent through House of Representatives only to have some freshly elected rep trying to tack on their niche agenda. So to that, I understand a little of the culture's pushback on preaching.
Here, in this passage, Paul is not only making a declarative statement but he will use Scripture to explain Scripture. Using the Bible to exposit the Bible. It is the tenet of the faith: sola Scriptura.
But this is where I am changing my mind and I hope you are too. I hope you are seeing that, while Paul is using Israel as an example, these chapters in Romans are not exclusively about Israel. All Scripture is God inspired and profitable for teaching on the life of the Christian--Jews and Gentiles alike.
In using Israel as an example, we are seeing just how, it is not God that rejects unbelievers but it is God who preserves and keeps his people. And if we are to believe the Bible, God has kept his people since before the foundation of the world.
Our God
1-2a I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.
God Preserves: Christ Saved Before Genesis 1:1
Ephesians 1:3–6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
What does this mean? It means exactly what it means. The original Ancient Greek for this text doesn't have some deep, hidden meaning to make predestination mean something not predestination. Election does not mean, "that means we elect God."
The 1689, Chapter 1 declares this rightly about Scripture:
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.
One of the biggest fights of the Protestants against the Catholic Church during the Reformation was Catholic Church insisted on this:
"The Bible is too hard for us to understand. You need the Church to explain what it really means."
And the Reformers all through the Puritans down to the Evangelicals loudly proclaim and teach that (1689.1.1):
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable
... and it is crystal clear in doing so. It is the perspicuity of Scripture. There is no hidden meaning in the Bible when it comes to all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience to God.
The world is trying to get Christians to think that homosexuality is not a sin. But the Bible is crystal clear that homosexuality is a sin against God. All sexual immorality is treason against God. You want to be saved from your sins? You must be born again. And only God can do that. If he is the only one who can do that, then listen to the words of Jesus:
Luke 11:13 (CSB) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
Ask God for God, you will get God. Guaranteed.
Predestination means God has chosen you to be his people. He chose us in him before the foundation of the world.
Go back to verse 2:
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Many have tried to explain away this foreknowledge. Let me reduce it down to it's simplest terms: the Scriptures say that God foreknew us--it never says God foresaw us.
God did not see us turning to his Son and therefore he then chose us before the foundation of the world. The Scriptures rightly declare:
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God knew we were sinners. God saw that we were not righteous. God saw that every inclination and thought were evil and wicked against the Holy One of God. God knew that. That is why he sent his Son to live and die for us so that we would be saved from our sins.
For those God predestined and foreknew, he has not rejected them. But, in fact, the opposite: he called them, he justified them and he glorified them. (Romans 8:30) And Paul had it right when he wrote glorified in the past tense. Why? God has already perfectly saved his people from their sins? How do we know that? Christ died on the cross. That is an historical fact that happened over two thousand years ago.
2b-4 Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel? Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life! But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.
God Preserves: Christ is always saving
Revelation 14:9-12 (CSB) And another, a third angel, followed them and spoke with a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or anyone who receives the mark of its name. This calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus.”
I am not going to even engage anybody on conspiracy theories on mark of the beast, and chips, and Apache helicopters. Miss me with that mess. I don't have that type of time.
I will say this about the mark of the beast. I have seen a generation of Christians who have become so legalistic and hyper-anxious about making sure they do the right thing and don't do the right thing. That they will miss the blessings of God or worst still, that they can lose their salvation because they have done the wrong thing.
Let me tell you something about the clear, wonderful grace of the Almighty God.
The Gospel
5-6 In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace. Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.
God Preserves: Christ Does
Let me give you assurance of the Lord Jesus Christ:
Titus 3:3–5 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
In other words, we all have bend the knee to demons, Satan, worldly powers, our own idols. We too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, and led astray. All of us were not righteous. All of us were not good. No, not one of us.
But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by us perfectly checking off our own to-do list, being meticulous in doing every letter of the law but still utterly and always failing to obey him perfectly. Our repentance, which is a gift from God, falls short of the glory of God.
But he didn't save us because we did it right, believed him in right way, had the sincerest heart, or had the right emotions at the right pitch of a worship song--no, none of that:
But according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
I read Titus 3 and all I see is God does, God does, God does, God does, God does, God does.
God does it all. Perfectly. All you got to do is sit there, lie there or stand there and just like that, your old heart is swapped out and the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now you have new affections and new desires. Now you walk in his statutes and now you obey his law. Because the Triune God now dwells in you. Because God has saved you!
For those who are saved by God, listen to what John hears:
Revelation 14:13 (CSB) Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they will rest from their labors, since their works follow them.”
Brothers and sisters, it is time to rest. God has done the work. Rest in Christ. Sleep well for you belong to the only God who saves.
Matthew 11:28–30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Our Response
7-10 What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day. And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and their backs bent continually.
God Preserves: Christ Saves
Without God, this is us. Without God, we have no hope in putting in our hope and trust in him. We are stupid. We are blind. We are death.
Go back and read the Gospels. Pay careful attention to the healings of Christ.
Christ did not come just to physically heal the sick, lame, blind, mute, and dumb! In each of the healings of Christ, he is proclaiming the truth:
See this blind man? This is you. I will open his eyes. But I will open your eyes to see me.
See this hurt woman? This is you. I will heal her infirmities. But I will make you a new creation.
Look at the Gospel of Mark starting at Mark 7:31:
- Christ opens our ears so that we now hear God Mark 7:31-37
- Christ gives us life because we are dead Mark 8:1-10
- Christ renews our minds so we can understand God Mark 8:11–13
- Christ gives us new hearts so we would receive God Mark 8:14–21
- Christ opens our eyes so that we would see God Mark 8:22–26
- Christ is the only way to God Mark 8:27–30
Without him, we would perish. We would perish in our sin and in our sin, we only harden our own hearts just like Pharoah. Just like Esau. Just like Judas.
But God saves. With that, you must be born again. And God has to give the new birth. You cannot work your way into the kingdom of God. You will have to be a new creation in Christ. You must be born again. This is outside of you. This has be of God.
But ask God for God and you will receive God. Here's the truth: the fact you ask for God means that God has already saved you--you just now figuring it out.
Blessed be his glorious name.
Romans 11:11-15 Ours To Do: Be Saved by God
The Text
Romans 11:11–32 (CSB)
11 I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.12 Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
14 if I might somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them.
15 For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
The Introduction
Since we have departed Romans 8, I have worked diligently to counter the mistake and the assumption that Romans 9-11 is reserved just for Israel. Let me remind you that Romans 9-11 is in context of Romans 1-8, and Romans 8. Two, that all Scriptures are God ordained (literally, God breathed) and profitable for teaching.
As we finish the heavy doctrinal position of Romans 1 through 11, let us continue to see the glory of God and who He is.
Our God
The gospel of Christ is perfectly this: God does it all and we do nothing but receive. And just like every Trinitarian analogy fails to properly teach the doctrine of Trinity, so too that every analogy of the salvation of God fails in a certain way. But I don't think it is the teaching but rather the listener is at fault.
Because I will say "God does everything to save his people from their sins" and the listening (you and me) will politely nod their heads but in their mind and hearts will instantly think:
- Of course, we have to choose God
- Of course, we have to raise our hearts to receive
- Of course, we have to decide God
But if you have gained nothing from reading the Bible and nothing from every word I have written and preached and taught, it is this:
God must remake you into a new creation before you can choose, believe, trust, obey God and repent of your sins.
You are doing the choosing, the raising of our hearts, the opening of our hands to receive, and the deciding. But you had to be a supernaturally, radically different person on the inside in order to see the kingdom of God.
Or to sum up using the words of Christ, "You must be born again." (John 3:3)
So this is why I am calling this series (Romans 11:11 to 16) "Ours to Do". This is to drive the point home that God must do everything before we can even start to do anything--the thing we were suppose to do by being in him--namely, love God and love our neighbor.
11 I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.
Ours To Do: Be Made Jealous by God
In Romans 9 to 11 is, in one way, an expository sermon of the book of Exodus. And let me tell you why. Paul explicitly preaches this in Romans 9:
Romans 9:17 (CSB) For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.
In the glory and provision of God in saving his people, God has mysteriously chosen to give the Pharaoh over to his own depravity. (Romans 1:18-32)
In contrast to Israel, those whom he has rescued from slavery to the Pharaoh, he has not harden their hearts but rather set jealousy in their hearts. How? By giving the gospel offering of salvation to people like the Egyptians and the rest of the world.
Any Jewish person reading that should be aghast at that statement if they stop and think about it.
In this same way, any Gentile should also be aghast. I think that is what culture calls, "mind is blown." For God:
Romans 9:18 (CSB) So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
It is the pure, unadulterated mercies of God that he did not harden the hearts of the Jewish people but rather, made them jealous.
In the same breath, it is the pure, unadulterated mercies of God that he has not harden our hearts but rather, saw us in our own depravity and wickedness, just like Pharaoh, but instead, gave us mercy.
God is merciful and compassionate.
12 Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!
Ours To Do: Be Made Full By God
No one should be surprised by this at all. Especially not the Jews. God has always offered salvation to Jew and Gentile alike. Zipporah, the wife of Moses, and her father, Reuel, were Midianites--distinctly not Jewish. That should have been the first clue. And then we have Salmon marrying Rahab and Boaz marrying Ruth in the direct lineage of King David. That is the second clue.
But what is hard to bite: that the Jewish people failed. But what is harder to bite: that mankind has failed. This has started with Adam who failed to keep the covenant between him and God. Adam would have lived forever in righteousness, freedom, and peace with God if Adam obeyed God. Adam had the heart and the will to obey God but failed.
And every person since Adam has failed except for one. And every Jew has failed since Abraham except one. Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is God, the twice Son of David, did exactly what Adam and every other person born of man failed to do: perfectly loving God and loving everybody.
The failure of the Jews is redeemed by Christ. That means our failures are still there but they means something good because of Christ.
how much more will their fullness bring!
Many have built entire eschatologies in trying to explain what this means. They would go as far as to heretically, and in grave error, suggest that every Jew will be saved by God in the end. But that is not so because only those Jews those whom he foreknew and therefore, saved. (Romans 11:2-5)
We are not saved by God because of our sinful racist views. For:
John 1:12-13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
We are saved by God and God alone.
The Gospel
13-14 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if I might somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them.
Ours To Do: To Receive the Gospel of God
This was not Paul's decision to minister to the Gentiles but the good works that God prepared for him ahead of time (Ephesians 2:10). For:
Acts 9:15-16 (CSB) But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
If you are a Gentile Christian reading this today, it is because of Christ's predestined good work for Paul to minister to the Gentiles over 2000 years ago that you and I get to gather together and worship God today. Think about the power, grace, compassion, love, and mercies of God for our lives. He alone is worthy.
The gospel is this: God saves sinners. And the gospel is in the power of God in salvation: that God has sent his Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is God, to live and in die in place for sinners so that we might live and be at peace with God our Father forever.
And that power in salvation of God was for Jew and Gentile alike:
Romans 1:16 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
Our Response
15 For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
Ours To Do: Be Saved by God
Titus 3:3-5 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Ours is not to do. The Messiah has been revealed and his name is Jesus Christ. He has done it all and did so perfectly, fulfillment and to glory. And we as his people need to sit and be saved. We now know the path to life, we get to sit in his fullness where there is only the fulness of joy and we get to sit at his right hand with Christ where there can only be pleasures evermore.
Romans 1:17 (CSB) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
God has revealed his righteousness and his name is Christ Jesus. That faith has been given to us. Now, go and live with faith in the Son of God who has loved us and gave himself up for us.
Amen
Romans 11:16-24 Ours To Do: Be in God's Mercies
The Text
Romans 11:16-24 (CSB)
16 Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree,
18 do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.
19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
20 True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware,
21 because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you—if you remain in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
23 And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?
The Introduction
16 Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Be In God's Mercy! He Is Holy
Right out the gate, starting off with this passage, in verse 16, we get to see where God is coming from. I use this verse to set the stage a verse coming up--where, out of context, if you did not have verse 16 or the rest of Romans 11 or the rest of the Bible, you swore that you could lose your salvation if you messed up.
One, if you and I could lose our salvation, you and I would have already done so. We sin continuously. And that might trigger one of two responses. One, "I didn't do anything bad all week." Two, "I remember what Christ said--it is a matter of the heart--and that I know my heart is not always pure." This is why we as a people gather together in church to confess our sins together and then hear, sit under, receive the assurance of pardon and the gospel of the Almighty God that has done everything perfectly in his Son to save you from yours sins and adopted into his family.
We start off this passage with essentially Paul expositing Peter or Peter expositing Paul and both are expositing Leviticus:
1 Peter 1:15-16 (CSB) But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
Right off the bat, let us remind ourselves that no one is auto-saved from birth. We must be born again. To lest we are confused because of certain end-times theologies, entire nations are not saved by God. For:
Romans 11:4–8 (CSB)
4 But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.5 In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.
6 Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.
7 What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,
8 as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.
There is no alternative plan of salvation. For:
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
Case in point, 7000 is not the entire nation of Israel but a very small percentages. God does not work in fairness: it is not "all nations must have x percentage in order to be fair." No! The only percentage that God deals with is 100%. 100% of his people--the elect, a chosen race, a royal priesthood before the foundation of the earth was laid--are saved by him. And that has been perfectly done. How do we know? He sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to live and die for us so we would be saved. It is a done deal. That's the gospel. End of sermon. Everybody go home.
17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree,
Now from that remnant, let us examine what God was working with when it came to saving his people. God is letting in just how the Revelation of Jesus Christ works out:
Revelation 5:9–10 (CSB) And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.
With what does he start working with?
Be In God's Mercy! We Are A Wild Bunch
We can trace the lineage of Christ in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. From Matthew 1 starting in Genesis 12, we see how the lineage of the Jewish people--this accounts starts with Abraham, whom Paul in Galatians 3 calls, our father in the faith. 1
But what about the Gentiles as a whole?
Like the lineage of Christ, we all start with Adam. But then trace all the way down to Abraham. Yes, remember Abraham was not Jewish but a Chaldeans. Remember in Genesis 11-12, God calls this Chaldean out of his town of Ur in Chaldea.
We see from Abraham, he begets Ishmael. The modern day Arabians can and do trace their lineage back to Abraham via Ishmael. That is one nation.
From there, you see, through the lineage from Abraham, you see Reuel and his daughter Zipporah who becomes Moses wife. Grafted in. You see Rahab a Gentile prostitute, who by faith, protected Joshua and Caleb. Grafted in. She marries Salmon and bore a son name Boaz. Boaz' kin, Naomi, after losing her husbands and sons, comes back to Israel with a Moabite daughter-in-law named Ruth. Boaz meets her, falls in love, and marries her. Ruth the Gentile, grafted in.
Are you seeing a pattern?
Whatever God was going to do--namely fulfill his own promises starting with his covenant to mankind that he will crush the head of the serpent--was indeed going to be through the Israelites. But it is only by faith that you are a people of God.
Galatians 3:6-7 (CSB) just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness? You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons.
When we say "people of God", the Bible talks about two things.
- People of God - the nation of Israel; Israelites descended from Abraham through Isaac then Jacob. Jewish people.
- People of God - the elect, the chosen priesthood, saved by God through Christ alone
In other words, he will use the nation of Israel to set the foundation and foreshadow and prophesy to the world on how he will have those who were not his people, his people and he shall be their God.
Not all the nation of Israel is elect. Some are. Not all the nation of the United States is elect. Some are.
Since we have fully established the salvation of God in his people, let us talk about our God.
Our God
18 do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.
Be In God's Mercy! We Need Something Outside of Ourselves
It does not matter if you are Jew or Gentile when it comes to the salvation. Your faith is not born within you. For:
Romans 10:17 (CSB) So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
If you think you can boast in the fact you heard the gospel, think again.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
What is God's gift? Salvation? Grace? Faith? The answer is yes. The answer is D. All of the above. How do you know that gift actually refers to Faith along with Grace and Salvation. Look at the middle of the passage:
this is not from yourselves
And
not from works, so that no one can boast
Case closed.
That faith came about the moment the Father, by the power of the Spirit, through the perfect of Christ, gave you a new heart, his Spirit, renewed mind, complete transformation from the inside out. You were born again, truly alive by God. That is the moment you had faith.
Faith is not a power within yourself but rather, a wholly gracious gift from God.
Moreso, it is not your faith that sustains you. Your faith might ebb and wane with the storms and calm seas. It is the author and finisher of that faith that sustains you. He is the root of this tree of life that both Jews and Gentiles are grafted in. His name is Jesus Christ.
Break the branches off? Christ is still our All-in-all.
17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree,
Be In God's Mercy! We Are Not Born Into It
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 6:33 (CSB) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
Here are some colossal big facts:
- Your time, place, race, natural origin does not save you (although we are placed in certain places and times by God so that we might seek him--Acts 17:26-27)
- Your parents don't make you saved
- Your home does not make you saved
- Your church nor your pastor does not make your saved
It would be presumptuous, foolhardy, and prideful to think such things. That is exactly why Paul is writing this letter to us: we can only boast in nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. For:
1 Corinthians 1:30–2:5 (CSB)
30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption31 —in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom.
2 I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
3 I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
4 My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
5 so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.
Nothing in us could have chosen God. What we usually see is that the most depraved, most wicked, brought up in the most sin-filled home and everything about that person's life would suggest they are far, far away from the salvation God.
To which God would aptly and rightly respond:
Isaiah 50:2a (CSB) Why was no one there when I came? Why was there no one to answer when I called? Is my arm too weak to redeem? Or do I have no power to rescue?
This answer is rhetoric. Only my God is mighty to save! He rejoices in rescuing the wicked. He delights in healing the ones who are sick in heart. He sings when the most depraved turn to him. He is the source of all good. He is the source of love. He alone is holy holy holy. There is no other way we are going to be saved other than the Lord Jesus. God will not reject you if you come to him and ask for him.
I have the only guarantee in life: Ask the Father, and he will give you his Spirit. Fall into the arms of the Almighty Savior--take all of your sins, yes, even you most heinous and wicked and depraved sins, the ones who cannot share nor will ever share with a living soul forever and placed those sins upon his Son and you will get instant relief, instant righteousness, the fullness of joy and pleasures ever more.
You say, "what if I sin?" But our Great God is infinite! The earth is filled with his glory. His love is steadfast, his daily renewed mercies never come to an end and his grace is so thick they can only be described as grace upon grace.
Does God run out of those things? For his people, never! For the ones whom he sent his Son, Jesus, to live and die? Never!
Have you sinned? Yes. Did you sin today? Yes. Will you sin again? Absolutely yes. Our sins run deep but Christ is deeper still. 2
For:
Romans 5:20b (CSB) The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
You need to praise our God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
The Gospel
18-19 do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
Be In God's Mercy! Your Works Did Not Save You But God
The sick and diseased of sin? God delights in saving them.
What about the prideful? The self-righteous? The ones that just assume they are in Christ but they are on their way to hell?
Whatever you think you have done to get you in good standing with God? Trash it. Because that is what God does:
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB) All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Whatever you have done to be saved by God doesn't work anyways. Why don't you put away your foolishness? Your disobedience? For:
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Romans 8 aptly states that without the Spirit, we have the spirit of slavery that imprisons us into our own passions, lusts, hate, and envy.
But what does God do?
Titus 3:4-5 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
The Triune God must save you. Father, Son, and Spirit works together in love to bring you into their family of love.
No one earns their way into a family that you were born in. If you do, you are in a wicked family.
God's family is good. He born you again. You are a brand new creature. You are now born again. You are a baby in the family of God. What? Does a baby earn their keep? Earns their food? Earns their clothes? Their security, warmth, goodness, and love? That is preposterous! So too is the family of God! If babies cannot earn their way into their family, so too is it with born again sons and daughters of the Most High!
20-21 True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware, because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Be In God's Mercy! God Will Not Lose His Children
For:
John 10:27–30 (CSB) My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
So what is Paul saying here? Does he dare contradict the Apostle John?
The world wants you to think that. But what have we established at the beginning of this chapter? It is here, in verses 20-21, that God is speaking about the nation of Israel as a people group--the natural branch.
Remember:
Romans 11:7 (CSB) What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,
The elect of God can never be broken off. They are in the family of God by the decree of God by faith in God.
Unbelief keeps you under the wrath of Jesus Christ:
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
The rest were hardened.
And.
20-21 True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware, because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Brother and sisters, we have seen the nation of Israel, the tiniest nation whom God choose to fulfill his promises through, seen their hearts harden and likewise, God did not spare the natural branch.
Our faith is not through the branch of Israel. Our faith is in Christ, who is the root of the tree of life!
If you are Jewish and reading this, you can get grafted into Christ. How? Repent and believe! Ask God for God you will get God!
If you are not Jewish and reading this, you can get grafted into Christ. How? Repent and believe! Ask God for God you will get God!
All who have called upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!
Our Response
22 Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you—if you remain in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
Be In God's Mercy! Nations Are Not Above Getting Cut
We are here to not to transform culture. We are here to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
We are in this world but not of this world because our God is not of this world.
John 17:16 (CSB) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
We are always between two worlds. We are aliens just like our fathers were.
1 Chronicles 29:15 (CSB) For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
Leviticus 25:23 (CSB) “The land is not to be permanently sold because it is mine, and you are only aliens and temporary residents on my land.
Hebrews 11:13 (CSB) These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
1 Peter 2:11-12 (CSB) Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
Nations are not here to be saved and glorified. It is that every people group from every nation and tribe and tongue, not nations wholesale.
Our active witness will change the world around us--if God deems it so. What is primary is that your neighbor or co-worker or your child or your parent or your ex-spouse knows the living God. Perhaps the culture be changed in that.
But perhaps the nation will keep descending just like the nation of Israel. They ended up in complete captivity ruled by the greatest empire that the world has ever seen: the Roman Empire. Christ was born in the midst of that empire--that he setup--and 300 years later, he folded it because he alone is King of kings.
Nations wage war. People groups are birth and then go extinct. But God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And the people of God is the only constant on this earth. We will be preserved because we are precious in his sight.
23-24 And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?
Be In God's Mercy! You Are In God!
Remember, we are not vessels of destruction! He has not harden our hearts. Our judgment is not final because why? We still breath his air.
Romans 9:23 (CSB) And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
The same grace that was extended to Jacob was extended to Esau. The same mercy that was given to Moses was available everyday for Pharaoh. The same steadfast love for the sons of the living God are widely available to the Gentile and Jew alike.
We saw in the Bible and in our history that God has cut the natural branch and because "he has compassion on whom he has compassion" has grafted in the wild branch.
The great pruner, the gardener of our souls, would love nothing more to graft in the Jews. There way in is the only way in: Jesus Christ our Lord.
🎼 Father Abraham had many sons; many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them. And so are you. So let's just praise the Lord.🎵 2: Famously by Corrie Ten Boom
Romans 11:25-32 Ours To Do: Be in God's Kindness
The Text
Romans 11:25-32 (CSB)
25 I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.
28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,
29 since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.
30 As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience,
31 so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy.
32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.
The Introduction
25 I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Be in God's Kindness! We truly know God
As John Calvin once said, "The finite mind cannot comprehend an infinite being." What does this mean? Can we not know God?
Not unless the Father of lights opens our eyes to see him. We know that God must make us a new creation in order for us to see the kingdom. So we are not ignorant to the mysteries of God. We do see clearly that the Gentiles will make up most of the church of Christ. The Jews will make up a small part. Some in part because they are a small nation. But also, another mystery is revealed: their hearts are partial hardening. Some translations: a partial blindness.
How can one be partially blind and half-harden heart? For the case of the Jews, they had the Law. More correctly stated, they have the Old Testament.
Romans 3:1-2 (CSB) So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.
They have the very words do God. Let it be known the same Christ whom they've hardened their hearts towards is the same Christ who knew their own Scriptures better than them. And how? All Scripture is inspired by him and all the Scriptures are about him. Ever but of it.
Israel has the Scriptures and yet refuse to see it.
John 5:39-40 (CSB) You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
This is where we Gentiles do not get to boast because we do the same thing. We can fall into the trap of knowing a lot of Scripture thinking that makes me holy unto God. Maybe compared to other people but not to God.
Our God
26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
Be in God's Kindness! He is kind and patient towards us
Romans 2:4 (CSB) Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
2 Peter 3:9 (CSB) The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Breath in. Breath out. That is the air and life that God has provided.
We, the children of God, have taken full advantage of his wonderful salvation and mercies. We have accepted his kindness because we have received his Son, his heart, his mind, and his Spirit.
We have not wasted a moment of his patience. But you say, "What about those times when I didn't know him? I have wasted so much of my life."
But what does the Bible say? We were once all foolish and led astray. We were all dead in our trespasses and sins. But look at God! Sending his only Son. And the Son appeared in our lives like he did for Paul, and the Ethiopian Eunuch and Lydia and the Philippian Jailer and for you and for me! He saved us and washed us clean and renewed us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel
Because of what God has done, look at what God continues to do:
27 And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.
Be in God's Kindness! He forgives our sins
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 103 (CSB)
1 My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits.
3 He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He revealed his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, all his angels of great strength, who do his word, obedient to his command.
21 Bless the LORD, all his armies, his servants who do his will.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all the places where he rules. My soul, bless the LORD!
Who is like the Lord? Who can compare to Him? He is full of grace, merciful everyday, and steadfast in loving-kindness. He is the fairest of all time. There is no one who can match his power, awe, beauty, honor, majesty, and glory.
He alone is God forever.
28-29 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.
Be in God's Kindness! He has forever saved us
Those whom God has saved he will forever save. For:
Ephesians 1:3–5 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
And
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
You might ask, "How can that be? What if God changes his mind? What if I sinned too much? What if I out-sin the grace of God?"
You are going to out-sin someone else's grace and mercy. People are limited. People are feeble. People are affected by the world around them. People are pressed in on every side. Even and especially Christians. They can be taken to their limits and broken. They may get dried up.
And by they, and I mean, we and my we I mean me.
I am extremely limited. You are extremely limited. And God commands us to do things that are way beyond on capability. "Love the Lord our God with everything we got?". "Love my neighbor as myself?" which is like the first law? We cannot do this. We are made from dust!
For everything we share with our Maker since we are imagebearers of God, that is where the similarities begin and end: we are weak but he is infinitely strong.
God is unlimited and he alone gives eternal life. God is steadfast and he gives endurance to run this race. God is not affected by the world but he has forever changed the world by sending his only begotten Son. God is not pressed by the world nor by hell but yet, his Son has built his church to press through the world and press against the gates of hell. God is not limited. God is not broken. God does not suffer. God does not change his mind. God does not change his heart.
2 Timothy 2:13 (CSB) if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God's love and mercy and grace and patience and kindness towards his people is the same yesterday (see the Bible), today (see the Church), and tomorrow (see God)!
Our Response
The same Triune God dwells in us. Glorify him today!
30-32 As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.
Be in God's Kindness! He is merciful, loving and gracious towards us
Song of Songs 2:4 (ESV) He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Song of Songs 2:16a (ESV) My beloved is mine, and I am his;
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
For here is love, God proclaims the good news that He will make all things right:
>Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
And here is love, God is faithful:
>Psalm 103:15–18 (CSB) As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known. But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
And here is love, God's faithful love and mercies will never come to an end:
>Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
And here is love, God does everything for you to be with Him:
>Ezekiel 36:25–28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
And here is love, God saves us from our sins:
>Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
And here is love:
>John 1:16–18 (CSB) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
And here is love, God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ:
>John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
And here is love, God adopts us into his family:
>Romans 9:25–26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
And here is love, Christ loved me and lived and died for me:
>Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
And here is love, we have no condemnation and no separate from God:
>Romans 8:1; 38-39 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus... and nothing will every separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Simply put:
1 John 4:7-10 (ESV) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Exodus 34:6–7 (CSB) The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
Romans 9:15–16 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
Luke 23:34a (CSB) Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”
Romans 3:23–26 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Who is like our God? Who can compare to him? He alone is worthy to be praised and adored.
Worship him today!
Romans 11:33-36 Ours To Do: Praise God
The Text
Romans 11:33–36 (CSB)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
35 And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid?
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Our God
Stop here! Go back right now and re-read Romans starting at chapter 1 verse 1 all the way to right now.
Don't get bog down in the technicalities. I want you to see the glory of God.
Look at his splendor! Look at his might!
Look at his everlasting grace! Look at his mercy!
Look at how he loves us!
Look at what he won't do to bring his lost people back to him!
Look at what he won't do to bring his orphaned children back to him!
Look at wht he won't do shelter and bring in the despaired widow.
We are that widow! We are those orphans! We are the lost!
Romans 1-11 is the systematic exposition of the Old Testament--the law will crush us but cannot save us.
Roman 1-11 is the systematic exposition of the Gospels--but where law increased our sins by truly exposing who we really are, Christ Jesus gave even more grace than you can sin.
Take all of it--most heinous, most evil, most depraved, most dark, most denied--take the weight of that cancerous tumor and that diseased flesh and that rotten corpse and I dare you to place them on the flesh of Christ.
What will Christ do? Will his arms of mercy, that have been stretched out since the creation of Adam and Eve just go limp right in front your eyes?
John 6:35–40 (CSB)
35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.36 But as I told you, you’ve seen me, and yet you do not believe.
37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
39 This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Oh, okay. So you are Christian now. But then the Father is like your dad here on earth who has forgotten you and stopped paying attention you?
John 10:27-30 (CSB) My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Okay, then what if I place my sins on Christ. Isn't he just going to put more laws on me. Isn't that what the Bible is all about? Just more laws for me to break and not do?
Matthew 11:25–30 (CSB)
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants.26 Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure.
27 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
This is all too good to be true. Can God be this good? Can God be this loving and kind? Can the Almighty God be this merciful?
John 3:14–17 (CSB)
14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
How can I receive this God?
Luke 11:13 (CSB)
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
And
Acts 2:21 (CSB) Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
When can I call upon the Lord to be saved? Do I have to wait until I get right and clean myself up?
2 Corinthians 6:2 (CSB) For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
The best day is today. The best time is right now.
I have no guarantees in life but this: call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved.
Blessed be his glorious name forever.
Romans 12:1 Ours to Do: Worship God
The Text
Romans 12:1 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
The Introduction
We have spent the first eleven chapters of Romans extolling and magnifying and praising our great God and gone to the greatest details--within our finite wisdom and understanding--on how Christ has saved his people from their sins.
Romans 1-11, with the utmost authority, primacy and beginning of what I would call: a systematic theology. Romans is essentially an exposition on the Old Testament and the life, ministry, words, death, burial resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord. You want to know why those of who love theology love the book of Romans. Because Paul goes into the greatest detail on the power of the gospel.
The gospel is the power of God in salvation for those who believe. It is the only thing that saves us. Nothing else by God--not our minds, hearts, works, his laws, his provision, his creation--can save us. Just this gospel which is Jesus Christ and him crucified. What Paul does in Romans is being able to supernaturally describe this power. It is simply amazing. And for the people of God, it takes our breath away in awe and gives us breath to worship and sing and praise his holy name.
We have done great work in dissecting the law from the God using the book of Romans. Paul has gone to great lengths to distinguish the law of God from the gospel of God.
In summation, the law cannot save. It was never designed to saved.
Romans 8:3–4 (CSB) For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Not only that, you and I have already broken the law. When we have broken one law, we have broken it all.
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
And it is not that we keep breaking the law of God since it does not save us. No!
Romans 6:1-2 (CSB) What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Why am I belaboring the point? For the rest of our time in Romans, God is going to lay out a series of commands for you and me. Romans is not to be bifurcated. It is not to be cut into two--focus on one and ignore the other. Romans 12-16 is in context for Romans 1-11 and because we interpret Scripture using Scripture (sola Scriptura), Romans must remain in context of the Bible.
John Calvin in his Institutes, Book 2, Chapter 7, he lays out three uses of the law that I find very helpful when reading the command of God.
Three Uses of the Law
- Mirror of ourselves - when we read the law of God in the Bible, we examine ourselves and see that we are found wanting
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
The law of God is the holy standard of requirements that you and I must achieve perfectly with every second of our lives in order to be with God. But that is just it, God demands perfection and we have fallen way short of that--think of it as a infinite gap.
Here's where it really gets nuts: there are some unbelievers and believers think that they can still do enough works and somehow bridge that infinite gap. Here's a short math lesson: infinite gap minus one is still infinity. In other words, we are infinity distance from the glory of God. Do you honestly think that one of your or a million of your "good" works is going to close that gap?
That is what the Catholics believe. That is what the Muslims believe. That is what the Mormons believe. That is what most of the world believes. They believe and that they hope that God grades on a curve. "I might be bad but I am not as bad of Hitler." But all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The glory of God is infinite and you and I have fallen short of that.
- Civil law to restrain pure evil - difference between Total and Utter Depravity--we are not as evil as we could be
It could be way worse. See Genesis 5 and 6. See the Dark Ages from 500AD to 1500AD. See our world today. The law of God--whether carved on stone tablets for the Jews or written on the conscience of Gentiles' hearts, keeps us from fully going utter depravity--so wicked and evil that we could not be saved.
One more use of the law:
- Good works that loves others and pleases God - it is not that God needs anything from us but our neighbors do:
Matthew 22:37-40 (CSB) He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Ephesians 2:10 (CSB) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
We have the law as a way of living a righteous life unto God. We have Christ. The Father has given us his heart and the Spirit. Now we get to obey the laws of God because of Christ's perfect obedience to the law.
The law does not save anyone but condemns everyone.
Romans 3:20 (CSB) For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law
Christ came into the world not to condemn but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
The writers of the Bible did not come to give more law but to give the great gospel of God--since the Genesis 3:15.
Paul was not eager to preach more law but rather the gospel:
Romans 1:15 (CSB) So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
Let us sum up Romans this way:
- Romans 1-3: Here's us compared to the law
- Romans 4-7: There is nothing you can do
- Romans 8-11: Christ does it all
- Romans 11:33-36: Praise be to God!
Now for the rest of Romans:
- Romans 12-16: Go and love your neighbor
There is no gospel from here on out--just the law of loving your neighbor as yourself. Paul wrote to the church in Rome not as unbelievers. He knows that they are they are in Christ. For:
Romans 1:5–7 (CSB) Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, including you who are also called by Jesus Christ. To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
He wrote to the church and the elders would have preached this letter to the congregation because they are sheep of the Good Shepherds. We do not entertain goats but feed, care, and love the lambs. (John 21:15-19)
Paul is giving the law to the followers of Christ so that they can live righteously because they belong to God.
It is never the opposite--we do not and cannot obey God to then belong to God.
Our God
1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
Worship God
If the gospel is the power of God in salvation ( Romans 1:16), if his righteousness is revealed to us from faith to faith (17), we once suppressed the truth of God (18-25), we were once counted among the wicked? Therefore, worship God.
If the law was written upon our hearts (2:15), and the law was given to the Jews (12-14), and our disobedience was building up the just wrath of God upon us (5-10) even though God is slow to anger and his kindness was meant for our repentance (4)? Therefore, worship God.
If we were all not righteous (3:10-12) and all have fallens short of his glory (23) but God has given the righteousness of Christ to all of those who believe in his Son? Therefore, worship God.
If we cannot possibly pay back God nor put God in debt because our good works are only done in self-righteousness and therefore filthy rags in his sight (Romans 4)? Therefore, worship God.
If, because of Christ alone, we have been justified by faith, at peace with the Almighty God (5:1), access to the Almighty God, stand in the grace of God, get to boast in the hope of the glory of God (2), no matter what the world, Satan, and sin might come our way (3), be built up to look like Christ (4), and we shall never be disappointed in this hope because God's sweetest love has been poured out in our hearts in the Holy Spirit that God has given each one of us? Therefore, worship God.
We are helpless in our sin and we are ungodly! But God loved us so much that while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:6-8) Therefore, worship God!
While yet we were enemies towards God, Christ with his own life, saved us and reconciled us to God. (Romans 5:9-11) Therefore, worship God!
If we were born into sin because of our original father, Adam, and all our born-thoughts and actions are away from God and not towards God and yet, the Second Adam, came into this world not to condemn it but to save sinners, and his righteousness and eternal life to us? (Romans 5:12-19) Therefore, worship God!
If the law came in only to perfectly expose our infinite distance from God and increased and highlight the sin in our lives, therefore, worship God!
But if the grace of God through Jesus Christ multiplied exponentially over our sin, therefore, worship God!
Do we get to sin more? No! Sin has been put to death because Christ has died for our sins as sinners! We are dead to sin and alive to God! Death has died and Christ is alive! We are divorced from death and in union with Christ, therefore, worship Christ!
Let us muse upon the fact that Jesus was conducted without the gates of the city. It was the common place of death. That little rising ground, which perhaps was called Golgotha, the place of a skull, from its somewhat resembling the crown of a man's skull, was the common place of execution. It was one of Death's castles; here he stored his gloomiest trophies; he was the grim lord of that stronghold. Our great hero, the destroyer of Death, bearded the lion in his den, slew the monster in his own castle, and dragged the dragon captive from his own den. Methinks Death thought it a splendid triumph when he saw the Master impaled and bleeding in the dominions of destruction; little did he know that the grave was to be rifled, and himself destroyed, by that crucified Son of man.
Charles Spurgeon. The Procession of Sorrow. Sermon 497. March 1, 1863.
And we live this life unto Christ and residual sin from within our sick yet recovering hearts still surfaces and takes actions, there is no despair. For Christ Almighty saves our wretched self from our bodies of death.
Now we are free to obey God and walk in newness with him! Therefore, worship God!
The Gospel
There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus! Therefore, worship God!
Oh close and blessed union! Justified by God, accepted in Christ, condemnation there cannot be. I stand in the Divine presence as Joshua stood before the Lord, or as the woman stood before the Savior, charged, accused, guilty; but I am in the presence of him who, though now he sits upon the throne as my Judge, once hung upon the cross as my Savior. And, investing me with his own spotless robe, he proceeds to pronounce the sentence- "NO CONDEMNATION!"
"These things write I unto you that your joy may be full."
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation in Christ Jesus. 191.
Because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. Therefore, worship God!
For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Therefore, worship God!
For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Therefore, worship God!
Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. Therefore, worship God!
The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Therefore, worship God!
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Therefore, worship God!
You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Therefore, worship God!
Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. Therefore, worship God!
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, worship God!
So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Therefore, worship God!
For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. Therefore, worship God!
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore, worship God!
The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Therefore, worship God!
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. Therefore, worship God!
For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. Therefore, worship God!
For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. Therefore, worship God!
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Therefore, worship God!
Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Therefore, worship God!
Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Therefore, worship God!
Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. Therefore, worship God!
In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. Therefore, worship God!
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Therefore, worship God!
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Therefore, worship God!
For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Therefore, worship God!
And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. Therefore, worship God!
What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Therefore, worship God!
He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Therefore, worship God!
Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Therefore, worship God!
Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Therefore, worship God!
Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Therefore, worship God!
As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
"Through him that loved us." Here is the great secret of our victory, the source of our triumph. Behold the mystery explained, how a weak, timid believer, often running from his own shadow, is yet "more than a conqueror" over his many and mighty foes.
To Christ who loved him, who gave himself for him, who died in his stead, and lives to intercede on his behalf, the glory of the triumph is ascribed. And this is the song he chants, "Thanks be to God which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Through the conquest which he himself obtained, through the grace which he imparts, through the strength which he inspires, through the intercession which he presents, in all our "tribulation, and distress, and persecution, and famine, and nakedness, and peril, and sword" we are "more than conquerors." Accounted though we are as "sheep for the slaughter," yet our Great Shepherd, Himself slain for the sheep, guides his flock, and has declared that no one shall pluck them out of his hand.
We are more than conquerors through his grace who loved us in the very circumstances that threaten to overwhelm. Fear not, then, the darkest cloud, nor the proudest waves, nor the deepest needs- in these very things you shall, through Christ, prove triumphant. Nor shrink from the battle with the "last enemy." Death received a death-wound when Christ died. You face a conquered foe. He stands at your side a crownless king, and waving a broken scepter. Your death shall be another victory over the believer's last foe. Planting your foot of faith upon his prostrate neck, you shall spring into glory, more than a conqueror, through him that loved you. Thus passing to glory in triumph, you shall go to swell the ranks of the "noble army of martyrs"- those Christian heroes of whom it is recorded, "THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD Of THE LAMB."
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation in Christ Jesus. 229.
Death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The gulf between the unbeliever and the ones with the smallest faith is abysmally infinite. However, there is no gap between the ones with the smallest faith and the arms and the heart of the loving Savior.
Charles Spurgeon
I have one thing to tell you on this day: Worship God!
Our Response
God will stop at nothing to rescue his people from their sins! Therefore, worship God!
God saves based not anything big nor small thing we have done. In fact, he didn't even wait for us to be born the first time so that he could born us again the second time! (Romans 9:11-15) He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, over 2000 years ago so you would be saved today. I tell you: worship God!
God not only is not prohibited by any forces--not even kings nor pharaohs nor angels nor demons not even our sin--to give compassion on whom he gives compassion and mercy on whom he gives mercy. I tell you: worship God!
For the wicked, he hardens the hearts of the wicked by proclaiming that we are not gods and he alone is God! I implore you: worship God!
And out of everyone, he saves his people--completely, entirely, perfectly, definitely. (16-33) I repeat: worship God!
And for us who were once not the people of God, we have been esteemed with the forever title: the people of God. What can I tell you? Worship God!
And for us who were bitter enemies of God, we are now called Beloved. WORSHIP GOD!
And if you have ever been told you are not of God in God by God for God even though God saves his children all the way home to him. Then the fools who would get you to cast doubt on the perfect saving work of the Almighty God, they stand corrected. I read in Romans 9:26, in this place we rightfully called: sons of the living God!
Why are you not worshiping God? Worship him!
Christ is the end of the law of righteousness for his people because he alone has perfectly obeyed the law of God with joy and gladness. We are not under condemnation of the law but under the joy of Christ.
Worship God, you blessed saints!
Christ has descended from on high to be born of a little infant into our world to live the life we could not have lived to die the death we should have die to descend into the depths of hell to snatch the keys of Death and Hades to resurrect from the grace that is impossible for man to do to make the path of life to God and sit at his right hand where there is only fullness of joy and pleasures and bliss forevermore.
Look at God and worship him!
The good news of God is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart. This is the message of faith because the Triune God has made his home in you. I tell you, worship God, church!
By the sheer power of the Holy Spirit, we proclaim and herald from the four corners of the earth that Jesus Christ is Lord! (1 Corinthians 12:1-3, Romans 10:8)
And we believe that Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is God, has risen again from the dead on the first Easter Sunday! WE ARE SAVED TO GOD BY GOD FOR GOD FOREVER!
Beloved, we worship God!
We believe and confess that there is no other name by which we are saved. We testify this absolute truth because not that we did anything good but because God alone is good! (Romans 10:10)
If there is no condemnation and no separation from God, thn blessed child, God will never shame you.
Feel free to worship our great King!
Call upon the name of the Lord. Be saved by God! Worship his Majesty!
Majesty, worship His Majesty.
Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise!
Majesty, Kingdom Authority,
Flow from His throne, unto His own
His anthem raise!So exalt, lift up on high the Name of Jesus!
Magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus the King.
Majesty, worship His Majesty;
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings! 1
If you have heard the preaching of the gospel, the feebleness and weakness of the preacher who preached it, yet in the insurmountable and unstoppable power of God that is his gospel, you believe?
What can you do but sing His praises!
Count yourself, dear saint, among the chosen and remnant of the Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth. Therefore, taste and see that the Lord is good. Worship him!
God alone has opened our eyes. renewed our minds, quickened our tongues, restores our ears, swapped our dead hearts for his, and indwelling of the Spirit. We get to worship God right now!
God has made us a part of the greatest plan of redemption. We have sin much but God is mightier. We have dug a grave that reaches all the way to hell but Christ is deeper still! 2
Adopted children of God, worship His holy name!
He is exalted the King is exalted on High
I will praise Him
He is exalted forever exalted
And I will praise His nameHe is the Lord
Forever His truth shall reign
Heaven and Earth
Rejoice in His holy name
He is exalted the King is exalted on high 3
Our Deliverer have comes from Zion! He has separated our godlessness away from the sons of Abraham! God has fulfilled his promise that he has taken away all of our sins.
That is promise his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Children of Abraham, we obtain mercy by God not because we were ever obedient but because of our disobedience.
Romans 11:33–36 (CSB)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
35 And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid?
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Worship God because he has done it all
Romans 12:1 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
So what then can we say?
So what then can we do?
Who is like our God and who can compare to him! He alone is holy and good!
So from the bottom of our hearts,
We thank you, God, for giving me strength.
Thank you, our Father God.
Thank you, our Christ Jesus.
Thank you, our Holy Spirit.
You judged us faithful.
You appointed us to Your service.
Despite our dishonoring and blaspheming,
Your holy name,
despite our persecution and hatred
those who love you,
despite our perverted and violent opposition
towards you,
Still
We only received mercy
because We was lost
We were lame
We were deaf
We were blind
We were stupid
We were ignorant
We were evil
We were dead
and We were not looking and could not look for you whatsoever.
But Your beautiful, sweet and tender
love, mercy and grace
overflowed for us
overwhelmingly
undeservedly
ill-deservingly
with your unbroken faithfulness
and your relentless love
that can only be by You,
for You,
through You,
our Christ Jesus our Lord our Savior.
These words
out of our hearts
are true
and with all of our hope and dreams
and desires and wishes
that our words would be sweet to your ears.
We know
that you came in this world
to rescue us, your people
to pull us out of despair
to give us, your people, life
to save us from our sins
to bring us to you
evil sinners
at war with you
All of us
And we lead this group.
We were the foremost of evil
We were the chief of sinners
We were the victor of sin
We were the champion of those who would face Your terrifying wrath!
Yet,
in this reason
that Your grace abounds all the more
that Your mercy renews every morning
that Your love never ceases
that You
our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ
might display
Your perfection, beauty, tenderness, quickness,
Your love, mercy, grace, patience
for all of those whom You call Yours
and those would believe upon Your holy name for life forever.
This is why we will sing
to our God of the everlasting to the everlasting
our Triune
our Father
our Son
our Holy Spirit
our immortal
our invisible
our Only One
our Creator
our Sustainer
our Merciful
our Peace
our Grace
our Faith
our Messiah
our Immanuel, God with Us
our Blessed
our Living Word
our Christ
our Son of God
our Fellow Heir
our Second Adam
our Kinsman Redeemer
our Beginning
our Means
our End
our Majesty
our Truth
our Way
our Life
our Wisdom
our Teacher
our Rescuer
our Promise
our Calling
our Fulfillment
our Abundance
our Host
our Governor
our High Priest
our Prophet
our Apostle
our Sufferer
our Messiah
our Servant
our Son of Man
our Predestiny
our Calling
our Justification
our Glory
our Power
our Gospel
our Guide
our Elector
our All-Sufficient
our Lion of Judah
our Worthy Lamb who was slain
our King of all kings
our Lord of all lords
our Commander
our Ruler above all
our Name above all Names
our Wonderful Counselor
our Mighty God
our Everlasting Father
our Prince of Peace
our Holiness
our Righteousness
our Justice
our Faithfulness
our Mercy
our Grace
our Friend
our Confidence
our Pastor
our Elder
our Brother
our Assurance
our Redeemer
our Rock
our Salvation
our All in all
our Exalted
our Glorious
our Beloved
our Joy
our Song
our Love
our Jesus Christ, King, Lord, Savior and Messiah
our Father, our Father, our Abba, our heart
our Holy Spirit, our comfort, our peace, our gift, our breath.
So we will be so very careful to
worship,
sing,
praise,
glorify,
exalt,
proclaim,
honor,
dedicate,
magnify,
lift up,
and love
You alone.
We pray this desperately and joyfully,
in the beautiful,
sweet,
precious,
most tender,
loveliest,
most worthy,
dearest name of
Your Son.
His name is
the Lord Jesus Christ.
No pen, no words, no images can express to you the loveliness of our only, only Lord Jesus Christ. 4
But with every bit of our soul,
body,
strength,
mind,
heart,
will praise and bless your holy name
forever
Amen
Jack Hayford. Majesty. 2: "No pit is so deep that He is not deeper still; with Jesus even in our darkest moments, the best remains and the very best is yet to be." Corrie Ten Boom. 3: Twila Paris. He is Exalted. 4: Samuel Rutherford
Romans 12:2 Ours to Do: Discern What is Good
The Text
Romans 12:2 (CSB) Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
The Introduction
I come into Romans 12 with much fear and trepidation. What do I mean by that? I am being quite careful on how to present the rest of Romans. I begun Romans 12:1 with Calvin's Three Uses of the Law and that for the people of God, the law of God is use not to condemn his people or even a massive impossible checklist for you to never finish in order to be righteous with God. Since Christ has done all of it to save you from your sins and unto the Father, the law now serves as a reminder of what pleases the Father and how to love our neighbor.
Romans 12:1 called his people to worship. We know that explicitly that Paul was not just speaking of singing but it can include singing unto the Lord. For:
1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
In other words, the entire life, essence, and being of the Christian is to "glorify God and enjoy him forever", as famously taught in the Westminster Catechism. Our lives are a worship to God. That is why Paul states that if what he wrote at the beginning of Romans is true (it is), then present your bodies as living sacrifices unto God--this is true worship.
Verse 2, Paul here is giving us another command:
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Our God
For some of us who grew up this way, we memorized the Ten Commandments. I do not have them memorized but when I hear one of them, I know for a fact of the source: Exodus 20.
Within the law of God, he has a list of dos and donts. Within the Ten Commandments, the list of donts outnumbers the dos. Do observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. Obey your parents.
Look at the donts:
- Do not worship other gods
- Do not make an idol
- Do not take the Lord's name in vain
- Do not murder
- Do not commit adultery
- Do not steal
- Do not lie
- Do not covet
Here is one more don't that I think neatly sums of the don'ts of the Ten Commandments
Ours to Do: Do not be conformed to this age
Colossians 2:8 (CSB) Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
1 Timothy 1:3–4 (CSB) As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.
1 Timothy 4:7 (CSB) But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness.
2 Peter 1:16 (CSB) For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
And if you don't think that God is most serious about his children not thinking the way of the word, look at the charge he gives preachers of the word:
2 Timothy 4:1–5 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
God says: Don't be conformed to this age.
Might I submit to you that this should quickly fall under, "easier said than done." If you are like me who would fancy themselves a philosopher because they took two years of philosophy at the local junior college (it's me), then you know that each of us, sitting in this room, reading this page, hearing this sermon, have already been born into a philosophy of the age. You cannot help be immediately influenced by the philosophy and culture of your age. Modern, post-modern, post-post-modern--whatever you want to call it is a debate for another time. To pretend you are above it and unaffected by philosophy is foolishness. Look me in the eye and tell me you were not swayed one way or the other in the most recent presidential elections. Tell me you are not still captivated by the news channels or social media.
I am not here to condemn. I am here to say to obey this command it is easier said than done. Give yourself a lot of grace. Give others--whom you think is your political and ideological enemies--even more grace than you would give yourself.
So, I have written sixty-nine chapters expositing Romans and you think all of sudden I have no hope for you to obey this law? You are right. You and I can't hope to perfectly buffer the thinking of this world and the schemes of the devil. Where is our hope for those who want to obey?
The Gospel
Ours to Do: Be transformed by the renewing of your mind
1 Corinthians 1:18–25 (CSB)
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?
21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.
22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom,
23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God,
25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
And
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
And
1 Corinthians 12:1–3 (CSB) Now concerning spiritual gifts: brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
Or as Paul said earlier:
Romans 7:24–25 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
How can Paul serve the law of God with his mind when members of his flesh are still at war with each other?
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
The way this is phrased by Paul is ever-so-lovely. Do you see it? Notice the passage doesn't even say or imply, "You need to transform your own mind."
Or let me put it in another way, "Now that Christ has done it all to save you from your sins unto God, he is done with you. He's not going to do anything else. You are on your own and you have to figure this out for yourself. Good luck with the rest of your life. See you when you get here."
Absolutely not!
I was like many people who used to think that if predestination, vocation, justification, adoption, and glorification is completely of the Lord, then, ah, "we must play some part in our own sanctification. We must obey God and God gives the growth."
Then we read the entire Bible on how the people of God disobey God, turn to their own ways constantly and God still gave the growth.
If we boldly state that salvation is of the Lord for he is the mighty one to save, and sanctification is part of salvation. Therefore, we must be so bold to declare that sanctification of the Lord.
Your sin didn't thwart the will of God in saving you. Likewise, you messing up as a Christian did not prevent God from conforming you to the image of his Son. My beloved, that is a promise of God and the promises of God are yes and amen. That is what we call a done deal.
Be transforming
Who is doing the act of transforming? Remember, our righteousness is outside of ourselves. It is an alien righteousness. It is Christ's righteousness that he gave to us when he took our sins away. The Great Exchange.
by the renewal
Who is doing the act of renewing? Does a car change it's own oil? Does a software writes its own code? 1 If we do not prepare grow or prepare or manufacture our own food, will our stomach feed itself? Absolutely not.
Renewing your mind is thankfully not dependent on you but rather on the One who has called you his own. Praise be to God.
Now, are you telling me that if I don't read my Bible, don't pray, don't sit under the word of God, don't give praise to his name, only listen to the world, and think like the world, that somehow God will still renew my mind.
My friend, tell me something, if you actually did all of those things, then why do you call yourself a Christian? Riddle me that.
Reading your Bible, praying, sitting under the preaching of the word of God, giving thanks to God, abstaining from the world, and strive not to think like the world doesn't guarantee you that you are a Christian. You just look good to mankind but God sees the hearts and he knows whom he has placed his heart and his Spirit into.
But doing the what you suggest? I promise you that this person you speak of is not a Christian because we see the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit.
Our Response
Ours to Do: Discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Ephesians 5:6–14 (CSB) Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. Therefore, do not become their partners. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—testing what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. Everything exposed by the light is made visible, for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
Colossians 1:9–14 (CSB) For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
God does the saving. God does the transforming. God does the conforming. God does the renewing. God literally does it all. Why?
Matthew 22:37–39 (CSB) He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
So that you would love the Lord your God. So that you would love your neighbor as yourself.
Discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God
Do not fret or worry or be anxious on how to love your neighbor. It will come to you. The Holy Spirit dwells in you. You are a child of God. He will lead you in the path you should go. He has set out the good works that you should do so that someone would be blessed by God through you.
Trust in the Lord and in his work in you. And his work in you to change your mind about what you once were.
1 Corinthians 2:16 (CSB) For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Now, we a mind by God, you can discern what is good, pleasing and the perfect will of God. And then you get to go do those things.
Praise be to God. He has it all figured out. Just be in him and worship him today.
At the sake of making this publication dated, I stand by this statement. AI cannot writes its own code--it has been programmed by a human author to pull the necessary data to piecemeal a functioning bit of code.
Romans 12:3-8 Ours to Do: Love One Another
The Text
Romans 12:3-8 (CSB)
3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function,
5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.
6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith;
7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching;
8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
The Introduction
When I said that Paul had many commands for us to do, I was not kidding. See what God has done in Romans 1-11 and now go and do (12-16). But what I cannot overemphasize is the order of what just happened: God does, we respond.
God saves. Let us worship.
God has changed us from the inside out. Let us think differently.
Now, let us reflect on this passage: God loves, let us love one another.
1 John 4:7–8 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
How do we do this? There are nearly infinite ways of showing the love of God towards others. And the others in this, I cannot overstate based on the crystal clarity of our Lord Jesus in his parable on the Good Samaritan:
Luke 10:36–37 (CSB) “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”
Go and give mercy--not because this other person is your friend. Go and give mercy to everyone because God has given you great mercy. Not only to be thankful but to be empowered to give the same mercy to others in the way he has given it to you.
Our God
3bI tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.
Love One Another: Don't Think of Yourself Too Highly
Let's start from the jump: humble yourself. For:
James 4:6–10 (CSB) But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Friends, we see in the word of God that you have done nothing but receive the favor and grace of God. You have not done anything to earn so you cannot boast.
James in this passage is reflecting what Paul is and will be saying throughout the rest of Romans: humble yourself, don't think of yourself more highly than you ought to and love one another.
With all the personality tests and even tests on the gifts of the Spirit, in the end, where is the focus? The attention starts to focus in on ourselves and not on, whom? God.
Let me put it like this: how many of us worry less and do less overthinking and stumble less when we focus more on ourselves. Nobody does. And the real evil: become so enthrall with yourself, you start to believe that this your world and everything and everyone revolves around you.
Navel-gazing and narcissistic tendencies have you looking at yourself who is hopeless and weak to save yourself and away from the only God who is infinite in might, glory and worth.
My friends, let me give you grace: easier said than done. We all do it. But God gives grace. God is so good and holy and righteous and he saw that we were made from dust. He cares for you and he loves you so much that he sent his only begotten Son.
Rejoice in that and be glad.
3cInstead, think sensibly
Love One Another: Think Sensibly
Romans 12:2 (CSB) Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Hebrews 5:13–14 (CSB) Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Did I not tell you that this last third of Romans is going to be a lot of commands? This is not a check list. This is a get to do.
What is thinking sensibly?
1 Corinthians 1:22–23 (CSB) For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
Again, we are not going to seek signs and wonders. We are not going to lean on the philosophy of the age. We will preach Christ and him crucified. Gospel living--that is resting in what Christ has done for us--is not an add-on to your lives in addition to family and work and even church. God is our focus because what Christ has done and by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Through that and from that is our lives. We get to worship to God, we get to extend grace to others and even our spouse and kids at all times--nonstop. Why? Has God ever ceased giving you grace since the moment you were born? Nope! And he will never stop giving you grace.
This is thinking sensibly. Not according to news outlets. Not according to social media. Not according to what your family thinks what is good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
How do we do this? It is only from God to us. It is only his grace and in due time.
Hebrews 5 into 6 states it best:
Hebrews 6:1-3 (CSB) Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.
Remember last chapter? How do we renew our mind? How do we discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God? How do we think sensibly? Do so if God permits.
James 1:5 (CSB) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
God permits and yet he gives generously. What would it look like for you to pray to God and ask him for his wisdom? In help to think sensibly everyday. Hear from him in his word that is now been made complete.
Think about this: the people of God who lived before the invention of the printing press were utterly dependent on the preached word of God for them. If they wanted to hear from God, someone had to give them a word. Then God, in his kindness and goodness, decides to give us his complete word--the Holy Bible. And you and me can give each other words of God that speaks into our situation and turns our affections towards God. And then, together, as family, we arrive every Sunday to hear the preached word of God. Isn't that good news? See what God has done for us.
If you grew up Charismatic straining to hear the internal voice of God. Despair no more. I remember sitting in a Bible Study led by an elder. The elder was perplexed because he admitted, "I have never heard the inner voice of God. No matter how hard I tried." In that perplexity and slight despair, he started off the following phrase, "In the word of God says...". Stop right there. Sir, don't despair. You have the word of God. Remember how Christ described the Scriptures? The mouth of God. You have the voice of God. It is right there in your hands at all times--the words of Christ.
Here's another way to think sensibly:
3dGod has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
Love One Another: God Gives Faith
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 1:17 (CSB) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
Listen, we are not here to try to figure this out on our own. If our salvation is outside ourselves, our new heart is outside ourselves, His Spirit dwells within that is not from us, his grace is sufficient and complete and perfect and not ourselves, then let us relax and rejoice that God has given us a measure of faith. How much? That we believe and trust in his Son, Jesus Christ.
Mark 9:24 (CSB) Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
How does Christ respond when we go to him with our unbelief and doubt even though we have little faith?
Mark 9:25 (CSB) When Jesus saw that a crowd was running toward the house, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
God will respond in grace and give us all because he gave us Christ. Ask for more faith. God will give more faith. Let me ask you this? What do you want to do with that more faith? You might need a truckload of wisdom and grace. God will give that too.
Trust in him. He provides for everything we really need--not just the things we think we need and want. >4a Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function,
Love One Another: Christ is the Head of Us
1 Corinthians 12:12 (CSB) For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
Ephesians 4:15–16 (CSB) Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
1 Corinthians 12:19-27 (CSB) If all were a single part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Christ is the head of us. He is our chief. He is our Lord. In the same way that the head controls and governs the body, so too that Christ is the head of the body. We make up the body of Christ. We are the eyes, feet, mouth, ears, and hands. But we don't call it eyes, feet, mouth, ears, and hands. We call these parts: the members of the church.
5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.
Love One Another: We Belong to One Another
If we are called to love one another, then we belong to one another. The world might do its best to love each other but that is where the similarities begin and end there. The world does not belong to one another. We, as the church, belong to one another. And out of the belonging, because of what Christ has done, we get to not only love each other but love our neighbors in the world.
In our ministry and love in that, think of the grace of God and think of us belonging to one another. From there, love each other.
Our Response
6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith;
7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching;
8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
Love One Another: This is Ministry
These are gifts of the Spirit. Paul has laid out a list similar to 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4. But by no means these are it. Holy Spirit is infinite and he gives infinite gifts. You might be asking yourself, "Does he give the gift of being rich--because I want that." That is provision of God and God provides for the good and evil, the just and unjust just the same.
So keeping in mind that this is not a definite list, I don't want to skip over and assuming that everybody knows what these are.
Prophecy
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 (CSB) Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good. Avoid every kind of evil.
Prophecy is not predicting or foretelling the future-- that is new age and witchcraft and occult.
Prophecy in the Bible is the preaching of the Word of God. Full stop. Prophecy prophesied either the coming of the Messiah or because he has lived, died, rose again, and ascended to heaven, this is what he has done for you and me.
Instead, at the very most, in any year of our Lord, prophecy is the preaching of the Word of God.
I am going to sidebar here for a second. I grew up Charismatic. And with most denominations and movements of God, we unfortunately carry on and act like everybody there knows what is going on when in fact nobody knows whats going on and we like to pretend we know what is going on. That is a culture of the church.
I have heard all of my life "prophetic words" but I have never had anybody explain it to me.
When I heard prophetic words and they attempt to "tell the future" or encourage specifically to go in a certain direction, it is right 50% of the time. That is not good prophecy. One, it was hit and miss. And two, it had nothing to do with the risen Christ.
Prophecy in our day and age is the preaching of the Word of God. And you might say to yourself, "I have no desire to preach the word of God--therefore, I must not have this gift." Let us not confine prophecy to a sermon given. Let me ask you, do you know even a little bit of the word of God. And if you were to hear someone's struggle or request, could you bring that word to them in form of an encouraging word? That is prophecy.
Charismatic, don't despair in hopes that you are getting the prophetic words correctly. Pray that you get the word of God correctly. Those who are not Charismatic, guess what? Same applies to you.
Charismatics or Cessationists alike, know the word as much as God has given you grace for and then encourage one another with his words.
Romans 10:17 (CSB) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Praise be to God.
Proportion of one's faith
You just have to have more faith. What if you don't? Then you must really not be saved.
Yet:
The gulf between the unbeliever and the ones with the smallest faith is abysmally infinite. However, there is no gap between the ones with the smallest faith and the arms and the heart of the loving Savior.
Charles Spurgeon. Morning and Evening. 2018. p. 32.
Take comfort--whatever faith God has given you is more than enough to home the Triune God in your heart and soul and mind. You don't have a little bit of an infinite God.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (CSB) He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
God has made you and me with eternity in our hearts. That why we are so prone to idol worship--trying to take finite things to fill an infinite hole. Only thing that can fill eternity is an infinite God.
The little faith that God has granted you has you possessing the whole infinite God.
Service in service, teaching in teaching, exhorting in exhortation
In line with prophecy and preaching, these gifts are usually done by the leaders of the church. Paul reminds in a parallel passage:
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (CSB) Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
1 Timothy 5:17 (CSB) The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
For the sake of making sure I cover my basis and at the sake of being Captain Obvious, Paul is wanting to make sure that we, as the church body, are putting people in place with their gifts and not putting people in place in spite of the of their gifts. Those who serve, let them serve. Those who teach and having been proven trustworthy, let them teach. It would rather odd for us to not let teachers teach, exhorters exhort or preachers preach. Yet, sometimes, for the sake of church growth, we can miss the mark of what the church is--the manifold wisdom of God on display, for:
Ephesians 3:10 (CSB) God’s purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.
The shepherds are just to trying to take care of everyone that they will put in a body where a body is needed. That is fast growth and that is not necessarily good growth. I am contributing the following term to my dear pastor, Jeremiah Hurt (Reforming Truth Church, Lexington, KY): "slow church". In other words, church is slow, normal, ordinary and gracious. Yep, that is not want gets the likes and that is not what sells the books. But it a testimony of God's work in his people and that work is always slow not fast, hard not easy, and extraordinary yet not flash-in-a-pan. This work in his church and in his people is a lifetime and it is so good.
Getting people to serve in service, teach in teaching, exhort in exhortation, and preach in preaching might be the slow path but it is the good path and the path that God has provided.
Giving with generosity
2 Corinthians 9:7 (CSB) Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Listen, church needs givers--big and small. It does not matter. Whatever you can give, give. But if you want give, do so cheerfully.
Now, I wish I live in a time and place where I could leave it at that and move on. But I am a child who grew up in prosperity not-gospel. So let me be explicit: ask God for wisdom in stewarding his provision to you and your family. If you can give, give joyfully because of what God has provide. But if you are single mom with three kids, and lights are getting cut off tomorrow and payday is not until the day after--how about don't give. Instead, pray to God and ask your brothers and sisters to help you out. Give us the chance to love you because God has loved us first. Amen.
Leading with diligence
ESV says, "lead with zeal." Some translations say, "work hard at it." Leaders lead and they do so with diligence. John 21 calls us to love, care, and feed his sheep. But doing those things for his people won't be easy: there are people's hearts and souls you are caring for. Depend on the Spirit of God to help you to do this well.
Mercy, with cheerfulness
We often think that people who are needing the most mercy is in the most dire of straits. The are in the worst predicament. So too is our lost souls before the Triune God--we are weak sinners in need of a great Savior.
And there is a call for weeping with those who weep. But if we can extend mercy,do so with cheerfulness? Why? How much does God rejoice in getting to extend mercies and grace to those who need it, for:
Luke 15:7 (CSB) I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
And
Zephaniah 3:17 (CSB) The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy; he will be quiet in his love; he will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
God has more joy in being merciful to those who need mercy. When we get an opportunity to be merciful, let us rejoice and be glad unto God who has given us the most mercy.
Those are tall items. Those are not easy things to do--to do so and to do them well and with a glad heart?
How can we do any of these things?
Go back to the beginning of today's passage:
3a For by the grace given to me
Love One Another: For By the Grace That Was Given to Me
1 Peter 4:10 (CSB) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Timothy 1:12–14 (CSB) I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
My friend, we cannot do this perfect, perfectly well, or even well. I grew up in churches where we were to do all things with a spirit of excellence--which is more burden on the people of God that God himself didn't even give. You and I are commanded to do these things but we cannot do so without the grace of God alone.
Be in the grace of God. Receive his mercies everyday. Love God and go and love others.
Romans 12:9-21 Ours to Do: Know God is Good
The Text
Romans 12:9–21 (CSB)
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.
11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.
20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.
21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
The Introduction
Matthew 22:37–40 (CSB) He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
I am always struck by the particular-ness of Matthew's account of the Greatest Commands. It is the uniqueness and the focus is why I quote Matthew's most of all. Jesus replies to the religious and law leaders of his day: "Love the Lord your God with everything you have," and don't miss this, "the second is like it."
Two, dare I say, grandiose, laws that should instantly and properly shows how we have fallen way short of the glory of God. We don't love God with everything we got. We get saved by God and we still fallen way short of that law. And on top of that, there is yet another command that is like it? Now I have two grandiose commands that I am going to fall way short? Love your neighbor?
How in the world can I do that?
By your power and might and in your little heart? No. No. You and I cannot on our own. We don't love God as we ought. We don't love our neighbor as we ought. But watch this:
Matthew 5:17–18 (CSB) “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.
How many times I have said this? God knows we have fallen short. God knows we cannot rescue ourselves. God knows we are doomed with Satan. God knows. That is why he has sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to obey his law flawlessly and with perfect joy.
Christ fulfills the law for us. In his righteousness, we now have the freedom to obey God because we are his children. Paul will expound on the teachings of Christ what it means to love one another.
Our God
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.
Know God is Good: No Hypocrisy
Matthew 23:23 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.
Proverbs 4:24 (CSB) Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
Don't talk both sides of your mouth. Bless someone then gossip about them behind their backs. That is evil. Abstain from that evil and hold on to what is good.
We need to bless one another and then pray for one another.
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (CSB) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
It is a wonder why Christ preaches:
Matthew 12:34b (CSB) For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
Proverbs 4:23 (CSB) Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.
Know God is Good: Love One Another
John 13:34–35 (CSB) “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 John 4:7–8 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Another translation: outdo each other in honor. Want to be competitive? This is a perfect place to get that competitive spirit out. Your friend or co-worker or brother or sister honors you? Then you scheme and plot and think of ways to honor them back. Get 'em! Then you keep going back and forth until Christ comes and gets you.
Bring joy to one another. Bring life to one another. And don't fret about how to do it. Your church family will show you--pick up on cues from them. More than that, you have the Holy Spirit--he will lead you and guide you to showing honoring others.
11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.
Know God is Good: Serve with Zeal
1 Corinthians 15:58 (CSB) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
2 Timothy 2:4–7 (CSB) No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
What good work that God has set aside of us to do for his glory and the good of neighbor, we get to do it with zeal and diligence. Look, I can tell you not to burn yourself out and don't over do it. But you control your actions. Go and do. However God has built you and gifted you, go and do. You go all in, all gas no brakes--go and do. If you are one to carefully plan, and be cautious, and consider all the angles, then go and do. And everyone in between? Come together with your brothers and sisters and collectively, like the body of Christ, go and do.
12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
Know God is Good: Hope in Christ
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (CSB) Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Want to know God's will for your life? You got it right there. Rejoice always. Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything.
Right smack in the middle of this compliment sandwich, Paul calls us to be ing patient in our affliction. Earlier in the letter, he says:
Romans 5:1-5 (CSB) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
And
Romans 8:18 (CSB) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
In other words, our circumstances do not dictate what we get to do and not do.
But I know in the midst of afflictions, sufferings, trials, and tribulations, it is hard to rejoice. It is hard to pray. It is hard to give thanks. Beloved, know that God has you. He has you and he is not going to let go. Rejoice a little and rest a lot in his Son. Give thanks when you can and rest in Christ. Pray and know that you belong to him forever. Amen.
13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
Know God is Good: God is our Provision
Philippians 4:19 (CSB) And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (CSB) And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.
My saints, life is not a zero-sum game. If I give to you, that means I have less for me. So I need to be stingy because I don't have a lot to give.
But you know that God will supply all the grace and provision to do his will? Don't you know that God has the cattle on a thousand hills. He will supply with what you need to do for others. It does not have to grandiose. Think little things. Think small. Think baby steps.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Know God is Good: Bless Others
Matthew 5:44 (CSB) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
I have considered all the people who have done me harm, who have hurt me so bad that I could not have recovered if not by the grace of God. Do you know what only make sense in mind? Not my petty vengeance nor cursing but that God, who alone is mighty to save, would actually save them! The only thing that makes sense to me is that my enemy would be standing right next to me in heaven worshipping our God. There is no other way.
During the 1800s, there were two famous preachers, John Wesley and George Whitefield. They were friends and they traveled together in ministry, preaching the word of God. But they separated by the sovereignty of God. When Whitefield arrived where Wesley was at, Whitefield found out there was a bit of a smear campaign going on against his name and his ministry--simply because Whitefield preached Calvinism and Wesley had since rejected it since being separated from Whitefield. That cut Whitefield to the heart--not to be reunited with Wesley and not seeing the glory of God here on earth and seeing people come to Christ.
His students once asked Whitefield, "Will we see John Wesley in heaven?" almost in a playful and tongue-in-cheek sort of way. Whitefield' response, as cool as one can be, "I will not see him in heaven." As you can imagine, the students were aghast. Whitefield continued, "When we get to heaven, I will be so far from the glory and brilliance of Christ and Mr. Wesley will be so close and near to the glory and brilliance of Christ and that my eyes will not be able to focus on Mr. Wesley because Christ will be so bright,"
People might mean to do you harm. But bless them. Pray for them. Love them. Where they are at now does not mean that is where they are going.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
Know God is Good: Be Present with Others
1 Corinthians 12:26 (CSB) So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
This is where God has commanded for us to be present with one another. Negative feelings are hard. Sometimes people avoid them at all costs. Tell me, how is that working out for you? God's command here to slow down long enough to sit in the feelings with one another. Stop. Be here. Celebrate with one another. Cry with one another. Don't jump to the next thing. Don't try to say the right words so that people can just get over it. What if we celebrated days on end. What if we truly grieved and took the time to mourn. The world is going to stop. It will be okay. God has us. That is why we call Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. God is with you right now. Sit in him. Relax. Rest in him. He is with you.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Know God is Good: Know Yourself in the Sight of God
In Paul's letter to Pastor Titus, he exhorts him to:
Titus 3:1-2 (CSB) Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.
Why is that? Because God is in us? Yes. As God remembers that we are from dust, so too, that we remind ourselves that we are made from dust:
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Remember that? I do about my own life. Or in Paul's letter to Pastor Timothy:
1 Timothy 1:12-13a (CSB) I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man.
I remember when I was a worthless man--claiming to love God but sinning against him all the more. But God did not leave me there. God did not leave you there. What happened? Christ appeared:
Titus 3:4–5 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
And
1 Timothy 1:12–17 (CSB) I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
We are not better than one another. We are certainly not better than our unbelieving neighbors. You didn't figure out the love and grace of God. You weren't soft-hearted enough, generated enough faith, or smart enough to figure out anything. God gave you that soft heart. God renewed your mind and transformed you from the inside out. God gave you His Spirit. His Son dwells in your heart. God himself has made his home in you. And God gave you that faith to believe and trust in his Son. What did you do to get that from God? Just the sin to hang his Son upon that tree.
Our unbelieving neighbors, friends, and loved ones are all utterly, supernaturally dependent on the grace of God to be saved by God just like us.
If you are not humble (like me), then find yourself some humble people and hang out with them. Like, a lot. Let what they got rub off on you. Praise be to God that he has saved us to himself and to one another.
17-19 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.
Know God is Good: God is our avenger
Luke 18:6-8 (CSB) Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? ”
My friends, vengeance belongs to God! Don't repay evil for evil. All justice is on God. That is our call: to trust the judgment of Christ.
We pray and hope that God will saved our enemies. We pray for salvation. But in the times of the most wicked and heinous crimes, we ultimately have to trust God is who alone is perfectly just.
I know that is not easy. I know when you have had something taken away from you and you feel like you have the power to at least settle the score. Because of my dad abused me and my siblings, he went to prison for the rest of his life. There was a long time in my own life that I vowed if I could, kill him with my bare hands and I know that I would have slept soundly every night thereafter. By God's precious love for me, he didn't give me over to the rage and lust in my own heart--he saved me and called me to not curse my dad but to bless him in his last days in prison. In my natural self, that thought of blessing my enemies seem offensive and asinine. But with the mind of Christ, blessing my enemies like he did all the way to the cross is the only thing that makes sense.
20-21 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Know God is Good: In His Upside-Down Kingdom, We Respond in Kindness
It is not enough to ignore our perceived enemies. We are to bless them. That does not not mean, "Oh, now we get to trust them explicitly." Christ called us to:
Matthew 10:16 (CSB) “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.
No one is asking you to do that. But when you can, bless them. It might be through the visiting booth in prison. It might be through supervised visits. That is more than okay. But where we can, bless one another.
The Response
Now that Christ has perfectly obeyed the law and have given us his righteousness since we turned over our sin, we get to do these things that he has commanded us to do. Are we going to do them perfectly? No. But whatever you do, you neighbor needs those good works and will be so grateful.
Romans 13:1-7 Ours to Do: Obey Christ as King
The Text
Romans 13:1–7 (CSB)
1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.
4 For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.
5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.
6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.
7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
Our God
1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
Christ is King: He Has Put All Leaders Over Us
Daniel 2:21 (CSB) He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
Psalm 75:6–7 (CSB) Exaltation does not come from the east, the west, or the desert, for God is the Judge: He brings down one and exalts another.
1 Peter 2:13–14 (CSB) Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor as the supreme authority, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
Let me get super political here for a moment and assuming that I am speaking to Americans.
God had placed President Donald Trump over you.
God has placed President Joe Biden over you.
Saying, "Well, he ain't my president" is a sin against God. God has placed these leaders over you to govern you. If we get an incompetent and wicked ruler like we have in Trump and Biden, then that is reflective of the sins of the people of the nation. On Romans 13, John Calvin says this:
For since a wicked prince is the Lord’s scourge to punish the sins of the people, let us remember, that it happens through our fault that this excellent blessing of God is turned into a curse.
John Calvin. Commentary on Romans 13:1-7. 1540. Translated by John Owen. 1850. 1: 1.
Want to know how God judges a nation? Look at their leaders.
But also case in point, I don't care how many Evangelicals write how many books and guest speak at how many pulpits--American was not and is not a Christian nation. Saying the same thing over and over again does not make it true.
It is true that many of laws and principles are founded on Judeo-Christian principles especially when it comes to freedom of religion. Taking a quick look at church history in England during the 17th and 18th centuries we see that Christians fled to America to escape religious persecution. And in God's great sovereignty, we had leaders who had enough sense to have some sort of moral measuring rod called the Bible to help govern this land.
But a Christian nation American is not and cannot be? Why? The Bible never declares it to be so. In fact, the opposite is true: out of many nations, he has saved and set aside his people. And he alone determines the times and boundaries not to Christianize a nation but rather that we would seek God. (Acts 17:24-28) You and me born at the times we were born, in the places we were born, is not by accident. We would put here so that we would seek God.
"I just want everyone to behave." So does God. But guess what? Israel was the first and only nation of God who were governed by God and his holy law. How did that go for them? They always rebelled. They always fled. They always led astray. Some of them went so far they even rejected the only begotten Son of the Father.
2-4 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.
Christ is King: Not To Obey Leaders is Bringing Judgment Upon Ourselves
Mark 10:42–43 (CSB) Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,
Daniel 6:7-9 (CSB) All the administrators of the kingdom — the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors — have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that, for thirty days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den. Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.” So King Darius signed the written edict.
Let us determined, in most part, by and large, not governed by born-again leaders. Because our nation has moved further and further away from the Ten Commmandments, we have to have more and more laws governing us. Do you think these laws are perfect? Absolutely not. Far from it.
But when these laws start to dictate that you should sin against God, that is the only point of defiance.
Acts 5:29 (CSB) Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.
But get this: you might face consequences from the wicked rulers that God has placed over you. Each of the Apostles except for one were martyred and slain by their wicked governors. As American as we are, we are no better than that.
Obey your leaders. When they tell you to sin against God, then you defy. Cannot do so by sinning more but doing the things that God has commanded us to do: love him, love others, serve one another and within our power, to live peaceably with one another.
5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.
Christ is King: He rules over all
Jeremiah 20:3-5 (CSB) The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD does not call you Pashhur, but Terror Is on Every Side, for this is what the LORD says, ‘I am about to make you a terror to both yourself and those you love. They will fall by the sword of their enemies before your very eyes. I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will deport them to Babylon and put them to the sword. I will give away all the wealth of this city, all its products and valuables. Indeed, I will hand all the treasures of the kings of Judah over to their enemies. They will plunder them, seize them, and carry them off to Babylon.
God sets up our leaders. He sets up other leaders. And sometimes, with wicked nations, he will let other wicked nations conquer other wicked nations.
God did with Israel. Why would America be the exception? There is nothing in his word that would exempt us from this.
Yet, choose on this day of whom you will serve.
Our Response
6-7 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
Christ is King: Give Caesar's what is Caesar's
Christ told us to pay taxes, for:
Matthew 22:21 (CSB) They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Not to pay taxes is sin against God.
The early church, because they lived in the Roman Empire were heavily taxed. They did not respond by failing to pay or cheating on their taxes. Look how the early church responded:
Acts 2:43-47 (CSB) Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Pay your taxes. Yet, love one another.
Romans 13:8-10 Ours to Do: Love One Another
The Text
Romans 13:8–10 (CSB)
8 Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.9 The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.
The Introduction
1 John 4:7–19 (CSB)
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God.
16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
17 In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
Our God
8 Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Love One Another: This is like loving God
Matthew 22:34–40 (CSB) When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
And
1 John 4 (CSB):
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.
There is where the love of God is so intertwined with his law and his nature and righteousness and goodness, there is no separation.
One of the most wonderful attributes of God that he does not share with us is his simplicity. Another way of saying, his aseity.
We are complex. We are made up of complex feelings, emotions, wills, heart, and thoughts. If I feel sadness, it is extremely difficult to feel gladness at the same time. Between this emotion and that emotion, something has to give.
In contrast, God is not like us. We think that in order for him to be loving or kind, he has to suppress his holiness and his righteousness or just. But that is not God. God is not swayed by emotions or passions. He is loving and he is holy. He is kind and he is righteous. He is good and he is just. All at the same time. How? Because he is simple and not complex like we are.
God the Father sent his Son to fulfill the law and to die in our place. He did not do this because he was sad or angry or frustrated. He did this because he is love. And since Christ fulfilled the law, we are free to love one another. Not to love one another is to not be in God and God is not in us.
9 The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Love One Another: Love is of God
Exodus 20:12–17 (CSB)
12 Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.13 Do not murder.
14 Do not commit adultery.
15 Do not steal.
16 Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
1 John 4:7–8 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
And
1 John 4:19 (CSB) We love because he first loved us.
You know how we know that God loves us? He sent his only begotten Son.
Do you know how he love us? God has never sinned against his creation.
Let that sink in for a moment. God has never done anything evil, bad, wicked, treasonous, terrible or wrong against us. Never.
In the same way, want to know how to love your neighbor? Don't sin against them. Those six commandments are the base line on how to love your neighbor. Don't sin against them.
Our Response
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.
Love One Another: Loving Others is Obedience to God
1 John 5:2–3 (CSB) This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands. For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden,
You cannot separate the love of God from his law. Just like there is no separation between his love and his holiness, so to there is no separation between his love and his law.
But the it is the simplicity of God that makes the gospel of God the absolute truth. God has and will never sin nor do us any wrong. God is incapable of sin and can do us no wrong. Because of this, the promises of God are yes and amen forever.
Just as there is no separate between his love and his law, because in God's love he sent his only begotten Son to fulfill the law, there is therefore now nothing separating us from the love of God that can only be found in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 13:11-14 Ours to Do: Behold Your God!
The Text
Romans 13:11–14 (CSB)
11 Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.
The Introduction
Our God
11 Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
God is Holy: One Day Closer
John 11:43 (CSB) After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out! ”
You are not dead but alive in Christ! For:
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
You have been born again. You are in Christ and the Triune God has made his home in you!
John 14:23 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Count one minute. You are one minute closer to see the face of your wonderful Savior. One minute closer to finish the path of life. One minute closer to the fulness of joy. One minute closer to pleasures evermore. One minute closer to kissing God's face with all of your kisses. One minute closer to having the Spirit bear witness we are the children of God. One minute closer to hearing the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." One minute closer to the wedding feast of the Lamb. One minute closer to the new heavens and the new earth. One minute closer to the new Jerusalem. One minute closer to the throne of God. One minute closer to the river of life. One minute closer to the tree of life. One minute closer to the gates of pearl.
One minute closer to hearing the final judgment:
Oh close and blessed union! Justified by God, accepted in Christ, condemnation there cannot be. I stand in the Divine presence as Joshua stood before the Lord, or as the woman stood before the Savior, charged, accused, guilty; but I am in the presence of him who, though now he sits upon the throne as my Judge, once hung upon the cross as my Savior. And, investing me with his own spotless robe, he proceeds to pronounce the sentence- “NO CONDEMNATION!”
“These things write I unto you that your joy may be full.”
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation in Christ Jesus: As Unfolded in the Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans. Banner of Trust. 1991. 191.
One minute closer to the final Sabbath. One minute closer to the sweetest rest. No evil. No sin. No wickedness. Perfect love. Worship God for all of eternity.
No tiredness. No disease. No weakness. No sadness. No more tears.
Just God.
12-13 The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.
God is Holy: Put Away Sin
1 John 1:5–7 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 2:1–2 (CSB) My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
My beloved, you and I don't have to sin. We don't! We have been set free from the bondage of corruption and decay. Sin wars against us--outside and within. But there is no doubt that God has made his home in me and he has forgiven me and cleansed from all unrighteousness.
Who is like my God and who is dares to compare to him!
My brothers and sisters: you've sin? You have not fallen out of grace with God. God sent his Son to die once and for all time. He has you. Are you plagued with doubt and God feels far and you feel like you can't draw near? God bridges the eternal gap and sent his Spirit to comfort you and give you rest in his Son. Felt like you can slip out of his grasp? Impossible!
John 10:28–30 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
God has you. Wherever you are and wherever you might be, God has you. Are you backsliding and seem to you cannot shake this sin? God knows and God knows you are made from dust. We are terribly weak but God is Almighty. He will save you. He has not abandoned you to hell! He will not let you see corruption.
Our God is the mighty one who saves. Where you are at now is not where you will end up. Trust in the Lord? That is because God is in you. Believe in His Son? That is because God has given you his soft and tender heart. Obey his laws? That's because the Son has fulfilled his word because the word testifies about the Son!
Struggle with these things? Rest today. Whether you think God has you or not does not keep you in God but rather that God never loses his children.
Our Response
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.
God is Holy: We possess the Triune God
Ephesians 4:1-3 (CSB) Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
WE HAVE GOD!
Do you get this? Do you understand this?
Exodus 6:7 - I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Leviticus 26:12 - And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.
Ruth 1:16 - But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
Jeremiah 7:23 - But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’
Jeremiah 11:4 - that I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,
Jeremiah 24:7 - I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
Jeremiah 30:22 - And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
Jeremiah 31:1 - “At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.”
Jeremiah 31:33 - For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jeremiah 32:38 - And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 11:20 - that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 14:11 - that the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, nor defile themselves anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be my people and I may be their God, declares the Lord GOD.”
Ezekiel 36:28 - You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Ezekiel 37:23 - They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 37:27 - My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Zechariah 2:11 - And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
Zechariah 8:8 - and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”
2 Corinthians 6:16 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Hebrews 8:10 - For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Romans 9:25-26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not My People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
Revelation 21:3-7 (CSB) Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.
Or to sum it all:
Songs 2:16 (CSB) My love is mine and I am his;
Forever.
Amen.
Romans 14:1-12 Ours to Do: Live Consciously
The Text
Romans 14:1–12 (CSB)
1 Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters.2 One person believes he may eat anything, while one who is weak eats only vegetables.
3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not judge one who does, because God has accepted him.
4 Who are you to judge another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God.
7 For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.
8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.
10 But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Our God
1 Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters.
Live According to Conscience: No need to argue in matters of conscience
If Christians took this as seriously as they do with the rest of the Bible, social media would be more boring than it already is.
Here's the thing: how many of us want to argue and debate about disputed matters but never give a second thought to whom might be looking or hearing the debate. I am not talking about unbelievers. I am talking about those who were new in the faith.
Are we mindful with our words? What if someone fresh in the faith read our words? Would they be encouraged or discouraged? Would they be drawn to Christ or pushed away?
Listen, don't let me judge from my made-up throne. I used to argue online a lot. Yet, by the grace of God, something just snapped in me. It was all in vain. It wasn't helping anybody. And just like that, I laid down my arms and my rights to argue online. Hindsight always being 20/20, I was able to look back and consider what I have done for those with little faith.
Since then, I have done my best to be more encouraging and pointing people to Christ. If someone wanted to debated, we talk privately. I have never regretted going private with my debates but I regret every single debate I have had out in the open.
I know there is room for apologetics--but the goal of a debate is not to win the debate but to point others to Christ in the most winsome way.
2-3One person believes he may eat anything, while one who is weak eats only vegetables. One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not judge one who does, because God has accepted him.
Live According to Conscience: Your maturity and sanctification was not of your own doing
Paul is using the topic of conscience in consider what we eat and not eat. But the topic is not about food and nutrition but rather what a Christian have the conscience to bear to do something that might not be sinful but not helpful to them.
Because I can choose to do something or not something according to conscience, that doesn't make me better nor worse than my fellow brother or sister in Christ--or anybody else for that matter.
Remember that God has accepted you and them altogether. There is no hierarchy. There are no second-class citizens in the kingdom. There is no varsity nor junior varsity.
1 Corinthians 12:12–13 (CSB) For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
And
Galatians 3:28 (CSB) There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.
If you come to conscience to do something or not something unto God, then that is God at work in you and you are not your own.
Your justification is of God alone. Your glorification is of God alone.
Hebrews 6:1–3 (CSB) Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits.
Why would we think that our sanctification and maturity is of our doing? My friend, we don't get to take credit for the work of God. Even our maturity, sanctification, growth, and maturity is on God alone.
4-5 Who are you to judge another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand. One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.
Live According to Conscience: We are weak but he is strong
2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (CSB) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
This is me right now. In my pea-sized brain, I have been debating my precious wife and my in-laws (whom live with us) on observing the Sabbath.
6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God.
On the outside, "Why don't y'all observe the Sabbath?" as if to imply that they don't love the Lord their God. But truth be told: they choose to mow the lawn in order to relax and chill and I hate mowing with a passion. They might do it on the Lord's Day but I refused to be peer-pressured in mowing the lawn on a workday.
That was my hatred for lawn-mowing being masked by using the Sabbath--the day that God has given to us for our rest.
But if I had observed this passage and took it to heart, I would not have contrived some made-up debate between me and my family members--well, at least I would have less of a leg to stand on when making a case.
And I think that is what Paul is stating here: none of us have it figured out. God has given us the Spirit and His Son--along with our wills, minds, hearts, and consciences. Apart from what the Bible forbids, we are only free to do as our conscience dictates.
Give grace to others because God has given you grace upon grace.
7-8 For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Live According to Conscience: We belong to the Lord
Listen, he is our God and we are his people. We now live and die for him.
I think Jonathan Edwards said it best:
I claim no right to myself—no right to this understanding, this will, these >affections that are in me;
Neither do I have any right to this body or its members—no right to this >tongue, to these hands, feet, ears, or eyes.
I have given myself clear away and not retained anything of my own.
I have been to God this morning and told Him I have given myself wholly to Him.
In other words:
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
9 Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.
Live According to Conscience: Christ judges the living and the dead
Apostles' Creed states:
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
Paul charges preachers in the sight of Christ who judges the living and the dead to preach the word:
2 Timothy 4:1-2 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
This energy we expend to judge one another is futile and wasted. Christ is our great Judge and Lord. In matters of conscience, he judges supreme. None of the children of God face condemnation because they made the wrong decision. We are in Christ. Christ has us covered. We don't need to fret or be anxious because God has us forever.
Our Response
10-12 But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Live According to Conscience: We will all stand before the judgment seat of God
That we will give an account of our lives before God. Either that frightens you or humbles you.
If this frightens you, then I have a way out:
2 Corinthians 6:2 (CSB) For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
Christ is the way out.
Trust in Christ.
Believe in Christ.
If you do, then know it is because His Holy Spirit dwells in you.
Then it won't be just you trying to justify yourself before God.
At the end of days, you will stand in line before the Judge of judges. You see countless people in front of you giving their own testimony before God on what they have done for God. You notice that there are no other witnesses that can give an account of who they are before God. One right after the other, Jesus calmly gives the sentence, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’1
There is fear. Yet, you starting to see more and more of His beautiful glory and you can't wait to see just a little more. That love! That love that was there the moment God saved you. There is that feeling / will / thought / idea / belief / emotion / knowledge / security / peace. The more you see of him, the more you long to see the face of the one who saved you from death to life.
Now, you stand before the throne. You peer into the loveliest eyes you have ever seen. You glance at the face that is a beauty like no other.
Your breath is taken. Your heart races. Your only rightful response is to fall to your knees and worship the King of kings and Lord of lords.
In the back of your mind, you think a dreadful thought, "Who will bear witness for me?"
At that precise moment, you hear a gentle, soothing, comforting, loving, merciful, and gracious familiar voice speak tenderly about you to you and yet boldly to the Throne, "This your son, O Father, by the Son as ransomed for Himself!"
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The Son stands, with crowns upon his head and robes that are dipped in blood, and turns to look upon the Father with a beaming smile, "What do you say, Father?"
In an awe-struck and fear-trembling moment that shakes the heavens, His voice sonics booms to eternity and vehemently declares, "This is my son in whom I am well-pleased!"
The Son of Man runs down from His throne, takes off his robe and covers you with it. He lifts you up, places his nail-pierced hands around your face and you get to peer into his face.
Your soul is complete, finally, perfectly, and definitely satisfied.
He brings you close and holds you. With one final act in this heavenly courtroom, with the Holy Spirit, the angels, the elders, the saints, and the Father looking upon you, Christ Jesus, the Gracious Almighty God justly declares:
NO CONDEMNATION!
Now enter into your sweet reward.
Brothers and sisters, I tell you all these things that you joy may be full!
To the whole world, I tell you all these things because that is love!
Matthew 7:23
Romans 14:13-23 Ours to Do: Obey Freely
The Text
Romans 14:13–23 (CSB)
13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.
15 For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.
19 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.
20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats.
21 It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.
22 Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.
Our God
13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.
Freely Obey God: His burden is easy
Romans 8:19–21 (CSB) For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
My friends, our burden is easy. Our yoke is light. We have the righteousness of God. We get to rest in Christ alone.
No need to add on burdens on other Christians that God has not done. Not only is not recommended, it is sin. Look at Christ's response to legalism and self-righteousness:
Matthew 23:13-15 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!
The strongest language used by God against those who would preach legalism.
Post-Genesis 3 life is hard enough. Christ has come to make it easy and light.
Let me put it this way: you can't control other people. I know that might come as a shock. But the moment that you grasp the truth and the moment you know that the Spirit alone convicts us of sin, then moment you are living the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Amen.
14-15 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died.
Freely Obey God: Lay down your rights
John 21:17 (CSB) He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.
Americans, we love our rights, right? We love our protected freedoms we have in this country. That is a sheer blessing by God.
But be sure not to let your sense of protected rights spill over into all things.
If your fellow Christian cannot do something out of conscience, be gracious and gentle. That is acceptable to God. Your hardcore stance is also acceptable to God.
Because I am American, the easiest example to use here is the consumption of alcohol. Some Christians do and some don't. Both are acceptable. But for those who don't, there is no law you can put on others. For those who do, be mindful of those who don't.
In my home, my wife abstains and I do not. While I am not mindful of my caffeine intake, she bears witness to whenever I have a beer or a spirit. And the moment I order a beer at dinner, I hand the car keys over to her. That is my way of ensuring her our safety.
What some Christians tend to forget is that we are called to be sober-minded. With marijuana use being legalized in more and more states, this debate is going to come up again. Some Christians will use and some will not. But all Christians are called to be sober-minded and not drunk. If you are blazed out every night after work, you are not sober-minded. My question is, when it comes to marijuana, video games, organization, hoarding, drinking, or cigarettes or anything: are you numbing out? What are you numbing out from? Are you dealing with unresolved trauma? You might need to seek counseling before this unresolved trauma that you experienced consumes you.
16-17 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Freely Obey God: Keep the main thing the main thing
The Christian life is not about what we don't do but rather, what we do have: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. It is all about the fact we are the children of God. It is the fact that we have the risen Christ. And that is why we worship. And that is why we praise his holy name.
Think about this: you don't praise God because you don't drink alcohol. Right? You don't worship his holy name because you can look down at other Christians who choose to do what you abstain from. Right?
We praise him for who he is.
18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.
Freely Obey God: To go with conscience is acceptable to God
So long as it is not sin, not a stumbling block, and not a pitfall, not against the local laws that don't forbid you from worshipping God, it is acceptable to God and received our approval.
I get to give the nod to half my church who don't drink alcohol. I get to approve to some in my church back in Oklahoma who use marijuana. I get to celebrate those who are vegans and those who are carnivores and all in-between. God has granted us each with a conscience and freedom in Christ. That is a grand thing to celebrate and praise God.
19 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.
Freely Obey God: Live peaceably not only with your neighbor but with your brothers and sisters in Christ
With all the talk from Paul and Christ about living peaceably with the times and cultures and kingdom of where you were born in, let us not forget to live peaceably with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Be at peace with people in your church. Don't be divisive.
Ephesians 4:10-15 (CSB) The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head — Christ.
Be united in Christ. Live at peace with one another.
20-21 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats. It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.
Freely Obey God: What God doesn't forbid, it's permissable
Acts 10:9-16 (CSB) The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof about noon. He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”
“No, Lord! ” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.”
Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven.
Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason-I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other-my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.
Martin Luther. 1520. Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation
What God has declared to be clean, it is clean, What he has not forbidden, it is permissable. And if you are not convicted by Scripture and plain reason, then you are free to do it.
To that end, with your conscience and the word, you must know if it beneficial for you.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (CSB) “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.
Is what you are doing beneficial for you? Only you can be honest or dishonest with yourself.
Our Response
22-23 Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.
Freely Obey God: Keep secondary things secondary
God takes it one step further. It is not only a sin to go against conscience but rather a blessing to do what you have approve of yourself.
But on those things, don't post on social media. Don't write books. Don't make podcasts. Don't go bragging. Keep that between you and God. If (and that is a strong if) people ask, "why don't you drink alcohol" or "why do you smoke weed", just give a simple answer and nothing more.
Praise our God for his grace and our consciences.
Romans 15:1-6 Ours to Do: Encourage Boldly
The Text
Romans 15:1–6 (CSB)
1 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.2 Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
3 For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
5 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.
Our God
1-2 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Encourage Boldly: Lift each other up
Ephesians 2:8–10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Consider the words of Christ in the John's gospel:
John 13:14-15 (CSB) So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.
John 13:34-35 (CSB) “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 15:12-17 (CSB) “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. “This is what I command you: Love one another.
Remember, the Bible is built on loving God and loving one another.
For those who are struggling with doubt, weakened by sin, destroyed by the sin of others, or simply overwhelmed by the world, this is where we get to weep with those who weep. It might be an encouraging word or a simple act of love. It might just sit and hang out in silence and not knowing what tomorrow holds but just the fact we know that we have each other and we are not alone.
You do not need to be alone. I am not talking about dating or marriage or even best friends. I am willing to wager a great sum that that there is not one person who will read this who does not have access to a local church. American, I speaking to you with churches on every corner. Make the effort. Find a church. Be known by others and let others know you.
But you are not alone. And if you are suffer from depression and anxiety, you can't make it to church, let your church family know so we can sit with you and keep you company. You are not alone. Suffering from addiction? You are not alone. Ask one person for help and watch what happens.
You are not by yourself.
Likewise, people who have people, check on others who don't have people. The local church is the preaching of God to the heavenly authorities on how he planned out his great gospel:
Ephesians 3:8-13 (CSB) This grace was given to me — the least of all the saints — to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.
The local church is a great gift. Take full advantage of that great gift of God.
3 For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
Encourage Boldly: Christ went to the cross with great joy
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
And
Philippians 2:5-8 (CSB)
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death —
even to death on a cross.
In the pain and agony of the cross, Christ did it all so that he would save his people from their sins.
In that salvation, he let go of all his rights and privileges and gave his life over so that we could live.
Because he died and rose again, we not only live but we get to build up one another.
4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
Encourage Boldly: the mouth of God speaks to you for you
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Romans 5:1–5 (CSB) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
The Scriptures testify all about Christ. (Luke 24:27) But whom are they testify to? Who is the audience? Who was it intended for?
You. This is the voice of God for you. This is the words of God for you. For:
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
If the Scriptures are the mouth of God, is it any wonder that we are called to preach the word of God? For:
2 Timothy 4:1–5 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Our Response
5-6 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.
Encourage Boldly: Be encouraged by all that God has done for us
Within the local church, the preaching of the word of God is the primary means of grace. That is to say it is penultimate. Nothing is above preaching of the Bible. We are called together to worship God and within the worship, we get to sit under the preaching of the sweet assurance of the gospel for our hearts and souls and minds. We get to hear the voice of God for us.
Praise be to God!
Romans 15:7-13 Ours to Do: Belong to God
The Text
Romans 15:7–13 (CSB)
7 Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God.8 For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers,
9 and so that Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praise to your name.
10 Again it says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people!
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples praise him!
12 And again, Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will appear, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; the Gentiles will hope in him.
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our God
7-9 Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers, and so that Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praise to your name.
We Belong to God: Preach the gospel to all nations!
Matthew 28:16–20 (CSB) The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:14–18 (CSB) Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
Luke 24:44–48 (CSB) He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
Acts 1:4–8 (CSB) While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Now that we are know absolute truth, now that the have heard the good news, repented, and believe in the Son of God, now that we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, now God is our Father in heaven, now that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Eldest brother, what is your response?
John 20:10–18 (CSB) Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying. But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.” “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
Go and tell the world that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
10-11 Again it says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people! And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples praise him!
We Belong to God: Worship your God!
Psalms 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD,
are the Most High over the whole earth;
you are exalted above all the gods.
We shall exalt the Lord above.
We will sing praises to your name forever.
You are our God and we belong to you.
For you alone are worthy and worthy to be praised.
Our Response
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We Belong to God: God is with you!
Christian, know that God is with you and for you.
Even if you doubt, even if you struggle, even if the world is stacked against you, even if you are hurt, even if you are weak, the Father and the Son has you tight in their unbreakable grip sealed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sing praises to the Lord, for he is good and his steadfast love is forever.
Romans 15:14-21 Ours to Do: We Truly Know God!
The Text
Romans 15:14–21 (CSB)
14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.15 Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God.
18 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles,
19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.
20 My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation,
21 but, as it is written, Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.
Our God
14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.
We Know God: We have all of God
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
Calvin said it best, "the finite mind cannot comprehend the Infinite God." Our born minds, no matter how much IQ and EQ God has granted us, still could not wrap around the concept of a Being that is infinite in every way, shape, and form.
We cannot fully know God. Without Him, we do not know him. Only by God's grace sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to live, die, resurrected in the power of the Holy Spirit, alone, we get to truly know God.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
And:
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
And:
Mark 8:25 (CSB) Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly.
Now that we have God, we are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.
No one said preach a 30 minute sermon. No one said go and preach on street corners. Do you know some of the word? Share that word. Do you know how to pray for others? Pray for others. Can you give a little of your time and money and gifts? Give. You have God, you have everything because God has given us his Son.
In Christ, you have given me so much that heaven and earth can give me no more.
Valley of Vision.
15-16 Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
We Know God: We have the grace of God
John 1:16-18 (CSB) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side —he has revealed him.
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us —not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy — through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
We alone have the saving grace of God! The people of God have the Spirit of God. The children of God have the Father of lights. Christ is ours and ours alone!
If you are hearing this and you know you don't have this, how can you get God?
Simple: ask God. Ask God for God, and God alone guarantees that you will get God.
You might ask, "how can you guarantee such a thing?" My friend, Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is God, came to our world, born of the Virgin Mary, lived the perfect life of perfect obedience, suffered under Pontius Pilate and died in our place for our sins. More than that, he rose from death and is alive today, and he now sits at the right hand of God.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
And if that isn't enough: all of that grace and mercy and forgiveness of sins because Christ died on the cross? That happened over 2000 years ago. For all the myths and stories and legends, Christ's death is an historical fact.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (CSB) For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
Today, you can believe and trust the Lord our God. Today, you can obey the Son of God. Repent of your sins and trust in the Holy One of God! The kingdom of God is right now.
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Choose on this day on whom you will serve.
17 Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God.
We Know God: We boast in God alone
Jeremiah 9:23–24 (CSB) “ ‘This is what the LORD says: The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; the strong should not boast in his strength; the wealthy should not boast in his wealth. But the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows me— that I am the LORD, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the LORD’s declaration.
Philippians 3:3 (CSB) For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—
Jonah 2:9 (CSB) but as for me, I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the LORD.
John 6:67–69 (CSB) So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Where can our praises go to? Mankind has failed us. Our leaders will fail. Our parents will even fall. And the worst of these are me. I have fallen time and time again.
But God has always, perfectly, consistently, constantly, everlastingly good to me. I am weak and he has always remained faithful. I have fallen away and he carried back home. I run away and he redirected my paths back to me. I have become embittered and yet, he has been tender and gentle to me.
I will boast in my God.
18-19 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.
We Know God: We proclaim the gospel of Christ
Here's the fullest proclamation of the gospel of Christ:
- By word and deed
Romans 10:17 (CSB) So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
James 2:17 (CSB) In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.
- The power of miraculous signs and wonders - in other words, bearing witness to what God has done
John 21:25 (CSB) And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.
- The power of God's Spirit
John 3:6-8 (CSB) Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Do these things and watch what God does:
Isaiah 55:11 (CSB) so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
Our Response
20-21 My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation, but, as it is written, Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.
We Know God: We preach Christ and him crucified
1 Corinthians 2:2 (CSB) I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 1:22–23 (CSB) For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
2 Timothy 4:1–2 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
This your call. Right now. Share the good news with all of creation.
Praise be to God.
Romans 15:22-33 Ours to Do: Receive God's Blessings
The Text
Romans 15:22–33 (CSB)
22 That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you.23 But now I no longer have any work to do in these regions, and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you
24 whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope to see you when I pass through and to be assisted by you for my journey there, once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.
25 Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem to serve the saints,
26 because Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
27 Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to them in material needs.
28 So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds to them, I will visit you on the way to Spain.
29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf.
31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
32 and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.
33 May the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
Our God
22-24 That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you. But now I no longer have any work to do in these regions, and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope to see you when I pass through and to be assisted by you for my journey there, once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.
You have God's blessings: You are never outside the will of God
Matt 6:10 (CSB) Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matt 26:42 (CSB) Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
Ephesians 1:4–11 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
Your one misstep? Your millionth misstep? (It's me.) You can't get the will of God wrong because you don't dictate the will of God wrong.
And miss me with that, "What if I choose sin?" Have you heard the gospel response when Adam and Eve introduced sin into our perfect universe?
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
How did God ultimately answer that? Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ is the fix. Christ is the answer. Christ is the will of God for your life. If you sin, Christ is the fix of your broken.
Christ wasn't sent here because you made good decisions. Christ came here because you and I are not well. We are sick. We are broken. We are in sin.
Luke 5:31 (CSB) Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick.
25-29 Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem to serve the saints, because Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to them in material needs. So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds to them, I will visit you on the way to Spain. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
You have God's blessings: God will provide for you
Let's not make God a genie. God is not going to bless every single wild, hair-brain scheme of yours. God has granted us himself, his Son, his Spirit, his wisdom, his will, his grace, his mercy and his love along with your mind, will, heart, and feelings. From that, you decide. And God provides. How does he provides? It might not be the way you think. It might not be a simple equation--no matter how good and holy you think the work is.
It might start off hot and as a colossal failure. But do you know that is the will of God for your life. Because everything--even evil--will be used for our good and his glory, and will conform us, sanctified us, and discipline us so that we will look like his Son? Your wrong turns, your missteps, your failures, your mistakes, your sins, your bad decisions, your bad choices, your bad habits, your bad attitudes, your bad thoughts, your bad words, your bad actions, your bad reactions, your bad responses, your bad everything--all of it is used for your good and his glory.
James 1:2–4 (CSB) Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
And:
Romans 5:3–5 (CSB) And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
30 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf.
31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
32 and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.
You have God's blessings: Pray for one another
Whatever decisions you have to make, whatever path you seek out, pray. Ask for wisdom and pray:
James 1:5 (CSB) Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
Seek godly counsel and pray:
Proverbs 19:20–21 (CSB) Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life. Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the LORD’s decree will prevail.
Most of all, pray:
James 5:16 (CSB) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.
To the rest of the world, prayer means you are doing nothing. They think it is nothing because they do not fear, worship, nor love the living God. You are just mumbling some words to nothingness. So to them you are doing nothing.
I know this little old lady. Lived to about 88 years old. Loved the Lord her God. Was blessed with a husband, three boys and adopted a little girl. This little old lady prayed every day and every night that God would save her family.
Husband lost his good sense and ran away with some other woman. This lady promptly drove to Phoenix in their family station wagon, picked his sorry butt up and brought him home. A few months later was diagnosed with prostate cancer and passed away after that diagnosis pretty quickly.
The little old lady continued to pray.
Their youngest son was the worst kind of human being. Porn absolutely wrecked his life. So much so, he sexually abused his own children, got caught, and then got sent to prison for about 400 years before he died in prison.
The little old lady continued to pray.
And then his son (her grandson), while thank God did not hurt any children, did the lion's share of his own sexual immorality. You might be thinking, "Lion's share? How can you top adultery and child molestation?" Her grandson was introduced by his dad to porn at the age of 5. And it had gripped his heart for all of his life. His addiction became so crippling that he went to go work in the porn industry just as the internet was coming online. Websites, servers, photos, videos, recruiting--whatever it took in order to feed his wicked heart.
Yet, the little old lady continued to pray.
How did God respond to this little old pray who prayed for years... up until a half a century?
After yanking her husband back from Phoenix, her husband came to know Christ and repenting of all his sins. Shortly thereafter, around 42 years old, he died from cancer and went to be with the Lord.
Her son, who was rotting away in prison, wasn't saved by Christ until he was 56--20 some odd years after being in prison. God gripped his heart so hard, that he gave up what little he had to be with God. Even his supposed future freedom. When he was finally up for parole, he declined. When the board asked him why, he simply stated, "There are many men in this place who are in darkness. I have the light of God in me. If I leave, who will show them the light of Christ? Therefore, I have to stay." He continued to do ministry for a few more years until he went to be with the Lord.
Her grandson, foolishly thought he was saved from damnation and death just because he had said some sinner's prayer when he was 8 years old. Never mind the fact that he was dealing in so much porn and living the most depraved, sexual immoral life with no repentance. But then, right before his 32nd birthday, God grabbed a whole of this man's heart. This man laid everything down and repented before God. Did the young man's life suddenly became awesome and easy? Nope. Yet, this man knew he belonged to God and God belonged to him forever.
This little old lady, by God's sweet grace, got to see each of her prayers answered before she went to be with God.
If this story sounds a little bit personal, because it is. That little old lady was my grandma. Her name is Frances and her husband's name was Jack. Her youngest son in the story, who ended up dying while doing ministry in prison? His name was Joseph.
His oldest son, the grandson in the story, is me. I am Joseph Jr.. I was the grandson with the crippling porn addiction and the jacked up, messed up life to show for it.
My grandma contended for our lives. And each of us Louthan men went to the utter extremes of sin and depravity to find out that none of that was remotely satisfying. We have sinned way more than the average man. Yet, I know for a fact that God is the mighty one who saves. God asks in Isaiah, "Is my arm too short to save anyone?" I promise you cannot out sin the salvation of God.
So when Christ commands us to "go and pray", we pray because that is when we get to see the glory of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (CSB) Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Because we are praying and giving thanks to the Almighty Creator of the heavens and the earth, we are not doing the bare minimum thing but we are the doing the most we can possibly do.
You want to do the most that you can? Pray.
Our Response
33 May the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
Amen
Romans 16 God Has Overcome--Amen
The Text
Romans 16 (CSB)
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae.2 So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many—and of me also.
3 Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus,
4 who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches.
5 Greet also the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
6 Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews and fellow prisoners. They are noteworthy in the eyes of the apostles, and they were also in Christ before me.
8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those who belong to the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother—and mine.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them.
15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you greetings.
17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them,
18 because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.
19 The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21 Timothy, my coworker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen, greet you.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages
26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles—
27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever! Amen.
Our God
Romans 16:1–16 (CSB) I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many—and of me also. Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches. Greet also the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews and fellow prisoners. They are noteworthy in the eyes of the apostles, and they were also in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those who belong to the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother—and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you greetings.
God Has Overcome: Christ has saved us to one another
Consider these Christians in Acts 16:
- Ex-Pharisee hunter of Christians, Apostle Paul
- Greek Jewish Christian, Timothy
Acts 16:1 (CSB) Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek.
- Business owner, Lydia
Acts 16:14-15 (CSB) A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
- Demonic-possessed slave girl
Acts 16:16-18 (CSB) Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” She did this for many days. Paul was greatly annoyed. Turning to the spirit, he said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! ” And it came out right away.
- Blue-collar dude, the jailer
Acts 16:27-34 (CSB) When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here! ” The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household.
Congratulations, you now have a home church:
Acts 16:40 (CSB) After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house, where they saw and encouraged the brothers and sisters, and departed.
Paul listed Timothy, Prisca and Aquila, Epaenetus, Mary, Andronicus and Junia, Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Aristobulus, Herodion, Narcissus, Tryphaena and Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Julia, Nereus, Olympas, and the saints in Rome.
Who is on your list? Who do you get to be thankful for? Take the moment right now to give thanks to God for them.
And the next time you see them, greet them with a holy kiss and encourage them with the words of God.
Amen.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother—and mine.
God Has Overcome: Christ has brought us together
Mark 15:20-21 (CSB) After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him. They led him out to crucify him. They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross. He was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Where we cannot be absolutely sure, most Bible scholars have determined that Mark's Gospel was the first gospel to be written, finished and distributed (in around 60AD). This means that Mark's (secretary of Peter) account, more than likely got into the hands of the other Gospel writers, (Matthew, Luke, and John) as well as the Apostles Paul and the writer of Hebrews.
Now why is that so important. The writing style of Mark was very action-oriented, almost a journalistic style of writing--documenting what Christ has actively done in his ministry. In other words, the actions of Christ. Think of that as a news report.
When Mark alone reports of Simon of Cyrene being forced by the Roman army to help Jesus carry his cross, he adds this tidbit: He was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Mark mentions this because this was the same Simon, who was the father of Rufus who was doing the work of the Lord in the church in Rome in whom Paul tells them to greet. How amazing is it, that timely visit of Simon crossing paths with our Lord as he is descending unto saving his people from their sins would save Simon in that moment--then would save Simon's wife, and sons, Alexander and Rufus.
Praise be to God!
17-18 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them, because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.
God Has Overcome: Christ shepherds us
John 21:15–19 (CSB) When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”
Ephesians 4:11–16 (CSB) And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
The pastors--the elders, the under-shepherds--are there to minister to the flock and care for Christ's little lambs. The administer the sacraments and preach the word of God over our souls and hearts and ears. Praise be to God.
And in that, we function as one body--helping and encouraging one another. And we help protect one another from bad and heretical teaching. And that training is by preaching the word.
Listen, pastor, if you are faithful to God's word and in preaching of God's word, you are training the congregation to maturity.
Run some other yahoo spouting nonsense and the church is going to shut it down. What if you were in error or going off the rails? Then because the church was faithfully under the preached word, they have been trained up to push back on your nonsense.
Pastor, is that what you want? Or do you want a bunch of yes-people? Do you want a bunch of elders who are yes-men with wet noodles for backbones? If you are trying to build your little kingdom of sand, this is exactly what you want.
Matthew 18:6 (CSB) “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
And:
Jeremiah 23:1-4 (CSB) “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! ” This is the LORD’s declaration. “Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, banished them, and have not attended to them. I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts” — this is the LORD’s declaration. “I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous. I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them. They will no longer be afraid or discouraged, nor will any be missing.” This is the LORD’s declaration.
God protects his sheep. He is not above stomping out your sand kingdom and removing you to protect his people.
But go ahead and build that little kingdom. That is on your neck when you stand before the Lord of lords. Good luck with all of that.
19 The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil.
God Has Overcome: Christ will grow and mature us
Matthew 10:16 (CSB) “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.
Hebrews 12:6 (CSB) for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives.
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Hebrews 5:11–6:3 (CSB) We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits.
Pastor, this is one of the goals you want for your church. Brother and sister, pick a church that wants this.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
God Has Overcome: Christ has conquered
Colossians 2:13–15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Revelation 12:10–12 (CSB) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down. They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives to the point of death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows his time is short.
Romans 8:35–37 (CSB) Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
I think Octavius Winslow says it best:
“Through him that loved us.” Here is the great secret of our victory, the source of our triumph. Behold the mystery explained, how a weak, timid believer, often running from his own shadow, is yet “more than a conqueror” over his many and mighty foes.
To Christ who loved him, who gave himself for him, who died in his stead, and lives to intercede on his behalf, the glory of the triumph is ascribed. And this is the song he chants, “Thanks be to God which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Through the conquest which he himself obtained, through the grace which he imparts, through the strength which he inspires, through the intercession which he presents, in all our “tribulation, and distress, and persecution, and famine, and nakedness, and peril, and sword” we are “more than conquerors.” Accounted though we are as “sheep for the slaughter,” yet our Great Shepherd, Himself slain for the sheep, guides his flock, and has declared that no one shall pluck them out of his hand.
We are more than conquerors through his grace who loved us in the very circumstances that threaten to overwhelm. Fear not, then, the darkest cloud, nor the proudest waves, nor the deepest needs- in these very things you shall, through Christ, prove triumphant. Nor shrink from the battle with the “last enemy.” Death received a death-wound when Christ died. You face a conquered foe. He stands at your side a crownless king, and waving a broken scepter. Your death shall be another victory over the believer’s last foe. Planting your foot of faith upon his prostrate neck, you shall spring into glory, more than a conqueror, through him that loved you. Thus passing to glory in triumph, you shall go to swell the ranks of the “noble army of martyrs”- those Christian heroes of whom it is recorded, “THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD Of THE LAMB.”
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation in Christ Jesus. 229.
21 Timothy, my coworker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen, greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.
God Has Overcome: Christ is always with us
Philippians 1:3–6 (CSB) I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
I know that we love the stories of startup businesses that started in their garage. None better than the story of Apple. Oh look, from sheer perspiration, determination, grit, and a little bit of luck, you too can start in your garage and grow into the world's most valuable company.
That's all fine and great except in the case of Apple, it is just a myth.
“The garage is a bit of a myth. It’s overblown,” Wozniak told Bloomberg BusinessWeek on Thursday. “The garage represents us better than anything else, but we did no designs there. We would drive the finished products to the garage, make them work and then we’d drive them down to the store that paid us cash.” 1
Much like successful business, every large, seemingly success church started in the living room of the church planter. Too often, the full story never really gets told. Sure, we hear stories that spin into sometimes myths about the charismatic leader but what about the not-as-charismatic people around that leader.
Here Paul is saying, "It is not me but whom God has put around me."
We, Americans, are enthralled with the lone wolf, solo success stories. Yep, we can do it all our own and we have no one to thank but ourselves.
But the kingdom of God is the opposite of that. Start with God. God is not even solo yet Triune--Three-in-One--Father, Son, and Spirit, together in perfect relationship. If the Almighty God of the Universe did not do anything alone, what makes us think we can live this life alone?
That is why he sent his Son to come build the Church. We have each other and it is called the Church.
Don't try to cowboy this life alone. Do it together. Yes, I know it is riskier and you might--nope, will--get your heartbroken. But you ain't going to see the glory of God alone. You are not Moses. And even when Moses was on that mountain alone, think about this: the people rather worship their idols. Not even Moses' wife, nor sons, nor brother nor sister was with him.
Moses tried to do it alone. He ended up not seeing the promise land.
Take the moment right now to thank the people who have ministered with you over the years. Praise God for their lives and their love for you. Praise God for your love for them.
Our Response
25-27 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles--to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever! Amen.
God Has Overcome: Glory to God forever! Amen!
Hebrews 1:1-3 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
Peace to you. Amen.
The Pastoral Epistles: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
This series was born out of two things: a desire to serve my local church as an elder and a conversation with my mentor.
I was saved by Christ in April of 2007. Six months later, I wanted to preach the gospel of Christ every day and twice on Sunday. And since then, I have wrestled with that unction. I can preach anywhere but I had serious convictions to do so only as an ordained minister to the local church. What does it mean to be ordained? There are qualifications. And despite the numerous church and denominations, I turned to the Pastoral Epistles to see what the Bible says about the qualifications of an elder and if I fit that qualification.
And then, just have breakfast with a mentor, he suggested journaling my thoughts on the Pastoral Epistles. These are those thoughts.
The Resources
It Goes Without Say
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries & Books
Calvin's Commentaries.
by John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
ESV Expository Commentary: Ephesians–Philemon (Volume 11)
Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., & Jay Sklar (Editors)
Crossway. 2018.
Goodreads
Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus (NTC).
William Hendriksen.
Baker Book House. 1979.
Goodreads
1-2 Timothy and Titus (EBTC).
Andreas J. Köstenberger.
Lexham Press. 2021.
Goodreads
1 Timothy 1:1–11 Christ Our Grace
The Text
1 Timothy 1:1–11 (CSB)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope:2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine
4 or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.
5 Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
6 Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion.
7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.
8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately.
9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
10 for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching
11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.
The Meditation
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope: To Timothy, my true son in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord
There is only one God. And he is the maker of heaven and earth. Grace, mercy, and peace come only the God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I stand on the foundation of Christ whom has used the Apostles and the early church to build His kingdom.
The Gospel
As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.
Once upon a time, in my own lifetime, I feel like either we didn't face such misinformation or I was too young or naïve to pay attention. But as we descend into the Age of Information, we are certainly not becoming wiser, smarter, or more moral. The Age of Information has proven one thing to be true: most of us have already decided what is good, true, and right and we will only seek sources of information that confirms and coddles what is right in our own minds. Some of us would dare to use God's name in vain to try to convince ourselves that we know is right and good is actually right and good.
This is my own downfall and the downfall of Christians. If we have already made up our minds what is right and yet we have a low understanding of the Bible, when we get to the parts of the Bible that tell us that we are wrong, one of three things happen:
- We are wrong
- How it was taught to us was wrong
- Or the Bible is wrong
I wish and pray and hope that number one would be the most common response among Christians. Sadly, it is the least common. Because we have so much more information at our fingertips that can confirm what we think is right, all of that information will overshadow and almost, outvote, what is absolute truth.
Scripture is where God has truly reveal himself to us. You might want God to do a certain thing or look the other way on certain sins, but where God has been clear to reveal himself to us, we have to change our minds accordingly. We are called to worship the Lord our God and this is how we do so:
Romans 12:1-2 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
The Christian is not called to be right and win every argument. Those battles belongs to the Lord. Instead, we are called to trust in God, who is the source for all truth, obey him, and take him at his world. And when he shows us who he really is and revealed himself to us, we have to pay attention.
And this is how he has reveal himself to us: Jesus Christ.
Do you want him to look the other way on one of your sins? That sin that you think that will make you happy, whole, content, secure, and safe? But Christ died to take that sin from you. He was crucified 2,000 years ago. What are you going to do? Hold on to sin so hard that you would go back in time, climb that bloody, piss-fece-soaked cross and extract your sin from his blood?
Hebrews 9:27-28 (CSB) And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Here is what the gospel of God calls you to do right now: repent because the kingdom of God is here. Here is your other choice: don't repent and let the wrath of God remain upon you. (John 3:36)
Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith
This is why Paul instructs in, in the middle of eagerly desiring the gifts of the Spirit such as prophecy and praying in tongues (1 Corinthians 12 & 14), in the midst of instruction on how to minister to one another, that we should do all things in love. What did Christ say were the greatest commandments in the Bible? Love God and love one another. Everything that we do or we think we do in the name of God is for nothing if we do not sincerely love the people we are called to minister to.
Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately. We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me
This hurts my heart. I have known way too many people who have turned away from the gospel only to increase the law which only exposes more sin that they do not want to repent of.
Romans 6:1-11 (CSB) What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
But repentance is a gift of God alone. I can only pray and proclaim the gospel to them. Will God grant them repentance?
1 Timothy 1:12-17 Christ Our Salvation
The Text
1 Timothy 1:12–17 (CSB)
12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.
16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Meditation
Titus 3:3-7 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Ephesians 2:1-10 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
The Gospel
Luke 18:9-14 (CSB) He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’
“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
1 Timothy 1:18-20 Christ Our All
The Text
1 Timothy 1:18–20 (CSB)
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight,19 having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and have shipwrecked their faith.
20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
The Meditation
If you love the Lord your God, you are called to ministry. But we need to examine the intersection where faith and ministry actually meet.
I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you
Through the Pastoral epistles, Paul is giving "these things" to Timothy and Titus. I need you command and teach these things. I don't want to get ahead because we will examine what Paul gave pastors and ministers in due time.
Yet, Paul is giving instruction "in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you". What are prophecies?
1 Timothy 4:11-16 (CSB) Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
2 Peter 1:20-21 (CSB) Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:22 (CSB) speaking in tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.
Let us demystify prophecy. Prophecy, in short, points to all of what Christ has done. In the OT, it is what Christ was going to do based on the promises of God. Now we have Christ revealed, crucified, resurrected and ascended, we get to admonish, encourage and point all believers back to the finish work of Christ. We have all received godly encouragement in one form or another. Prophecy is a bit more specific. It hits closer to the heart. But it is no less tested by the word of the Lord.
Side note: Anybody who says you cannot test all prophecy against Scripture isn't trying hard enough. There is no need to rush the testing. Just pray to the Spirit and he will bring to remembrance all that God has said and taught.
Deuteronomy 18:18-22 (CSB) I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. I will hold accountable whoever does not listen to my words that he speaks in my name. But the prophet who presumes to speak a message in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet must die.’ You may say to yourself, ‘How can we recognize a message the LORD has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the LORD’s name, and the message does not come true or is not fulfilled, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 (CSB) Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.
so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience
If you ever receive a prophetic word, write it down as soon as you can and keep it. Don't ever forget it. A proper, tested prophetic word is from God alone. It will carry you, sustain you, and encourage you for years.
I am not going to sit here and talk about "your destiny" (because if you are saved, you have been predestined to God by God for God) or "where you need to be" (because God is sovereign) or even worse "you have to do this in order for God to do that". I will not say such things and then go into some sort of legalistic rant that says you have to try harder for God to bless you.
Listen, if you are in Christ, you are a new creation. The old has pass and the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17) If you are in Christ, then there is no condemnation and your sins--past, present, and future--are all put on the broken body and blood-drained body of our Savior. That is the real blessing. Go after him. Run after him. Turn your heart and affections upon him. In other words, fight the good fight of faith.
However, when you are directed by God and you keep trusting God, there one effect that you going to see: The Spirit will set your face like rock in the direction of our God and it is the work of God that will keep your feet pointed in the proper direction. Remember God operates out of time: what feels like forever to us is not forever to him. In other words, keep trusting in him. If you are in Christ but struggling in sin, don't lose hope. Where you are now is not where you are going to end up.
This goes back to obeying Christ in trusting Him and take him at his word.
don't shipwreck your faith
which some have rejected and have shipwrecked the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
In other words, don't say "God is this" when the Bible says, "God is that". Paul was so grieved to the core about those who have shipwrecked their faith that he rather turn them over to Satan rather than them to blaspheme God. You might think that is strange. But always keep this in mind: where we are at now is not where we are going. Somebody might be in sin--they might be in the clutches of Satan himself--but salvation belongs to the Lord for he is the only one mighty to save.
To turn blasphemers over to Satan might seem like a gamble. But is only the sheer grace of our Lord and Savior that can bring anybody home.
Some people think that they are not shipwrecking their faith. They walk away from the church never to return. They will think, "I still believe and trust in God" but you have removed yourself from the community of God. That is disobedience. That is shipwrecking. Then without staying in the word and letting God preach the good news to you, you start to miss any kind of good news. Where are you going to turn to? Because the world has bombarded us with what they think is good news. Sad fact is that in my short life of 45+ years, it has changed dramatically. Or listen to the good news of Satan whose lies have not changed in all of eternity: do not love the Lord your God because he is not for you and he will forget you just like he does everyone else.
Don't shipwreck your faith. Keep your eyes upon God. Confess your sins quickly because he is faithful and just to forgive you and me of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Repent for the kingdom of God is here right now.
The Gospel
1 Timothy 2:1-7 Pray in Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 2:1-7 (CSB) First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
The Meditation
I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority
Let us boldly petition God for God for everyone. What does that mean?
Look at Luke's account of the Lord's prayer.
Luke 11:5-13 (CSB) He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
When we pray, how should we come to the Father? One might say humbly and I would agree so since we are mere mortals approaching our Creator God who is Holy and lifted far above all our sinful idols.
But Jesus tells us to have this mindset and attitude when approaching our Good Father:
- boldly
- confidently
- audaciously
- almost to the point of where you think you are bugging God
But guess what, you cannot "bug" nor "bother" the God of the universe whose Son actively in his mind actively holds together the molecules of the universe:
Colossians 1:15-20 (CSB) He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities —
all things have been created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together.
He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
For God was pleased to have
all his fullness dwell in him,
and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.
... the same God of the universe who infinitely does everything and all infinite things all at the same time from past to present to future at all times infinitely and maxed out good and perfect. If he does that, does he not devote his undivided attention to you?
I am a dad who is blessed with kids who are bold and audacious to ask their Papa for everything. And I cannot give them all of my attention all the time. I always have to stop what I am doing and focus on them. And even then, it is so far from perfect.
Christ, the Son of God who is God, commands us, to put it simply, "Go to God, ask for God, you will get God."
Now you might think, "Isn't the prayers of the wicked worthless to God?"
Let me ask you this, if you have the wisdom, gumption, smarts, strength, grace, wherewithal, motivation to go to God, where do you think you get that power from? Not on earth. Not from yourself.
I encourage you all to study Ordo Salutis, the order of how God saves his people from their sins. You will see, for someone to even approach God, they could not as a son of Adam, but God, rich in mercy and love, has to swoop down into us, pull our wicked, concrete hearts out, replaces it with his own heart, and then gives us his Almighty Spirit so that you and I will now have new desires and passions.
The unbeliever and worthless man cannot go to God. Not until God changes that man. Only then can mankind know that they are in desperate need of the only Savior who is able, willing, and power to save them from the death and sin.
Linked all together. Jesus Christ said, "Go and try to bother the Father." Turn from your sin, turn to God, go to God, run to God, ask God for God, it is guaranteed by the blood of the Lamb, in exchange you will get God.
Now Paul takes that and says:
I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority
Go to God--audaciously, boldly--and petition, prayer, intercede and give thanks for everyone--in the Greek, that means 'everyone'--and for kings and the even the presidents, judges, and senators that you hate. You are go to God and ask God to save them so that, in heaven, they will be side by side with you, worshipping our great God together. Wouldn't that be a splendid and wonderful thing?
so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity
You know what is the effect of intentionally praying, petitioning, interceding, and giving thanks for people who you think are your mortal enemies? Shocking enough, they stop being your enemies. You stop hating them. You start loving them. You start caring for them. You start giving to them and want nothing in return. You literally start killing them with kindness. Jesus praises the shrewdness and the craftiness of the dishonest manager in Luke 16. And Jesus wishes that the children of light were just as crafty as the children of the world in dealing with others and loving them.
Our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. We are so stupidly wealthy. Kill others with kindness--literally, "money whip" others--so that:
Luke 16:9 (CSB) And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings.
I am not off subject. Look at what Paul tells us to do: "lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." Paul never says, "lead a quiet, godly life if your circumstances see fit." No, you cannot control your circumstances--I don't care what prosperity false preachers told you. No, you cannot control other people. But you can lead a godly, tranquil, quiet life and you do so by first praying for others and giving thanks for them.
This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth
Romans 2:3-4 (CSB) Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
You know what these passages are not about? Trying to full some Calvinist vs. non-Calvinist online debate. You know what this passage is about? Look and marvel at the sweetness of God our Savior and his tender mercies and kindness towards mankind.
God is holy, just, and right. Fully and perfectly, But God is love, kind, gracious, and merciful. Fully and perfectly. It's the end of discussion. Dwell on the goodness of God.
If you do not know God in this way, ask a friend. Ask your neighbor. Read your Bible. Read books. Write. Journal. Listen to podcasts and sermons until you know and feel that Jesus loves you because the Bible told you so.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time
Romans 6:8-11 (CSB) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Sum this up:
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christ gave his life for his people over 2,000 years ago. The deal is done. The sacrifice is complete. Nothing more to do. His work is complete. We are saved.
The Gospel
For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth
Here are big facts: this not my truth. This is not the truth that is true to me because I believe it and others may not. It is definitely not the truth of the world--which was different a 100 years ago, when I was born, 20 years ago and today.
This is absolute truth for all mankind for all of history because the One God who created heaven and hell and earth and you and me proclaimed it to be so and it is done.
Believe on this. Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
1 Timothy 2:8-15 Worship in Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 2:8–15 (CSB)
8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.9 Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel,
10 but with good works, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.
11 A woman is to learn quietly with full submission.
12 I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to remain quiet.
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.
15 But she will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with good sense.
The Meditation
God determines the times and places we live in. (Acts 17:24-26) With that said comes the unavoidable influence of the culture of the time and place that we live in.
Yet, God tells us to "not to be captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition." Easier said than done. To be born into a time and place is to take on assumptions of the culture where you live, work, play, learn, and yes, even the church you attend.
It is really hard to read this today's passage with American eyes. Isn't it? Especially when the culture that we live in celebrates authority, power, leadership, and self-reliance. We can read the 2nd chapter of 1 Timothy and instead of rightfully respond in worshipping God in Christ by the power of the Spirit, we can instead make this chapter or passage about something it might not be.
Let us examine the Scripture in light of the Scripture and try to see the glory of God in this text.
Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument
This is not a call to pray an external way but rather a posture of the heart and mind and soul underneath Christ.
Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess to worship God
Isn't this a summation of the Old Testament? In other words, believers are not to look like the world around them. You could have grown up in a church culture that follows this verse to the letter. I would submit to you that in doing so, you might be missing the Spirit of the law. God has always called his people to be separated from the world while being in the world. Yet, if the world looks upon us and sees no difference between us and them, what is even the point?
Let me tell you something: the world wants to change the parts of our faith because there are hard sayings in the Bible. Some of our brothers and sisters in the faith have compromised some of their teaching thinking and hoping that more people would attend their church. But guess what? The world is not interested in attending their church--it never was. The world just wanted you to stop proclaiming hard truths of the Bible.
The hard sayings are right there. They are going nowhere. Even when wicked men, who profited off the kidnapping and enslavement of African natives in the Western world, and with no fear of an Almighty, Wrathful, Vengeful God, would then cut out large portions of the Bible--like Exodus--and would preach an blasphemous and wicked Bible and then hand it over to slaves.
That's a whole lot of editing within holy scriptures just to damn your soul to hell. Yet, the good news is that every single Bible passage loudly proclaims that the Lord has come to set the captives free will always be in there, whether you want it to be in there or not.
We can choose to ignore and not teach certain parts of the Bible. But ignoring it won't make it go away.
Let us deal with the elephant in the room. Because I don't think any other passage in this passage is as controversial as this:
A woman is to learn quietly with full submission. I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to remain quiet
Let us not forget the beginning of the chapter where Paul tells Timothy:
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (CSB) First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Men, you lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Women, you do the same.
We can speculate why Paul had to remind Timothy to "lead a tranquil" life. I don't know. Maybe they were loud and obnoxious like me. I read this in context of 1 Timothy, and it seems to me that Timothy's church may not be perfect. But anybody who has been in the church for any amount of time, we know that church can be off the rails--getting bogged down in things that don't really matter.
So our church folks don't interrupt services. But they can sure get loud on social media. So maybe, when we read the Bible and the instructions for the people of the church, we can see that His word still applies to us today and the fact we will never outgrow it.
So when I read:
I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to remain quiet
And yet I am charged by God with keep all of the Scripture in mind and here are just a few examples throughout the Bible:
Judges 4:4 (CSB) Deborah, a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
Romans 16:1-6 (CSB) I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many—and of me also.
Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches. Greet also the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.
Many translations call Phoebe a deaconess.
Acts 18:24-26 (CSB) Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.
Both wife and husband took Apollos aside and gave him some theological and doctrinal teaching and sent him on his way.
John 20:17-18 (CSB) “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
The Lord tells Mary to go and preach the gospel. Mary goes and preaches the good news to the Apostles of Jesus Christ. And if Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and Acts 1 have anything to say about that, we know that the Lord tells us all to go and proclaim his good news.
I cannot read this passage and simply think Paul wanted all women to shut up. What I read is that Christians are to live tranquil and quiet lives. Women shutting up doesn't line up with the rest of the Bible. See the book of Esther.
The call for all believers to be tranquil and quiet? That falls in line with the rest of the Scripture.
So, do I think with this one passage that Scriptures is absolutely forbidding for women not to teach or have authority over men? I have to take that statement in account in all of Scripture and then compare that where women preached, proclaimed, prophesy, led, spoke, taught, commanded, and plant churches.
What I am convinced is that women of faith are commissioned by Christ just as the men are to preach the gospel to all of creation to the ends of the earth. (Mark 16:15-20)
Also, I cannot help but wonder something that we might not know this side of heaven. We know that in Paul's letters to churches that more than likely he is responding to issues within that church. We don't know what the exact issue is but he responds nevertheless. I wonder what was happening in Timothy's church to respond with this sort of strict command. Were the women specifically becoming unruly? I don't know and I cannot even speculate.
That is where I land: men and women of the body, don't become disruptive nor unruly. Instead, worship God with all of you might.
For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. But she will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with good sense
We keep this in mind with Romans 5:12-21. In other words, no one in their right mind would suggest that Paul is saying that Adam did not sin. Woman was deceived and transgressed. Paul is not saying anything controversial here. He is quoting Eve:
Genesis 3:13 (CSB) So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done? ” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Adam was passively not protecting his wife and transgressed. I know because of Genesis 3 and Romans 5:12-21.
As far as being saved through childbearing. This ties straight back to Genesis 3:
Genesis 3:20 (CSB) The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.
That is exclusively for all believers. This ties right back to the first proclamation of the gospel:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.
And
Galatians 3:16 (CSB) Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ.
What is the Bible about? Jesus Christ. When in doubt, ask yourself, "What does this say about God?"
if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with good sense
How do we know that Adam and Eve were saved?
Genesis 3:21 (CSB) The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
This is the mark of the every believer. There is one thing to struggle with faith, love, holiness, and good sense. But there is one other thing not to display those traits as all. This is why I keep coming back to you and pleading with you to let yourself be known by loved and friends. Married couples, don't tune me out. I meet married people all the time who have been married years and yet, they really don't know each other. God calls us to community. God has called us to search out others that are safe and invite them into your life. This is to be done in mutuality--that is, you look into my life and I will look in yours and let us see if there is something in us that doesn't look like God. You won't get this in isolation. Yep, it is scary as heck. But as much as God as saved us to Himself, he has saved us to each other--from believer to believer.
The Gospel
1 Timothy 3:1-7 Assemble in Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 3:1–7 (CSB)
1 This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy.
4 He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity.
5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)
6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.
7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.
The Meditation
Let us look at both the Elder (Overseer) and the Deacon.
The qualifications of an overseer
An overseer or an elder of the church. The King James calls this, "bishop". The Greek word simply means, "supervisor". Whatever term you want to use, let us look how these qualifications should impact and change the way we live our lives.
This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”
This sort of ministry is not thrust upon an unsuspecting, unwilling man. As my friend (who is an pilot in the US Air Force) likes to say, "volun-told". Elders are not "voluntold" to be an elder. They must aspire to be an overseer.
But it is not blind ambition. What I mean by that is that the desire not simply one sided. The man must want to be an elder but the church itself must want him as their elder.
As I write this, I have been saved by God for just 14 years nearing the age of 46. I have longed to serve my local church as an elder. But here is the stone cold truth: I have never been given grace by God nor grace by my local church to be in this elder.
You know what? That is more than okay. As time passes, I have started to grasp one truth in life, "Where does God's grace have me at right now?" Once I figure that out, I go and do. In other words, I may not be able to preach on a Sunday morning. But I can write books and blog posts about the glory of God and His great love for us all the live long day. If that is the grace I have, then that is what I get to do.
But I digress.
An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach
Do not confuse this with "above approach". No minister--elder, shepherd, evangelist, teacher, pastor, whatever--should never be above approach. That would actually disqualify you from this office.
To be above reproach, by definition, is to be "above disapproval or disappointment". Wow. That seems to set the bar way low. But if you have been in church or been paying attention to the church culture at large for more than a minute, you know that way too many ministers stumble and fail. The phrase, "fall from grace" gets thrown around a lot. I suggest we start saying, "I was disappointed when my pastor decide to sin against God rather turn to God."
You might be asking, "Well, everybody sins. Is the Bible calling all elders to be perfect?" No. Just above disappointment. Stop me when this sounds familiar: when one sins, run back to God.
The Christian is empowered to do so. The minister must be a Christian. Therefore, the minister must be empowered to repent.
Sadly, "falling from grace" always means that the minister decided, day after day, which turns into months and years, not to turn to God and instead, turn into their sin.
the husband of one wife
I read this not as strictly "must be married" and to wholesale reject any single, divorced, or widowed men.
You know how I would read this in light of the entire Bible?
1 Corinthians 6:18 (CSB) Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.
An elder is one who flees from sexual sin. Single. Divorced. Married. Widowed. It matters not. If you are bought with the blood of Christ, we have the power of the Spirit to flee all sin including sexual sin.
I don't think it is a coincidence that this passage from the end of 1 Corinthians 6 came to mind. If you are familiar with Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth, he just said:
1 Corinthians 6:15-17 (CSB) Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body? So should I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not! Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh. But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
And then he will go on to say:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB) Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
And then finally address married and unmarried folk in chapter 7.
I don't think that is a coincidence.
self-controlled, sensible, respectable
Galatians 5:22-23 (CSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
These qualifications alone filters out the unqualified. These are not throwaway qualifications. I dare you to ask the Holy Spirit if He would call you self-controlled, sensible and respectable. Are you so at home? What about with your wife? What about with your kids? What about with the wait staff at your favorite restaurant?
This virtues are no doubt internal but the effects of virtues from the heart always find a way to affect your relationships--in good and bad ways. If you are indeed self-controlled, people who know you will know. If you are sensible and respectable, your family and friends will instinctively be able to answer one way or another.
hospitable, able to teach
Along with "supervising" the church, there are two tasks of the elder:
hospitality - Are you inviting? Do you welcome people often? It doesn't mean just in your home. Lunches, coffee, or even including people in weekend activities. Keep it real: some people are not. They rather be alone most of the time and have limited capacity for others. That is okay. Introverted or extroverted, the task of the elder is someone who is inviting others into their own life.
able to teach - The litmus test on this is not whether you can teach thousands of people at one time. Can you teach doctrine and theology one on one? Can you articulate the gospel and its implications to a few people at one time. What about a class on a book of the Bible? Then by the Spirit of God alone, you might be able to teach.
not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy
These are external marks of an elder. By external, I mean that these are some traits that can also be recognized by the general public at large. You might be one way in front of church folk. But what about people at the coffee shop, in the grocery stores or even online? The larger audience can bear witness on whether or not you should help oversee His church.
must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)
Take a walk through your home, budget, and the general "adulting" things that need to get done: are they getting done?
must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil
Speaking on a personal level: I know this verse was put in for me. I got saved in 2007. And within a year, I was started to be groomed to be a minister--within the context of that church. I sit now and see the grace and mercy of God in my life since then and I know that I know if I was a minister, pastor, preacher, elder in any way, it would have been disastrous. It is only now I can thank God for doing what He can only do: heal my soul, heart, and mind from childhood trauma.
must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap
And if excessive drinker, bully, and quarrelsome is not enough, then what about the minister's general reputation with his neighborhood and people within the city. What would they say?
Does everyone meet these qualifications? No. Should every Christian check themselves against this list? Absolutely so. I feel like these and the qualifications for the deacon are practical explanation of the fruit of the Spirit.
The Gospel
1 Timothy 3:14-16 Mystery of Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 3:14–16 (CSB)
14 I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon.15 But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
The Meditation
We see how the Elders and Deacons are qualified to oversee God's churches. We have the rest of Scripture to show us what are their duties--mostly laid out in places like 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, Ephesians 4 all through the heart of God revealed in John 21.
So what of the people of God? What about the people in the pews who have put their faith and hope in Jesus? Just like the Elders and the Deacons of the church, the people of the church are to behold the mystery of God.
Elders must have the ability to teach the mysteries of God (1 Timothy 3:2) and even the Deacons are to hold "the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience" (1 Timothy 3:9). Are the people of God who have been redeemed and bought for by the blood of the Lamb should do any less?
Think on these things:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the Spirit,
seen by angels,
preached among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
The manifestation of God in the flesh; his vindication in the Spirit, witnessed by the all rulers and authorities in heavenly places; preached to the ends of the earth; his people being trust and believe in him by power of the Spirit; all the while Christ intercedes for the saints at the right hand of the Father--these are not mere facts so you can pass some theological pop quiz to allow you entrance into heaven. You and I are to believe on this and we will have eternal life with God.
If this mystery has changed our lives, what are we to do with it?
The Gospel
In other words, what is the good news in all of this and how do we live by it?
God has been fully revealed to all of mankind in His Son, Jesus Christ
Colossians 1:24-29 (CSB) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church. I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
God has made his will truly and fully known by giving us his Son, Jesus Christ
Ephesians 1:7-10 (CSB) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
God has bought and reckoned us to him by the way of His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Bridegroom to the Bride that is the Church
Ephesians 5:25-32 (CSB) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Ephesians 3:1-13 (CSB) For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.
This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Because you believe and trust in Him, and you belong to God, you are called to proclaim this good news to every one
Mark 16:15-16 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
1 Timothy 3:8-13 Serve in Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 3:8–13 (CSB)
8 Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money,9 holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.
11 Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything.
12 Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.
13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
The Meditation
What is a deacon?
The first calling of deacons
Acts 6:1-7 (CSB) In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch. They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
In our modern day church, the title and calling of "deacon" might be synonymous with along the lines of taking care of things that would not be pastoral nor preaching. As the Apostles once said, "give up preaching of God to wait on tables." That does not mean deacons cannot teach, preach, and proclaim the gospel of Christ--for that is the Great Commission for all the believers of Christ:
Acts 6:8-10 (CSB) Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen. But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
For whatever responsibilities Stephen may had have within the church, he continued on:
- performing great wonders and signs among the people
- full of grace and power.
Look upon the Spirit-filled strength of Stephen's preaching:
But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
His opposition was so powerless, they resorted to killing Stephen--whose death was approved and supervised by a man name Saul. There isn't any doubt in my mind that God used the preaching and death of Stephen to began the saving work in Saul.
Saul would go on to say of his own ministry:
Romans 15:17-19 (CSB) Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God. For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.
Deacons, just like all Christians, are tasked with fulfilling what Christ has commissioned us to do. But because they are qualified, they might be responsible for more.
The qualifications of a deacon
There isn't a lot of differences between the elder and the deacon sans for a few. The differences are not that important.
likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical
I don't want to focus on the differences because the Bible doesn't make a delineation between the two titles for the exception of being able to teach, and not a recent convert. But I can make the argument that a deacon would be likewise.
If you have anyone who is just not marked with parts of the fruit of the Spirit, then eldership nor deaconship may not be right for them. Think about it: would you put a man to be an elder who is not known to be gentle? What about a deacon who loves to argue on social media? They should be be worthy of respect, not hypocritical.
not drinking a lot of wine
Don't be a drunkard. Drunkenness is a sin against God. We are called to be sober-minded. This does not exclude us from drinking beer, wine, nor spirits but like everything good from God, we must do so in moderation.
not greedy for money
This goes along with managing one's money and household. I think you have to ask the question of one another, "Anything concerning finances, do you make a decision based on what you can earn?" A harder hitting question to ask: "Do you decide based on income potential but place it under the guise of 'what's best for my family?'" Only the Holy Spirit can reveal what's really going on in your heart. Don't ignore him if he is trying to tell you something.
holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience
Again, I would hold both the elder and the deacon to this standard especially concerning the modern times do we live in.
Some questions to ask:
- Do you explain away the harder parts of Scripture?
- Do you think there is a reasonable explanation for everything in Scripture?
- What do you do with the supernatural?
You would be shocked on how many Christians just casually explain away the mysteries of God. Paul warns us in Colossians:
Colossians 2:8 (CSB) Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
Sadly, being born in a particular time period, you cannot help but assume what you assume. Sometimes we don't know. But just because the everybody around you is trying to explain everything and fit everything in a nice little box, doesn't mean you should. We don't know because we are mere mortals and created imagebearers. We have finite minds. Don't be afraid of not knowing everything. That is the mark of any Christian.
Likewise, we are not to be of this world and agree with this world when they say, "God was not clear on this particular subject matter" like identity and sexual preference. When you say things like that, that just exposes how little you engage with the word of God. Any good amount of reading of Scripture would help us see God is very clear on such matters.
must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons
Guess what? As the old saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day." This is why we use the Pastoral Epistles to cross-examine not only our local church's philosophy of ministry but also our own.
Here's a basic question: How quickly would you install a pastor or a deacon? Does your church takes its sweet time installing pastors?
"But I know him like my own brother?" Awesome. Let the church test them out to make sure they are "above reproach".
Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything
You have one with a good reputation but the spouse not so much. What do you do? Maybe eldership nor deaconship is right for them.
This is not a management role at your local Fortune 500. Character matters. And it is not what we think is good and right but what God thinks.
The calling of anyone into ministry is a supernatural calling. I hope more and more churches see it that way.
to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently
Want to manage God's people? Want to love His sheep? (John 21) Start with managing your household first. Don't read that as controlling or lording over your wife and kids. That is not what the word of God says.
Is your home stable? Secure? A safe place. A refuge of peace? Start by answering those questions and seeking answers from the Holy Spirit.
For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus
Reputation, yes. But boldness of faith? Who can you think with boldness of faith?
The Gospel
This is the gospel: we are saved by God to God for God. Likewise, we are now saved to each other. We are to serve one another as we are to love one another.
John 13:34-35 (CSB) “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 John 4:7-8 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
This is where Paul says in Romans 15 that he fulfills his ministry "by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles". By preaching of the word and the serving of one another. That is the Church of God through Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We cannot just be about talk. We must walk the talk:
James 2:14 (CSB) What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him?
We are saved to obedience. In other words, by God's specific, saving grace of His Son, Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we get to be obedient to God. Out of our salvation, comes good works. For it says in Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:8-10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
1 Timothy 4:1-5 Worship Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 4:1–5 (CSB)
1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
3 They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.
4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
5 since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.
The Meditation
The heart of man is a idol factory says John Calvin. Why so? We have a hard time worshipping God in our own nature. This is because we cannot control God. What do we do? We put our happiness, wholeness, healing, the stake of our lives into things that we can lord over and we get to control. In ancient times, they would make idols out of metal and wood and then turn right around and worship it hoping that this thing they have created will give them what they want?
When you say it like that, it sounds almost insane because it is insane. God said so:
Isaiah 37:19 (CSB) They have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but made from wood and stone by human hands. So they have destroyed them.
We laugh at ancient people and think they were so dumb. Yet, we have the tendency to turn right around and with our mouths and our actions declare:
"If I had just more money, I will be happy."
"If I get married, everything will be okay."
"If I have a kid, then I will be fulfilled."
"If I get this promotion, all will be right."
Happy. Okay. Fulfilled. Right? All of those are found in God alone.
How did David pray it?
Psalms 17:14-15 (CSB)
With your hand, LORD, save me from men,
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life:
You fill their bellies with what you have in store;
their sons are satisfied,
and they leave their surplus to their children.
But I will see your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
I mention this because what Paul is describing and warning Timothy is the idol of religion. In other words, "let me do all the right things so that God will do what I want him to do."
Sounds insane, right? But most American Christians do it. I don't care what your church background is--Baptist or Charismatic--we all do it. Yet, Romans 4 dismisses that foolish notion:
Romans 4:1-5 (CSB) What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
In other words,...
We do not put God in our debt
And Paul is not even using that strong enough language.
Look at what Christ says about those who would oppress people with religion:
Matthew 23:1-15 (CSB) Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!
So we cannot control anybody else other than ourselves. We have no god, no demon, and no idol that is going to do our bidding.
We are not gods
And don't come at me with Psalm 82. Try reading the entire Psalm first and then come at me.
We are not in control of the universe around us. Whether you would admit it or not, it is a burden that will break your back.
What shall we do?
Come to Christ
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Christ said, "Come to him. Destroy your idols who just like the Egyptian slavemasters that will break your back, your heart, and your soul. Come to him. He will take on the full burden of our sin and we get the light and easy yoke of his righteousness. When we do that, we get to finally, completely, satisfactorily rest in Him alone.
The Gospel
The gospel of Christ fully counters the lies of Satan and of the world
1Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
Today, our sin and idols are loudly, provocatively, enthusiastically, zealously, unashamedly, without restraint and without hesitation evangelize their terrible news: make your sin and your struggle your birthright and your identity. Give into your sin. Let it become you. That is the only way you will be happy.
The gospel of God is this: God is the only one who satisfies and sustains us. Only the good news of God completely and truly frees us. And the gospel of Christ absolutely, perfectly, truthfully, blood-spilt, wrath-absorbingly counters with this truth: give that sin over to the Son of God who is God who is the worthy Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world.
You think your sins are too much. How about the sins of the world? Do you think you have more than the sins of the world? No! Jesus' ripped, shredded, broken, gross body nailed to the cross was more than enough to cover your sins and the sins of your neighbor.
The gospel of Christ fully counters the man-centered, back-breaking, man-made, Satan-inspired legalistic religion
3 They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.
People want to be told what to do so badly that they'll listen to anyone.
Don Draper, Mad Men
Some of you will hear this and balk at it. Yet, most of you actually operate in this way--no different than the children of Israel.
Let me sum up the entire Old Testament:
Israel: God, just tell us what to do and we will do it
God: Here you go, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
Israel fails to either follow the whole law and when they do follow part of the law, they are do it out of a obligation--no fear of God and no thanksgiving of praise. No worship to God.
Israel: Lord, we will do the bare minimum just to get what we want from you but then we need you to shut up.
And then they are surprised and shocked when enemy comes to conquers them.
And go read Jeremiah. God gives them over to what they exactly what they wanted: a worldly king to tell them what they need to do in order for them to be happy, okay, fulfilled, and safe.
All things from God are good
4For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.
What are the created things of God?
Life. Science. Academics. Marriage. Adulthood. Children.
Beyond that: salvation, adoption, redemption, satisfaction, and joy also come from God that can only be found in His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
That is the good news. The world adamantly disagrees.
What news are you going to believe today?
1 Timothy 4:6-10 Train in Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 4:6–10 (CSB)
6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed.7 But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness.
8 For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.
10 For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
The Meditation
If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus
What are these things?
1 Timothy 4:4-5 (CSB) For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.
Philippians 4:8-9 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
We are called not to reject anything that God has said to be good but to receive all things with thanksgiving to God.
How do we know if it is good or not good?
since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.
If the word of God declares it to be good, then it is good. Receive that good thing with thanksgiving to God.
Continue on in verse 6:
nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed
This is absolutely where gifts of the Spirit, which are given freely and abundantly to all of God's children, which like any gift of God, was never meant to terminate on ourselves but shared with one another. For example, when it comes to spoken words, this is why we are to give words of encouragement and prophecy to one another and sit under the good teaching of the word and preaching of the gospel to one another.
I would encourage each us to do so continuously. Now you might say, "We cannot do so perfectly." I would agree with you except (look at verse 7)
We are to have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths
I would completely agree that we cannot perfectly be nourished by the words of faith and good teaching. However, as a point of reference, I would encourage everyone right now to look how much time we spent on our phones and in front of screens. Sure, my Instagram account might contain some good wholesome Christian memes. But is that all that my timeline is about? Be honest. What about yours about? Do you see my point?
What about Facebook? or TV watching? What are we really doing with our time here on earth?
Spiritually speaking, what are we snacking on? What are we feasting on? You spend 1 to 8 hours on social media a day? What would it look like for your soul and your heart if you started exchanging that with the word of God and prayer and time with one another?
Let me tell you: like the best things in life, the word of God and time with God isn't going to just happen magically. We want to hear from God but how much effort are we putting into studying his word? If you want it, you will find a way to stay connected to the word of God and to each other.
In other words, verse 7:
Rather, train yourself in godliness
And when you sit under the word of God through prayer, reading, listening, and meditating constantly, what is happening? You are being trained in godliness. R.C. Sproul said it best, and I loosely quoting,
"There is no transformation of the heart through head knowledge alone. However, the heart will not change unless the head knows it first."
As my old professor, Sinclair Ferguson, also said:
“We are to work at bible study. The Scriptures do not disclose their riches to lazy minds and hearts.”
You think you knowing nothing and pursuing nothing of God will automatically train you in godliness?
Hebrews 5:11 - 6:3 (CSB) We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits.
There are a few new Christians reading this. That exhortation ain't for you. But for those of us who have been in church a while and called themselves Christians for a long while, you should have been mature. You should have move past the basic teachings of the Bible. But because you learn not, God will not let you go on into maturity.
For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come
Look at the opposite of that direction:
Hosea 4:6-8 (CSB) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I will reject you from serving as my priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I will also forget your sons.
The more they multiplied,
the more they sinned against me.
I will change their honor into disgrace.
They feed on the sin of my people;
they have an appetite for their iniquity.
In other words:
Romans 8:3-8 (CSB) For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
I don't care what the Mormons, Catholics, Jehovah Witnesses, and the rest the world wants you to believe: there ain't no third way. There is only eternal life or eternal wrath and death. There is no middle ground.
In other words, you are either in Christ under his protection or you are in his wrath. No neutral third way in this life.
This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance--For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe
Romans 8:18-25 (CSB) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
The Gospel
What is the good news?
We do all of this not in vain. We do this because all of the Christian's hope is found in Christ alone. He is the only one who will reveal His glory to us. He is the one who will continue to save each and every one of his people. And one day, we will be finally set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God's children and into perfect satisfaction (Psalm 17:15), eternal life, fullness of joy, and pleasure evermore because we will forever in his wonderful presence. (Psalm 16:11)
1 Timothy 4:11-5:2 Minister in Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 4:11–5:2 (CSB)
11 Command and teach these things.12 Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
13 Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching.
14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.
15 Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.
16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1 Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
2 older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity.
The Meditation
Some Christians, like myself, are so curious of what God has called us to do. It does tend to direct us in one direction or another. Sometimes good. Sometimes bad. But by the grace of God, it is never a waste of time.
And for some of us, we might be obsessed with knowing the call and purpose of God on our lives for so long that we might miss the wonderful moments of grace along the way. Or we become so obsessed with what we know what God told us to do but assume so much of it, that we miss the opportunity to just be obedient.
I say this to say, that might make sense to some of you. And to the rest of you, it might be oddly specific. You would be correct because this describes my walk with God since being saved at 32 years old.
I won't bog you down with boring details. One moment I was saved. A few months later, I felt God called me to preach his word. And to nobody's fault other than my own, I assumed a lot in his calling. I assumed that it was going to always be in a church, as pastor, as planter, as a gatherer of people, going to seminary, and in vocational ministry.
And I became obsessed with the church. Church history, Evangelicalism, denominations, preaching of the gospel, pragmatism, gender roles, why do so many church planters deal with father wounds, and on and on it goes.
And none of those obsessions were in vain. But what did God say to me?
- Preach his word (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
- Proclaim his gospel (Mark 16:14-18)
- Feed his lambs. (John 21)
God in fact did not tell me to be a pastor, be a church planter, to gather up people, to go to seminary, and to be in vocational ministry. Maybe one day I will do any of that or none of that. If the grace is provided, then I will great joy serve God and his people in that way.
Yet, what God was clear in his commandment to me: "Open my mouth and proclaim my gospel."
Took me 14 years to figure that out. Yep, I am not God's sharpest knife in the drawer.
And those things God did not tell me to do? All wonderful, God-given blessings to all ministers. Those are good gifts of God.
Beyond that, I know that I needed to be in church, under the covering in the elders, in order to minister to others.
And you have the same commandment and calling on your life.
You want a purpose: love, serve, and minister to others. What does that look like? Let me ask you this. What do you like to do that God calls good? So, here is my suggestion: pray about it and go and do, and then see where the Holy Spirit will take you.
I promise you it won't be easy. The Holy Spirit took me on a path from hell to heaven and back, through the valley of the shadow of death right back to his presence. It was the hardest and most difficult thing I have ever gone through. But I know that I know I look more like my Savior today than I did 14 years ago--that is for darn sure.
Let's examine Paul's charges to Pastor Timothy and to you and to me.
Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone despise your youth
Jeremiah 1:4-8 (CSB) The word of the LORD came to me:
I chose you before I formed you in the womb;
I set you apart before you were born.
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
But I protested, “Oh no, Lord GOD! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.”
Then the LORD said to me:
Do not say, “I am only a youth,”
for you will go to everyone I send you to
and speak whatever I tell you.
Do not be afraid of anyone,
for I will be with you to rescue you.
This is the LORD’s declaration.
Or if you want even younger than that:
Luke 1:11-17 (CSB) An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”
You know when to minister? Now is the time to minister to one another. "But I am only 12 years old." So were some of the Disciples of Christ. "But I am young in the faith and don't know that much." Listen, if you believe and trust Jesus Christ, then the Spirit of Christ is in you.
Romans 8:11 (CSB) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
The same Spirit that filled Jesus, the disciples, the prophets, the kings, the priests, and all believers since Pentecost and empowered them for all ministry to one another. If you believe and trust in Christ, then that same Spirit, who is the Living God, dwells in you.
Go and minister.
Minister in Christ: set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity
This is not legalism nor a bunch of works we have to do in order for others to accept us and judge us in their own eyes. There judgment doesn't matter. Only God's. But here is the thing.
Luke 13:6-9 (CSB) And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?’
“But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Let me explain that parable in another way:
Galatians 5:18-26 (CSB) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Your ministry starts with your character. And let me be honest: in the world of influencers and social media, we can work really hard to make ourselves look really good. We can even keep friends, spouses, and children seeing our real selves because we are so desperate to look the part and look righteous in their eyes. One, that is back breaking and you will fail. And two, God knows the motives of your heart and knows that you are trying really hard to please him. But some of you are doing it so that you are not close to him and you have to do what he says. "Let me be obedient on these things that are really easy for me to do but I won't give up the hard stuff because I need that in order to be happy."
You are going to fail and crash. And when that happens, your life will just bottom out.
Here is the good news: Christ is inviting you right now to give him that back-breaking load.
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Some of y'all are not ready to give up on your idols and your sins just yet. Keep on. That will take you straight to death and into Hell.
But some of y'all are done. You are at the end of your rope. You are sick and tired of the masks that you have to keep putting on and it has worn you down. Christ said, "Take my yoke. Take my righteousness. I am low and humble and gentle in heart. In God alone is where you will find rest for your soul. Your weight of sin will crush you. Trust in me. Take me at my word. Believe what I say. Let me take your sin. And in return, I give you this gift which is easy and light and freeing because it is gift of eternal life."
Minister in Christ: give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching
In this context, Paul was telling Timothy, "Until I come, keep ministering." But you know what, we are to "give our attention to the public reading, exhortation and teaching" until Christ comes back. Do these things for all always.
Nourish, feast, snack, drinking in the word of Christ. Only then will your soul cease to hunger and your heart will no longer thirst.
Minister in Christ: Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders
This is a statement for all. Christians sometimes, and I speak for myself included, spend too much time trying to figure out what their gift is.
Let me ask you something, "Where does God's grace have you right now? What can you be doing to minister to one another right in this moment?"
Go and do that. Stop overthinking and do it.
Minister in Christ: Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all
I wish that the Christian life was a linear progression. Like, if you ever thought about lifting weights, you might be tempted to think that you can slap some weights on a bar, lift, and you will get stronger over time. Even if you put more and more weights on the bar and just keep getting stronger. I know a few gym rats reading this will be shaking their head no. Why? Because your progress stalls. You might have to reset.
So too is the Christian life. But it is not a simple reset or a simple "two steps back". It is often times the worst roller coaster you have ever been on. Twists, turns, dives, ups, downs, loopy loops, and twists. But over time, you will look back at 1 year ago, 5 years ago, 20 years ago and you will see the work that God has done in your heart.
And if they are evident to you, they will be evident to those around you.
Minister in Christ: Pay close attention to your life and your teaching, persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers
We just got done reading and thinking in chapter 3 about the qualifications of the elder and the deacon. What was the type of qualification that kept coming up over and over again? The character of the elder and the character of the deacon.
Why wouldn't the character of the Christian who are called to minister to one another be any less?
Minister in Christ: Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity
This is the call of the church and ministry to be cross-generational and cross-stage of live. Strive, yearn, ask, and demand for your small groups to be filled with people who are young and old, male and female, single and married, divorced and widow, kids and no kids, black, brown, yellow, and white, and all points in between.
And in case you forget all of this, remember to treat one another like family--a family who has the most perfect and loving Father with the Eldest brother who is the great King of kings and bonded together by the Holy Spirit himself.
The Gospel
The good news is not only that we are saved to God by God but through the cross of Christ, we are saved to one another.
And that is scary. Really scary. Especially for most of us who have been hurt by people in the church and by those who claim to be followers of Christ in one way or another.
We live in jacked up world. And that is no excuse for those claiming to be Christians to hurt other people.
But here's the flipside of that coin: we are all called to love and minister to one another and our character in loving and serving and ministering to one another absolutely matters. You are not going to be perfect like the Lord Jesus. Yet, go and read the promises that God has for his children:
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
We are all being conformed and sanctified so that one day, we will truly look like his son.
Your character matters. You are holy because God is holy. You are set apart because God is set apart. You cannot look like the world. And despite our wounds and hurts from people in the church, we are still in this together. We are not going to do this apart from each other. That isn't the plan of God. That is not the will of God.
Our hope is not in how well we do church: that is, beat and scatter the wolves nor how we feed God's lambs (you and me)--our hope is in Christ alone, who is the Good Shepherd. Obey his call to love and minister to one another.
1 Timothy 5:3-16 Christ our Bridegroom
The Text
1 Timothy 5:3–16 (CSB)
3 Support widows who are genuinely in need.4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.
5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers;
6 however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
7 Command this also, so that they will be above reproach.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 No widow is to be enrolled on the list for support unless she is at least sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband,
10 and is well known for good works—that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry
12 and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge.
13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say.
14 Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.
15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan.
16 If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need.
The Meditation
Don't be so quick to blow past this list of to-dos. Certainly there are instructions here that Paul gives Timothy on how to care for the widows in the church. But why specifically the widow? Does this pertain to us now when most people are living longer and older? What about the divorced and the single mom? Do they get support?
Read these instructions with the heart of God--let us see the tenderness, closeness, and the love of God towards the widow.
Christ's heart: He calls us to help
1 Timothy 5:3 Support widows who are genuinely in need. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. 5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; 6 however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command this also, so that they will be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Luke 21:1-4 (CSB) He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Christ's heart: He calls us to commune with the Father
1 Timothy 5:9 No widow is to be enrolled on the list for support unless she is at least sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband, 10 and is well known for good works—that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.
Luke 2:36-38 (CSB) There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. 38 At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Christ's heart: He calls us to good works
1 Timothy 5:11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry 12 and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge. 13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say.
There is something that I always that tends to be confusing unless you have heard me say it a million times, "Not something is not something." Just because something is isn't something does not make that a something. Put it like this: in the Bible, we hear God say, "Don't do this", we cannot assume that we are to do the opposite.
Yet in this case, we know in this particular passage, we know that to be true. And I can through a bunch of verses at you about don't let your hands go idle or stop believing in silly myths. But let me sum up verses 11 through 13 in this way:
Ephesians 2:8-10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Christ's heart: He calls us to himself
1 Timothy 5:14 Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. 15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan.
Christ's heart: love one another
1 Timothy 5:16 If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need.
Mark 3:33-35 (CSB) He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
We are to love each other. And within the body of believers, we are saved to one another as family because we are the fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters to one another. Crazy? Yes. Still being sanctified? Yes. Not perfect? Yes. Hard sometimes? Yes. Setup hard boundaries and sometimes love them from a far. But when ministry opportunities arises, pray to God and ask what is yours to do and then go and do if confirmed by the word of God.
Deuteronomy 10:17-21 (CSB) For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving him food and clothing. 19 You are also to love the resident alien, since you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt. 20 You are to fear the LORD your God and worship him. Remain faithful to him and take oaths in his name. 21 He is your praise and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awe-inspiring works your eyes have seen.
And if you are curious what is the judgement and the response of God when you oppose his tender heart for those most vulnerable: not only the widow but orphan and the immigrant, go and read Psalm 94.
And if we are to believe Luke 18, we know he will help the most vulnerable and do so speedily and swiftly (Luke 18:7-8)
That's a bonus. We will dig into that at a later time.
The Gospel
Here is the good news: God exposes his tender, soft heart because He will put on the fullest display of his love for us. He sent his only begotten Son to live and die for us.
Christ was sent to be the Groom to the widow, the divorced, the lonely, the alone, and to be most controversial, we are the adulteress.
We are the widow with no man would stand to protect and care for us.
We are the divorced when man has abandoned us and does not provide for us and our children.
We are the lonely and the alone--when no man would help us in our time of need.
And yet, because of our great sin, we are the adulteress in John 8.
But what was the response of Christ? In his tender mercies, Christ not only spared us but in his perfect righteousness and sacrifice, he had no condemnation for us. And if Romans 8 is correct, if we have no condemnation, then we cannot be separated from the love of God because of Christ Jesus our Lord.
The first Adam, that is, the first husband, fell and sinned against God. Through Adam came sin and death for all. Adam became as helpless to save himself as we are all.
Yet, Christ, the Second Adam and the Perfect Husband, is the only one who succeeded when all others have failed. God sent his Son so that He could call to his Bride, to woo her, to wash her in the water of the word, baptize her with His Spirit and fire, and then glorify her in righteousness.
Revelation 19:7-8 (CSB) Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.
8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.
Often it is said that "we will be his people and He will be God."
Or to put it more intimately, as the lover from the Song of Songs would rightly proclaim: "My beloved is mine, and I am his forevermore."
Praise be to God.
1 Timothy 5:17-25 Christ our Eldest Brother
The Text
1 Timothy 5:17–25 (CSB)
17 The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and, The worker is worthy of his wages.
19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid.
21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
22 Don’t be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
24 Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later.
25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.
The Meditation
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Christ, Our Eldest Brother: in ministry
19 The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
Let me remind that the Son of Man himself had no home to call his own and was completely reliant on his friends for shelter:
Matthew 8:20 (CSB) Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Christ is our firstborn example on what it is like to minister to others. But by no means is this the only way.
As the New Testament church spread and grew, Paul is telling us: provide for you elders and ministers. Now, Paul also received support in some churches and refused support in others. (1 Cor. 9:12-18) and we know that Paul was able to work as a "tentmaker" (Acts 18:1-3).
What then shall we make of this?
Provide for those ministers who has responded to Christ in John 21: "Do you love me? Then, feed my lambs,hepherd my sheep, feed my sheep."
Most ministers won't need support. God has provided for them in other ways. Much like the Levitical priests of the Old Testament, God will some ministers' portion and lot.
Christ, Our Eldest Brother: in discipline
1 Timothy 5:19 (CSB) Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
This is not to super protect pastors. This means don't be slandering. Be careful of jumping on social media and slamming other pastors from other churches. If they are in sin, the Bible calls on the people of that church to come forward and confront those in sin. They don't need any help from us in the peanut gallery.
Now this is tough. Because we have too many wolves acting like shepherds and preying upon the sheep of the Good Shepherd. And their wicked sins against the congregation, God will not sit idly by for "he will swiftly grant them justice" (Luke 18:8) and he will put down the false shepherd and prophet in order to protect his little lambs. (See Jeremiah 23). Nonetheless, if even one of you has been hurt in any way by any leader, don't wait for two to three witnesses. That is not what the text is saying. Tell somebody. Let the people and your leaders know that there is a wolf in their midst. Out of your bravery, I know that it will prompt others to be brave. There you will get your two to three witnesses. How do I know this? Wolves don't feast on one kill and go about their business. They will try to hunt the others in the flock. And our Good Shepherd will put them down and protect his lambs.
If you have ever been hurt by someone in the church who called themselves a leader in any capacity and used that to fool and manipulate you and twisted God's holy word to get you to terrible and wicked things to you, I am so so so sorry. Tell a leader. And keep telling someone until someone listens.
Matthew 23:8-12 (CSB) But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Christ, Our Eldest Brother: confront sin
20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid
We live in a day and time where:
- people grew up church where people where publicly rebuked in their sin
- people were afraid
I think it is quite easy to rebuke others when sin is running rampant in other peoples' lives and their lives are a wreck.
But look at the ministry of Christ and all the apostles in the Bible. How did they rebuke sin? They preached the full counsel of the gospel.
The full counsel is this:
- we have broken God's law
- Christ is our Redeemer and our righteousness
- go and sin no more
When you see sin, rebuke it. And I am not talking about social media. Be in a church. See sin? Rebuke it. But don't just address the problem but be prepared to proclaim the gospel so that we will have real rest for our weary souls!
Christ, Our Eldest Brother: showing no favoritism
21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism
Romans 2:9-11 (CSB) There will be affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no favoritism with God.
James 2:1-7 (CSB) My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, 3 if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?
You know what favoritism is? It is two things:
- fear of man over the fear of God, which is sin
- not loving your neighbor as yourself, which is also sin
Show partiality to one person over another where God himself shows no partiality. Are you racist? Sexist? Prejudice? Bigotry? Right now would be the time to repent to God and turn away from that sin.
Christ, Our Eldest Brother: tested and tried in character
22 Don’t be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder
They should not be young in the faith, as we just got through reading in chapter 3, "or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil." (1 Timothy 3:6 CSB)
Christ, Our Eldest Brother: holy and set apart
22a and don’t share in the sins of others--Keep yourself pure
If others slander, don't share in that. If others gossip, don't share in that. If others steal, don't share in that. If others are dishonest in their dealings, don't.
Christ, Our Eldest Brother: to run the race and finish well
23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses
You could make this "can we drink alcohol" type of debate. But I think is a more of a call for self-care. I know that this can go overboard for some people. What does God say?
1 Peter 5:8 (CSB) Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
Take care of yourself. If you do drink, remain sober-minded. Why? Because Satan is on the hunt.
Christ, Our Eldest Brother: fled from sin
24 Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later
This is why we preach the full counsel of the gospel. We might not know everybody in the church but God does. Some are struggling in sin. Others are wallowing in their sins and they don't see it as sin. Preach the gospel and let the Holy Spirit do his work in them.
Christ, Our Eldest Brother: encourager to all
25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden
Remember Paul's greeting to the church in Rome:
Romans 1:8-12 (CSB) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world. God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you, always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Hearing about the faith of others and the good works of others is an encouragement to the entire body. Be quick to give a word of encouragement. Be quick to give a prophetic word. The Spirit is at work. Join him in that work like Christ has commissioned us to do.
The Gospel
Christ is our example
1 Peter 2:21-23 (CSB) For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
Christ is the Good Shepherd
John 10:11-13 (CSB) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep.
Jeremiah 23:1-4 (CSB) “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” This is the LORD’s declaration. 2 “Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, banished them, and have not attended to them. I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts”—this is the LORD’s declaration. 3 “I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous. 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them. They will no longer be afraid or discouraged, nor will any be missing.” This is the LORD’s declaration.
1 Peter 2:25 (CSB) For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Psalms 23:1 (CSB) The LORD is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
Christ is the Head Pastor of the Church
Ephesians 1:20-23 (CSB) He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Ephesians 5:22-24 (CSB) Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.
Colossians 1:18 (CSB) He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
Christ is the holy one of God
John 6:68-69 (CSB) Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Christ is the Son of God
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Colossians 1:19 (CSB) For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
Christ is God
John 1:1-2 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
Colossians 1:17 (CSB) He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together.
Christ is Creator
Colossians 1:16 (CSB) For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him.
John 1:3 (CSB) All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Christ was the first among many brothers and sisters
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Colossians 1:15 (CSB) He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
Christ died for us
1 Peter 2:24 (CSB) He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Colossians 1:20-22 (CSB) and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—
1 Timothy 6:1-2 Christ Our Lord
The Text
1 Timothy 6:1–2 (CSB)
1 All who are under the yoke as slaves should regard their own masters as worthy of all respect, so that God’s name and his teaching will not be blasphemed.2 Let those who have believing masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but serve them even better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach and encourage these things.
The Meditation
For those who would say the Bible promotes Western colonization and slavery, there is the context of three nations: Israel, Greco-Roman, and Euro-American slavery.
Here is an complete oversimplification of slavery within these nations. In other words, to be a slave in these three nation-states had three completely different definitions:
- Israel - paying off debt
- Greco-Roman - military conquest and maybe paying off debt
- Euro-American - every step of the process was wickedness, sin, and treasonous against the Lord our God
God strictly forbids kidnapping. And those who were kidnapped to be sold into slavery did not owe a debt to the ones kidnapping or to purchasing. And the treatment of slaves is well-documented: cruel, brutal, horrific, and barbaric.
If any slave owner did not repent of their horrific sins, then we know, by the word of God, they sit under the wrath of God for all of eternity. I don't care how many Sundays they attended church. I honestly don't care. I know my Lord and God spoke clearly of their sin and in their own sin, choose to ignore and reject their God.
All that said, that is not the point of this passage. Neither is the point to give honor to your employers--for surely, we are to do that:
Colossians 3:22 - 4:1 (CSB) Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.
Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.
Here's the gospel upon my life: to be a slave and a bondservant to my Christ:
1 Corinthians 7:21-24 (CSB) Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people. Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called.
Romans 8:14-21 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
Bible is crystal clear: for us to be absolutely, actually, and perfectly free, we must be slaves to Christ.
To be slave to sin, man, and Satan never brings freedom nor salvation nor satisfaction! But when we have bonded ourselves, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the Lord who has purchased us not with gold or goods, but with His life.
He gave his life for his people. In turn, the people joyfully give their lives over to our Lord. It is only in this that we are saved.
The Gospel
You are made to worship. Your heart will go in direction of your desires.
The real question is: which heart is it? Is it the one you were born with that is pointed to sin and death. Or is the new one that God gives so that you can new desires for Him.
And that is the good news. You don't have to sit and figure it all out before God welcomes you in. He is calling you right now. Better yet, he is commanding you to turn away from sin and the world and Satan and turn towards him.
He alone can save you. He alone can set you free.
What will it be?
Joshua 24:15 (CSB) But if it doesn’t please you to worship the LORD, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD.”
1 Timothy 6:2-10 Be Content in Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 6:2–10 (CSB)
2 Let those who have believing masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but serve them even better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach and encourage these things.3 If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness,
4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions,
5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out.
8 If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
The Meditation
2 Teach and encourage these things
Don't ignore the Great Commission. And you might be like, "Listen, I can't teach the Scriptures." But can you encourage using the Scriptures? The word of God calls to you to teach and encourage the things in the word.
How? How often do you read your Bible? If you stayed in the word, would you be able to teach and encourage these things? What can you tell me about what you read in the word today? See! That is teaching! That is encouragement! Go and do likewise!
Practically, what does this look like?
- Yearly Reading Plan that you tap out around Leviticus
- Reading once a day like the Chinese Church does
- Listening to a Bible on audiobook
- Reading a Commentary
- Reading a not-quite a translation such as the Message or the Passion Translation
I don't care how you do it--just get it done. This is the word of God to us. This is the literal words of God that was meant for us.
If you don't understand, reach out to the Holy Spirit. Pray. Seek counsel.
If you fallen off, get right back on and read.
If you stay in it, you will know it.
But there is some caution:
3-4 If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words
Ah, the great sober moment. It might be weighty or even scary to give the word over to others for fear of getting it wrong. Listen, be obedient. If you are "wrong" or "off the rails", I know the Spirit of God will bring you back.
Here are the rails: don't teach false doctrine--that is, your hot take that contradicts the teachings of Christ and does not promote godliness. If you decide to ignore the Holy Spirit, God judges you as prideful (which is an abomination in the eyes of God) and worthless.
You might say, "I used to be in a church that taught false doctrine, and I used to teach the same thing. What must I do?" Do you still breath air? Are you still alive? Repent! Change your ways and renew your mind and chase after God. And let the peace of God settle upon you!
Don't seek out arguments. Stop trying to be right. Teach the things of God and encourage using the word of God.
When you are trying to be right all the time, this is what happens to you:
4-5 From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth
False doctrines leads to people thinking they are right with God when they are far, far off. How do you spot false doctrine? Look at the actions it's producing despite the best efforts of the people under that false teaching:
- envy
- quarreling
- slander
- evil suspicions
- constant disagreement
And I say, "despite the best efforts of the people" because so much false and bad teaching out there promotes legalism and self-righteousness. This is false doctrine: they are teaching that you have to do everything so that you can be blessed by God. Yet, God did everything perfectly and completely by the life and death and resurrection of His Son so that he would bless you and keep you.
And this is the path you are heading down:
5 who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain
Here is the outcome:
- minds are depraved rather than renewed
- deprived of the truth rather being filled with the truth of God
- and they foolishly think that their self-righteousness will lead to riches
Abstained from and run far from such teaching. Run to the word and sit in him.
6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain--For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out and if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these
Whatever God gives us, we give. For:
Psalms 16:5-9 (CSB)
LORD, you are my portion
and my cup of blessing;
you hold my future.
The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I will bless the LORD who counsels me—
even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
I always let the LORD guide me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad
and my whole being rejoices;
my body also rests securely.
And
Psalms 50:10 (CSB) ... for every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
And because he is our great Father in heaven, who has given the world and the galaxy to His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, and because of his Son, we are made co-heirs with the heir of the entire world.
Everything belongs to the Lord. And he gives grace for us to do his will. What is his will? Read this word! He will tell you. And then go and do!
9-10 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction--For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs
Here's straight facts: world has nothing to give you that is worthwhile. I spent all of my life running hard after those things. The moment I held it in my hands, I realized I had nothing. The world gives crap and does nothing that fills the hole inside of your heart. That hole that you are so desperate to fill is actually infinite.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (CSB) He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.
What do you think that sex, money, power, family, marriage, work, fame, skill, talent is going to fill the infinite? To fill the infinite, it has to be infinite. Only the Infinite God can fill that space inside your heart and soul.
Be content in him.
The Gospel
Here's the truth: God provides for all of your needs because the Father knows what you need.
Matthew 6:7-8 (CSB) When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
The ultimate truth is that you and I need Christ. All of my bills paid, a roof over my head, and a running car and good credit and my kids in college will not mean jack unless we have and treasure Christ Jesus as our Lord, Savior, and our literal All in all.
Isn't that the difficult part? When I can't pay the electric bill, my lights get shut off. That is tangible. That is real.
What God is trying to get you to see is that the spiritual realm--the heavenly places, God, eternal life, demonic warfare--is more real than you can possible see and has a greater effect on you than you can possibly know.
Our born eyes and hearts and mind can't see it. Only Christ can open our eyes. Only the Father can give us new hearts. Only the Spirit can raise us up from death in sin.
If you have it all on earth and you are satisfied, it will not be enough.
If you have God and anything that you might have here on earth will be more than enough.
1 Timothy 6:11-16 Contend in Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 6:11–16 (CSB)
11 But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you
14 to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords,
16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
The Meditation
But you, man of God
We might read the Bible and think that certain passages apply to everyone. That is not true.
For example:
Romans 1:16-17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
What does it say? Is the gospel that is the power of God for salvation to everyone or everyone who believes?
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
What does it say? Will everyone not perish or everyone believes in him will not perish.
So here, by stating this:
But you, man of God
... insomuch as speaking to Timothy, are you a man or a woman of God? Give ears to hear and see what Paul has to say.
flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness
What are these things?
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (CSB) But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Flee from:
- want to be rich
- temptation
- traps
- foolishness
- harmful desires
Why?
which plunge people into ruin and destruction
And
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Jesus said it best:
Matthew 6:24 (CSB) “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Fight the good fight of the faith
Paul is going to say it again to Timothy:
2 Timothy 1:13 - 2:7 (CSB) Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. You know that all those in the province of Asia have deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me. May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from him on that day. You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.
You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Christ puts it this way:
Luke 14:25-30 (CSB) ow great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
Here's the point: while God the Father does not lose his kids (John 10:28-29), there is a cost to following Jesus:
Matthew 16:24-25 (CSB) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.
You are going to have to lay down your life, everyday, for the rest of your life here. There are no exceptions. Have you counted the cost of what it takes to follow Jesus?
The Gospel
This is the gospel command:
Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses
That is John 3:16. That is believing in and taking him at his word so that you will not perish but have everlasting life. Those who don't believe in him will be under the wrath of God. (John 3:36)
You and I cannot afford the sin of double-mindedness: to say you believe the gospel but you are not sure that God has saved you. You cannot have it both ways. For the prophet Habakkuk said, "the righteous shall live by faith!" If you believe, it is counted to you as righteousness! Now you that you are righteous, go and sin no more. I am not talking perfection--I am preaching repentance. Let us be quick to repent and watch my Lord Jesus be quicker to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Here is the charge of the gospel:
In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ
What is the command? Take quick hold of the perfect life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ was the only innocent, perfect, and spotless human in the history of human existence ever. That is why Isaiah says:
Isaiah 53:7 (CSB)
He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter
and like a sheep silent before her shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
And yet, because Christ was innocently slain for our sin, Paul will go on to say:
Romans 8:36-37 (CSB) As it is written: Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
But Paul exhorts Timothy to "keep this commend without fault or failure." How do we this?
Truth in the Lord Jesus. By doing so, you have gained his perfect righteousness for your own.
Easier said than done. I know. But guess what? You trusting God and you believing in God and you placing your faith in God and you obeying God is completely supernatural. Here's what I mean by that: before you can do any of that, the Triune God must dwell in you. God does this by exchanging your wicked sin-filled heart. (Ezekiel 36) He must open your eyes, open your ears, exchanges your heart, renew your mind, and your open your mind so that you can know and believe that he is the Savior of the world.(Mark 8) He is not finished. He gifts you salvation, grace, and faith so that you would be saved!
Christians believe and take hold of God. They have put their hope in this God (Romans 8:25-27). And this is where Paul makes a hard pivot to remind us that Christ is coming again:
God will bring this about in his own time
We don't know but we trust God that he will send Christ once more (Acts 1:7):
Acts 1:7 (CSB) He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.
What is ours to do? You know the answer:
Acts 1:8 (CSB) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
You and I have been commissioned to go and preach to everyone about this amazingly good news:
He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power--Amen
1 Timothy 6:17-19 Hope in Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 6:17–19 (CSB)
17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share,
19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.
The Meditation
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (CSB) Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.
We are rich
How about a people who don't think they are rich and then act entitled to a easy life because they did the right things or they worked hard.
We are not to put our hope in anything else but Christ our Lord. And I don't care how you are built or your personality is like, we all struggle with redirecting our hope in other things not God.
"Today, I will hope in God. Whatever circumstances and the world might do, I will put my hope in God." And then we wake up the next morning and look at Twitter or the news or read this article and go down this rabbit trail of "investigation". We all struggle with it. And it is nuts.
Romans 8:18-25 (CSB) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
18 Instruct them to do what is good to be rich in good works to be generous and willing to share
We get to give because God so freely gave to us
Tithing or Offering? Yes.
Not prosperity - we have to deal with 2 Corinthians 8 & 9--another episode.
19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.
The Gospel
Mark 12:41-44 (CSB) Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. 43 Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had —all she had to live on.”
What is the difference between this poor widow versus an unrepentant believer who gave a ga-billion dollars to the same church?
Only one of them is going to be with God.
Giving and generosity does not make you good. God makes us good. And the only way we can be good is if we repent from sin and turn to trust in Jesus Christ.
We cannot do enough good works to make God like us. We cannot do enough Bible Studies to know God. We cannot give enough money to good causes to buy our way into heaven. You will have to lay your life down, pick up your cross, change your life, and follow Christ.
1 Timothy 6:20-21 Be With Christ
The Text
1 Timothy 6:20–21 (CSB)
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge.21 By professing it, some people have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.
The Meditation
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you
2 Peter 3:17-18 (CSB) Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
1 Peter 3:13-15 (CSB) Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
Luke 12:8-12 (CSB) And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, 9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”
1 Timothy 4:14 (CSB) Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.
2 Timothy 1:5-7 (CSB) I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
avoiding irreverent and empty speech contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge
Protect what you are reading--especially online
1 Timothy 1:3-4 (CSB) As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.
1 Timothy 4:6-7 (CSB) If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed. But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness.
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Love conspiracy theories.
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- A time before social media--it would be another 7 years before MySpace came online. The internet was just in its infancy. X Files show. Two FBI agents that investigated the paranormal. One major character, whom we didn't know the name of, was simply called the Cigarette Smoking Man.
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Tell you how far the conspiracy theories on this show went:
"What I don't want to see is the Bills winning a Super Bowl. As long as I'm alive, that doesn't happen."
An aide responded: "It is going to be tough, sir. Buffalo wants it bad."
"So did the Soviets in '80," replied the CSM (who is called Cancer Man by Agent Mulder).
"Are you saying you rigged the Olympic hockey game?" asks an aide.
"What's the matter, don't you believe in miracles," replied CSM.1
- This fictional sci-fi drama suggested that was one man responsible for the outcome of all major sporting events including the Buffalo Bills football team never winning a Super Bowl
- As a young impressionable 21 year old, I ate this up. It was so much fun.
- But that wasn't real
- Now, in addition to TV and Movies making a huge impact on the way we think and feel, pales in comparison to the amount of information we consume from the Internet
- No one on the Internet is suggesting that some old white guy in a trenchcoat with a pack a day habit is controlling pop culture--no, what we are listening to and believing is a lot lot worse.
- I don't have to call out anybody or name name of all the major "silly myths" running rampant through our eyes, minds, and hearts. If you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, God has told you and I to stop it.
The consequences for not knowing God
Hosea 4:6 (CSB) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons.
Isaiah 5:13 (CSB) Therefore my people will go into exile because they lack knowledge; her dignitaries are starving, and her masses are parched with thirst.
What are we to do
Malachi 2:7 (CSB) For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should desire instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Armies.
1 Peter 2:9a (CSB) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession,
We are to proclaim the gospel of God
9b so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
David proclaims it this way:
Psalms 40:9-11 (CSB) I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; see, I do not keep my mouth closed— as you know, LORD. I did not hide your righteousness in my heart; I spoke about your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal your constant love and truth from the great assembly. LORD, you do not withhold your compassion from me. Your constant love and truth will always guard me.
Paul tells us to stop it and instead:
1 Timothy 4:13,15 (CSB) Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching... Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.
What happens when you don't?
By not proclaiming the gospel, not being ready to give a defense for the faith, not sitting under the preaching and teaching of the word, and instead listening to the world, you will depart from the faith
21 By professing it, some people have departed from the faith.
The Gospel
We have so many people, who grew up in church, and if I were to guess, not taught to fear God and run to God and give your sins over to Christ who is so willing and able to remove that backbreaking weight of sin in exchange with his light and easy weight of glory but instead were taught everything else not God. Go and listen to what passes as preaching. Go and check out Christian teachers and their hot takes on marriages, and singleness, and business and everything but not pointing to Christ.
We have so many people wanting to deconstruct something not Biblical, Orthodox, Historical Christianity that the were given as children and they are arming themselves with the wisdom and the philosophies and the silly myths of the world.
Young people are deconstructing. Old people are hearing silly myths. Most of us in-between just shrug our shoulders and give up. We are believing everything we are hearing but we have not turned our ears to God and his word.
Matthew 6:33 (CSB) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
Life everlasting, joy, satisfaction, peace, and pleasures forever can only be found in God.
Listen to him. Pray and seek him. Listen to his word more so than anything else the world is trying to tell you.
Grace be with you all.
THE CIGARETTE SMOKING MAN REVEALS WHY BILLS LOST FOUR SUPER BOWLS. Alan Pergament. November 19, 1996. The Buffalo News.
The Pastoral Epistles: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
This series was born out of two things: a desire to serve my local church as an elder and a conversation with my mentor.
I was saved by Christ in April of 2007. Six months later, I wanted to preach the gospel of Christ every day and twice on Sunday. And since then, I have wrestled with that unction. I can preach anywhere but I had serious convictions to do so only as an ordained minister to the local church. What does it mean to be ordained? There are qualifications. And despite the numerous church and denominations, I turned to the Pastoral Epistles to see what the Bible says about the qualifications of an elder and if I fit that qualification.
And then, just have breakfast with a mentor, he suggested journaling my thoughts on the Pastoral Epistles. These are those thoughts.
The Resources
It Goes Without Say
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries & Books
Calvin's Commentaries.
by John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
ESV Expository Commentary: Ephesians–Philemon (Volume 11)
Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., & Jay Sklar (Editors)
Crossway. 2018.
Goodreads
Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus (NTC).
William Hendriksen.
Baker Book House. 1979.
Goodreads
1-2 Timothy and Titus (EBTC).
Andreas J. Köstenberger.
Lexham Press. 2021.
Goodreads
2 Timothy 1:1-7 Thanks Be To God!
The Text
2 Timothy 1:1–7 (CSB)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus:2 To Timothy, my dearly loved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.
4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
5 I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
6 Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
The Meditation
The gifts of God will never depart us
2 Timothy 1:1–7 (CSB)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus:
Romans 11:28-32 (CSB) Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, 29 since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. 30 As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, 31 so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.
We live in a messed up world. And I wish that the church is perfect and free from wolves that seek to devour the little lambs of God. But it is and is not yet. I have seen countless times where people who were gifted in presenting the word and preaching the gospel but thought of themselves fit for the office of pastor and yet, was not given that grace.
Month after month, pastors falling from grace--some quietly and some spectacularly. They still have the gift of preaching but they have disqualified themselves from the role of elder/pastor/shepherd/bishop or even in deacon.
What do we do with this?
Repent of your Western culture and your Americanized influence: how about, it's okay not to lead. How about, it's okay not to be in the spotlight. How about, it's okay:
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (CSB) o seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.
Is that good enough? Minister when God gives you grace? Stop forcing your way unto a platform. Stop willing yourself to the top? Stop trying to be in complete power.
We are a society who are exactly like the people in Genesis 6, obsessed with being in power and being famous. Our obsession with such things in America is only leading to our destruction and ruin.
What are you called to do? Think and pray on that. Make sure it is the Lord of Hosts and not what you think is super cool. Then make sure you are tested by godly men and women in your church. Not for your gifts but your character. And take your time--there is no rush. We are precious in the sight of God. Let John 21 be your guide.
Paul was called. Tested. And tried. He ended up stoned, rejected, beaten, captured, shipwrecked, bitten by a viper, only to live the end of his days in house arrest right before getting his head lopped off.
That is the calling and the end of pastors and preachers. Make sure you count the cost of following Christ, preaching his word, and feeding his lambs. Count the cost.
I don't want to be captain obvious here but why are we doing this for?
for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus
It is all about the gospel. The preaching of the word and the sharing of our lives because we love each other and we love our neighbors so much:
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (CSB) We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
The blessings of God will never depart us
2 To Timothy, my dearly loved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
The will of God will never depart us
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.
The joy of God will never depart us
4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
The testimonies of God will never depart us
5 I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
The fire of God will never depart us
6 Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.
The Spirit of God will never depart us
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
The Gospel
God will never depart from us
The double grip of the Father and the Son:
John 10:27-30 (CSB) My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
Sealed by the Spirit:
Ephesians 1:13 (CSB) In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.
Your family may disown you, the Lord cannot:
Psalms 27:10 (CSB) Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD cares for me.
Call upon him, and he will answer you:
Psalms 9:9-10 (CSB) The LORD is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, LORD.
Even in your deepest darkest pain when God feels so far, watch when God draws closer to those who cry out to him:
Psalms 22:1-5 (CSB) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning? 2 My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, by night, yet I have no rest. 3 But you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 Our ancestors trusted in you; they trusted, and you rescued them. 5 They cried to you and were set free; they trusted in you and were not disgraced.
2 Timothy 1:8-12 Saved by God
The Text
2 Timothy 1:8–12 (CSB)
8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher,
12 and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.
The Meditation
Since we know that Paul is now dealing the person that is Timothy who is called to be the pastor of the Ephesian church, this is all built on first premise that God will never leave you nor forsake you--that includes everything that he has given you in Christ Jesus including Christ Jesus and his Holy Spirit.
Since we know that God is immovable and immutable and he does not abandon his kids because he is a good, good Father, what is our calling and our character should be in response to the steadfast love and the salvation of God for us?
The Gospel
Make your life depend upon the gospel of God
8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.
We live in weird times, don't we? We are filled with anxiety and fear and doubt and worry, and rightfully so. I have been alive on this earth for over 40 years and between 9/11 and this pandemic, these are indeed weird, scary, and trying times.
I am not sure of what side you are on in whatever argument you want to be a part of. If you are on either side, you are the on the wrong side. This is not an us versus them but rather are you in God by the decree, will, and love of God that can only be found in Christ Jesus or are you not?
And you you want to know what it looks like if you are not? Either going your own way and doing your own thing or striving to do the right thing in order to get God to bless you--neither really wants God and all ways outside of Jesus Christ will send you straight to hell.
But because Christ has suffered for us, so too we are going to suffer for the sake of his name:
Romans 8:16-18 (CSB) The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
We have a temporary moment here on earth. Do you want to make it easy or do you want to suffer for the sake of the gospel? Would you actually want to do something that would change the eternal destination of every one around you? That you saw that person--your family member, your friend, you spouse, your kid, you co-worker, your neighbor, your enemy--and hope and pray and ask God that you would get to see them again in the presence of God worshipping God for all of our days?
Don't you wish that? Don't you want that? Don't you actually put together real effort for the power of God in salvation for those who believe?
You say, "I don't know how to evangelize. I don't know the Bible that well. I can't read well. I am not called to preach." Hey, these are not the only ways.
Do you know how to love one another? Start with loving your brother and sister, for:
John 13:34-35 (CSB) I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
and
John 15:12-17 (CSB) “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 17 “This is what I command you: Love one another.
and
1 John 4:11-14 (CSB) Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior.
Start there. Out of your love for one another will the world know that you are a disciples of Christ.
Grace of God? Will of God? Power of God? Love of God? Mercies of God? Love of God? Son of God? Spirit of God to give gifts by God to minister to one another, sure. God will provide everything you need in order to do his will. Out of that overflow comes the boldness and conviction to testify and proclaim the gospel of God:
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV 1984) We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
Friends, we don't become Christians until the Triune God dwells in us. We don't start getting to minister to one another until we learn to love one of another. Your best preaching and teaching and leading ain't worth jack unless you can care, feed, and love his little lambs.
Go read John 21.
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Build out your life upon the gospel of God
Matthew 7:24-29 (CSB) “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.
There are two ways to do this: do it your own way or rest, lean, build, and trust in the purposes, grace, holiness of God that is only found in the Jesus Christ our Lord.
The gospel of God is supernatural. It ain't scary. It just means to comes from something beyond natural. The salvation of God has to come from God and not your own. It has to be initialized, carried out, planned, thought of, thought through, setup, meticulously and perfectly carried out by a spotless, sinless, Savior who loved you and me and gave himself up for you and me.
All you did was receive the gift and now have the heart by God to do the will of God for the glory of God.
How is anything in we do in love and ministering, caring for, thinking about, praying about can be dependent on us? It is not. It is completely dependent on us.
But God sent his Son to live and minister to others so that we might live and minister to one another.
John 1:45-46 (CSB) Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered.
God is not asking you to be perfect or have it figured it out. He is calling you to obey His Son and do what he does in the power of the Spirit. God is inviting you along with the Spirit and the Church to, "Come and see." Come and see his glory and fall more in love with God every day of your life.
10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Proclaim through your life for the gospel of God
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (CSB) Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
If you don't believe this gospel, there is nothing to be ashamed. I don't care if you have been going to church all of your life and you still don't get it. But you not reaching out to someone on your right or your left or any pastor or anybody else in church and just yell out, "I don't know God." Don't presume everything is going to work itself out in end. You take that route and you will end up under the eternal wrath of Jesus Christ. Don't be like that. You no longer have to pretend. Call out to God. Ask for help. All the ministers and saints of God have the rest of our lives to show you the love and grace of God. Some are going to do it in their own way. That is the goodness of God.
Now, for those who hear the gospel in the past and believe, you heard this gospel today and you still believe. You should be rejoicing not in your good works, your perfect church attendance, that one time you read through the entire Bible in a year, or you went to seminary, or planted a church, or gave buckets of money to church or have the ability to prophesy, cast out demons, or even heal in the name of Jesus. You should be rejoicing because God dwells in you, he has made his home in the new heart that he gave you. Rejoice because you found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, 12 and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.
Rejoice with your life for the gospel of God
Romans 15:14-19 (CSB) My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15 Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God. 18 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, 19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.
Paul tells Timothy, you and me: It takes all of the Triune God to save his people from their sins. From the sovereign grace of the Father through the blood drained and broken body of his precious Son by the Almighty power of his Spirit, it wasn't easy, fast nor cheap. But to rescue you and me from death, it was all worth.
2 Timothy 1:13-2:2 Taught By God
The Text
2 Timothy 1:13–2:2 (CSB)
13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.14 Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
15 You know that all those in the province of Asia have deserted me, including Phygelus (Fa-gel-us) and Hermogenes (Her-ma-jen-ease).
16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus (Anna-sif-four-us), because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me.
18 May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from him on that day. You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.
1 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
The Meditation
- What Paul calls out to Timothy
- is what Christ calls to us
- we are his disciples
- Timothy is a disciple
- Paul is a disciple
- How about you?
- Let us examine
13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Christ's called disciples: Learn from God
- living in the age of information
- we have sound teaching
- most of us wouldn't know
- because we don't care
- or we are too busy chasing down what we want to hear
- reminded of sermons about you--about what you can do and what you need to do better
- vs. sermons that are about God, what he has done and what he is commanded us to do
14 Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Christ's called disciples: Stand with God
- don't ignore what God has given you
- he is not going to take anything back
- and yes we should try to grow in these gifts
- but you also shouldn't waste a moment being obedient to God
- don't ignore but also Holy Spirit is the final guard
- falling away from the faith yet still can teach, preach, and minister
- you are to obey God and minister to others in that love
- don't dare bastardize his good gifts--starting with his gift of salvation
- Spirit of power, love, and self-control
15 You know that all those in the province of Asia have deserted me, including Phygelus (Fa-gel-us) and Hermogenes (Her-ma-jen-ease).
Christ's called disciples: Minister to God's people
- Two or three gathered, I am there among them
- if we pray together or alone, yes he is there with us
- but also
- when church goers continue to not repent of sin
- Christ's instruction
Matthew 18:15-20 (CSB) “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. 17 If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”
In other words:
Matthew 7:6 (CSB) Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
- when you minister to others, Christ is with you
- when you pray, Christ is with you
- but when you have to let go of someone and treat them as they are unsaved and do not believe because they do not believe, God is with you and with them
- be patient
- preach the gospel
- pray for them
16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus (Ana-sif-four-us), because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from him on that day. You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.
Christ's called disciples: Rejoice with God's people
- but to those who do trust in him and believe in his name, give over holiness and give pearls to them
- all the good spiritual things from God--toss them their way
- That is ministry
Philippians 4:8-9 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
- Those with the spirit of adoption, it is not wasted on them
- which blows me away when non-believers keep wanting to go to church and yet their hearts never turn
- that's why Romans 1:16-17 says that the gospel is the power of God in salvation for those who believe--not those who do and don't believe
- likewise, John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes--not whosoever believes and does not believe--will have everlasting life
The Gospel
Let me send you out with some good news.
1 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Christ's called disciples: God's strength is for you
Ephesians 6:10 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
Romans 8:31-32 (CSB) What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?
- God has given you his Son
- God has given you his Spirit
- God has given you his grace
- God has given you his strength
- God has given himself
- Now go and do his will
2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Christ's called disciples: God has called you together
- You are the church
- Do not forsake gathered assembly
- because God has saved you to himself
- God has saved you to one another
- we are his children
- we are family
- easier said than done
- because people who seek to devour us little lambs
- we are all the more dependent on Christ as our Good Shepherd
- We bank on his promises--Psalm 23, Jeremiah 23, John 10--
2 Timothy 2:3-14 Life by God
The Text
2 Timothy 2:3–14 (CSB)
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.
5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.
7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel,
9 for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound.
10 This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 This saying is trustworthy: For if we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to fight about words. This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen.
The Meditation
We are to live differently but maybe not in the way you think. There is nothing in the Bible that calls us to believe in God and everything on this earth is easy street or somehow we can bend the will of God to our desires or we will be in complete control so that nobody can ever hurt us again. None of that.
Consider these three ways
Life by Christ: You are a soldier
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.
There will be some fighting. Ephesians 6 makes that abundantly clear:
Ephesians 6:10-12 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
There will be some suffering. Christ suffered and therefore we are going to suffer. The Bible and especially Romans 8 calls that out:
Romans 8:16-18 (CSB) The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
In so many ways, the Christian life is much like the military life in the United States. In many countries, like South Korea, 18 year old males are obligated to join the military and serve. In the US, we are a volunteer force. Christ has commanded you to come and follow him--but he is also commanded you to count the cost of following him.
You are going to lose your life. Come and follow him. You will have to give up all of your sins--even the ones that other people say there is nothing wrong with it. Come and follow him. You will have to obey God and be led by the Spirit. Come and follow him.
Once you are in this new life, you don't have to mess with the worldly life. That is civilian life. That is not your concern. Your utmost concern is your commanding officer--who so happens to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords. You get to lay down the sin of pleasing others and pick up the cross of pleasing our great King.
For some of us, I bet, that felt like the greatest relief in the world. Take that. That belongs to you. That is the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Life by Christ: You are an athlete
5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
Are we to run the race well? Yes.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (CSB) Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Are we fight the good fight? Yes.
1 Timothy 6:12 (CSB) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Are we to train spiritually? Yes.
Hebrews 5:13-14 (CSB) Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
But what God is calling all Christians to do is obey His Son. There is no easy believism. There is no one time raise your hand, say a sinners prayer but the rest of your life is not change at all.
Let me explain it like this:
Life by Christ: You are a farmer
6 The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.
Matthew 7:15-20 (CSB) “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
If you belong to Christ, you will start producing good fruit. That "be the first to get a share of the crops?" That means the fruit you produce starts with you and in your life. And it starts with repentance of sin--confessing your sins and do away with that sinful life. Do you have grace to stumble and fall and get up and keep going? Yes. Do you have grace to keep sinning? No!
Know the difference. If you want to come up and ask a bunch of questions about your sin, let us start with your heart. Do you really want to give up your sin? You might tell me, "Sure I do!" But I am nobody. What would God say?
Repentance is a gift from God. If you call yourself a Christian but you keep going back to your sin and not confessing and not really wanting to change your mind about your sin, you might consider yourself not saved to God. If that that is where you are at honestly, that is the best place to start versus continuing to lie to yourself and to others.
The Gospel
Life by Christ: You are not your own
7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
If you are in Christ, you are not your own.
1 Corinthians 6:16-20 (CSB) Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh. 17 But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
18 Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. 19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
You were bought with a price.
But you know what comes with that price?
You are not on your own.
My friends, if you are in Christ, Christ is in you. If you believe the Holy One of God, the Father dwells in you. If you trust in the Son of God, the same Spirit that raise Christ Jesus from the dead dwells in you.
You don't have to figure stuff out on your own. You don't have to figure out how to live this new life on your own. The Creator of Heaven and Earth dwells within you.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound.
Life by Christ: you have the word of God
So many people wish that God spoke to them. But he does--it starts with the Bible. Do you read his word? "Well, I am not strong reader." Get it the word read via streaming or mp3s or CDs.
I just removed all the excuses. Go and hear God. It starts with his word.
Surely, he could use a donkey to speak to you. But he took a countless generations from eternity to eternity just to speak to you. Read the word. You will start to hear God I promise you.
10 This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Life by Christ: you are commissioned by God
To lest you have any doubt:
Matthew 28:18-20 (CSB) Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15-16 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Luke 24:46-49 (CSB) He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
Acts 1:6-8 (CSB) So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In other words, it's not what you have to do but what you get to do. You get to proclaim the good news to everyone everywhere and everything.
But I am not a preacher or an evangelist. But the Triune God is with you. And it is both telling the good news and loving one another. You get to do both because you are a new creature in Christ.
11 This saying is trustworthy: For if we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
Life by Christ: you are made truly alive by God
You have two ways in this life.
Your way which will absolutely lead to death.
Or obey when Christ says, "Come follow me. Take up your cross and follow me. Give me your burden and your sin and let me provide you rest for your weary soul." Christ alone is the relief and peace for the burdened and crushed. Let him take those heart breaking sins--He is the Almighty God! He has all the strength. You and I are weak. But he will give you what you can bare--his perfect righteousness.
Compare the two. There is only way to live--in Christ alone.
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to fight about words. This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen.
Life by Christ: share the good news with one another
Here's some shocking news: hearing the gospel once a week is not enough. Tell your wife, husband, friends, kids, neighbors, co-workers about Christ and his forgiveness in sins. Tell each other all day every day. Don't waste your words saying useless words that lead to ruin--this goes doubly so on social media where your words will last forever. Think about that.
Let me pray us out.
2 Timothy 2:15-19 Truth by God
The Text
2 Timothy 2:15–19 (CSB)
15Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.16Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness,
17and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them.
18They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are ruining the faith of some.
19Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
The Meditation
Let me sum up today's mediation: we are to be under the word of God. Let me put it more directly: God has spoken through his word and we are to listen and obey. The authority is God. He has spoken. And by his great grace and mercy, he has given his word in the form of the written word--the Bible.
The Gospel
15 Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
How to live: proclaim the gospel and never be ashamed
Not just for the pastors. The pushback, "Not everyone is a pastor or teacher." Yet, every Christian is commissioned to proclaim the gospel and raise up disciples.
If you are raising up disciples, you must proclaim the good news. If you are constantly proclaiming the good news, you will find yourself raising up disciples. And if God be so good and gracious, you might see some of them be baptized because they will tell you:
John 4"42 (CSB) “We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.”
16 Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness, 17 and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them.
How to live: stop listening to the world and start listening to God
We would all do well to listen to the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth and stop listening to people who agree with us.
You might say, "Yes but they are Christians." Okay, Christian, what are you talking about? Are you talking about the goodness of our Savior? That we get to discard all of our sin upon the foot of the Christ as we are covered in the blood of Christ and having our sins washed away? Or are you too busy talking about stolen elections and getting our "freedoms" taken away.
So what if the US takes away our freedoms? Are you so threatened that you are going to cease believing in Christ?
Listen, here is an historical fun fact for all of us to tune in and here. Every single second that a people group is persecuted for their faith in Christ, more people come to Christ. When Christians have it easy--almost, the advantage--many people turn away.
Oh, I wonder if American Christianity as a whole is on the steep incline? I wonder.
And I wonder what the Sovereign Holy Spirit of God is going to do? And perhaps I will have a slightly better blessing than Abraham that I will see the Spirit move in my lifetime while I am still on this earth?
You think your freedoms are bringing you closer to God. We are children of God. We are already perfectly free--that is our glory given to us by God. No ruler and no land and certainly no law is going to give us more freedom. We are already maxed out. We can do as we please because we love God and we seek to please the King of kings.
18 They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are ruining the faith of some.
How to live: stop listening to other Christians who are preaching false gospels and prophecies
Election 2020. How did that work out for us? How many false prophets were so sure in their flesh that the US Election were going their way instead of the only God and Savior who alone sets up kings and puts them down?
Some were preaching that the resurrection had already taken place. Swap that out for more fake news: prepare for the rapture because the tribulation is coming.
How about this: We are to eagerly prepare ourselves and make ourselves ready because Christ is set to return--not to spare us from tribulation nor persecution--but to judge the living and the dead.
I am not here to preach a certain end times theology. I am certain that my eschatology is different yours. However you think this whole thing shakes out, keep in mind one generality that I have heard that is definitely becoming true:
"Whatever you think will happen in the end will determine how you fulfill the Great Commission now."
The Great Commission is done by the saints, you and me, for the work of the ministry. You can believe in the rapture and you can believe that we can be spared from the Great Tribulation. But ask God, "Am I discipling others? In other words, am I pointing others to your Son? Am I repenting or am I just playing around with my sin and not repenting? Am I telling others to do the same?"
Don't tell me. Ask God.
19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
How to live: what Christ has done our firm foundation
Listen to me, whatever the future may hold, believe and trust that God has you in double snatch grip of the Father and the Son--sealed in the almighty power of the Holy Spirit.
You are facing tribulations. You are being weakening. It is not the people of the world--they are prisoners of war. It is not your political opponents. It is not woke people. It is not racists. It is not facists. It is not the insurrectionist. None of those people are your enemy. They cannot destroy you.
Matthew 10:26-28 (CSB) “Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. 28 Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
We live in such a time when even self-proclaimed Christians live their lives with no fear of God whatsoever.
I preach one thing, "Repent for the kingdom of God is now."
2 Timothy 2:20-26 Chosen by God
The Text
2 Timothy 2:20–26 (CSB)
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable.21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels.
24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient,
25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
The Meditation
Here are big facts: we did not choose God but rather God chose us:
1 John 4:10 (CSB) Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
John 15:12-17 (CSB) “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 17 “This is what I command you: Love one another.
Just as you did not choose God initially, so also you don't get to go your own way. Think about that. If it was left up to us, we wouldn't choose God on our own power. But if we did, then we would be fooled into thinking that I can have God and something not-God. Jesus said you cannot do that.
Matthew 6:24 (CSB) No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Exodus 20:1-6 (CSB) Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 3 Do not have other gods besides me. 4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.
The Gospel
The good news is that God had to do everything in order for you to be saved by God. The fact that you can obey God now out of a pure heart is because God saw you, God loved you, God sent his Son to live and die for you, God gives you his Spirit, God makes his home in you, God gives you his heart, his righteousness; God adopts you; God makes you look like his Son; God carries you all the way home.
Before God created the heavens and the earth, God was laying his affections upon you.
If that is the case, what does that mean for our lives.
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
Chosen by God: while you were still a sinner
Ephesians 2:1-5 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Titus 3:3-7 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Romans 5:8-9 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
Let's stick this all the way home. And not that Paul is acting alone here. The Holy Spirit inspires Paul to quote both Moses and Jeremiah in Romans 9:
Romans 9:18-24 (CSB) So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19 You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” 21 Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor? 22 And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—24 on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
You might not be ready for that.
But here are facts. You can hear this and call it the stench of death because how dare God do as he pleases.
Or you can hear this and think this is the fragrance of life! If I finally obey the gospel commandment by Christ to give over my wickedness, my depravity, and my sin to him so he can give me his righteousness, I shall be saved?
And then Paul responds to you by quote the prophet Hosea and Isaiah as he goes on in Romans 9:
Romans 9:25-29 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not My People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. 26 And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
27 But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, Though the number of Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved; 28 since the Lord will execute his sentence completely and decisively on the earth.
29 And just as Isaiah predicted: If the Lord of Hosts had not left us offspring, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah.
And if you are having problems with what Paul is saying, then you are definitely having issues with Jesus Christ:
Matthew 13:24-30 (CSB) He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. 26 When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27 The landowner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from? 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he told them. “‘So, do you want us to go and pull them up?’ the servants asked him. 29 “‘No,’ he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.’”
You have two choices in this life to live your life: go your own way or lay your life down to Christ so by the power of the Holy Spirit, he will bring you back to actual and to the fullness of life.
22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Chosen by God: now we get to chase after God
Are you saved by God? How do you know? Do you love God? Do you want to obey God? When the Spirit convicts you of your sins, do you instantly repent and confess of your sins?
Hey, I was right there with you--even as a fresh Christian. I wasn't saved until I was 32 years old. Do you think 32 years is enough time to do a whole lot of sinning? Do you think that I have done such evil vile things that I couldn't bear repeating? I was so ashamed and guilt ridden. And hey, even as a Christian, I was sexually immoral--just as I was delivered out of porn, I couldn't shake the only coping mechanism and addiction that I have ever known since I was 8 years old. I was terribly ashamed. But God was patient and kind to me and he washed me with grace. He never condemned. He just kept rescuing me.
And now, by God's sheer grace alone, I can freely and quickly repent of sin.
I know I come on this channel and ask you time and time again, "Have you repented? Has God given you the gift of repentance in a sin that you keep holding on to? If not, does that not scare you? Have you asked God why?"
But I know in my own life, God was kind and patient with me. But all sin leads to death. Do not waste a moment just giving over your sin to Jesus right now. Just give it over. If you believe and trust in Christ, your sin doesn't even belong to you--it belongs to him. Give it over!
So, pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, and do so with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Don't do this alone. God has saved us to himself and to others. And I know the church is messed up. I know the church is infected with wolves. I know it is hard to trust other people. But trust in Jesus and pray that God will send his beloved sons and daughters your way so you don't have to live this live on your own.
- Norman story + Mighty men prophecy
23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. > 24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
Chosen by God: now we get to serve God
Preaching through 1st and 2nd Timothy is like repeating a broken record. Stop getting into arguments on social media.
I don't know what the exact answer is--whether you invite the person you are disagreeing with out to coffee or what, I don't know but you know what isn't the answer: using your keyboard to stir up a mess. Just stop it.
You know what you should be doing?
gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness
This is just not for pastors. This is for all ministers. This is for all the saints--you and me:
Ephesians 4:11-13 (CSB) And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
Who does the work of the ministry? You and me.
In other words, this is the Great Commission of Christ for everyone to go everywhere and tell everyone about his good news that God loves them so much, to repent of their sins because the kingdom of God is now.
But why minster? Why proclaim? Why disciple?
25b Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
God was kind and gentle and patient with you and me to believe and trust his Son.
God will be so kind to others so that maybe God will give the same gift of repentance so that they can believe and trust His Son.
2 Timothy 3:1-12 Refined By God
The Text
2 Timothy 3:1–12 (CSB)
1 But know this: Hard times will come in the last days.2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,
4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.
6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions,
7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth. They are men who are corrupt in mind and worthless in regard to the faith.
9 But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be clear to all, as was the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres.
10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance,
11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all.
12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
The Meditation
1 But know this: Hard times will come in the last days.
Refined by God: because you are saved by God, you will go counter to the world
If you are going against the grain, the wind, and the stream of the world, you will enter into hard times. That's not because of the world but because God dwells in you.
Romans 5:1-5 (CSB) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 8:16-18 (CSB) The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
Luke 24:26-27 (CSB) Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
If our Messiah "suffered many things", how can we do any less?
Listen to me: we don't have to go looking for it. You don't have to conjure up fights and die on unnecessary hills. When you are doing what the Lord has commissioned you to do, the push back will come in droves.
Let me speak for American Christians: what you might be experiencing right now are merely inconveniences compared to what's in store for us.
If things get too inconvenient for you, will you still worship God? What happens when the heat gets turned up on your life? What if you get stripped of our freedoms and dignities? Are we fighting so hard for our freedoms because we know that if we didn't have such freedom, we wouldn't worship God?
Christians are already walked away from God that was way before the pandemic.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.
Refined by God: because you have been commanded by God, you don't get to act like the world
Romans 6:1-4 (CSB) What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
Our affections are not for this world. The old will pass away. The new heavens and the new earth are coming. Our affections are for nothing on this world but rather on God.
Romans 8:19-21 (CSB) For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
We are not tied to this world. We are not of this world. We are here to preach the good news of the only God that sets the captives free. We were once in bondage in slavery--but because of Christ you can be set free from sin and into the freedom that belongs to the children of God.
6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions, 7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Refined by God: because we have been made fully alive by God, you have come to true knowledge of God
Can I tell you something? You and I get to rest. Now, if you are a nerd like me and you want to learn all the things, then learn all the things! But when it comes to knowing God, just start from a resting place that what you know of God is either true or will be true. That work is not dependent on your IQ, EQ, Seminary degree, or your perfect Sunday School and Christian School attendance, no! That knowledge of God is completely super natural.
You and I have have the Holy Spirit. When someone tells us something that sounds good, we get to be like Bereans in Acts that celebrate what we have heard but go back home and test it all against Scripture.
We don't have to be gullible. We have God dwelling in us. We get to test everything against his perfect word. We get to listen to him way more than we get to listen to everyone around us. Do that and I am certain you will not be led astray. Listen to mankind moreso than God and I promise you that you will be led astray.
You have the knowledge of the truth. Take it easy. Rest in that. Start from that and keep walking towards God.
The Gospel
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth. They are men who are corrupt in mind and worthless in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be clear to all, as was the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres.
Refined by God: because we have been made fully alive by God, you are no longer dead in your trespasses
Ephesians 2:3-5 (CSB) We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
We are not better than unbelievers. We are not. We are saved by grace--not by anything we have done or been born into but only because of the grace of God, who looked up us, saw us in our weakness, depravity, wickedness, and sinfulness, and saved us and loved us and restored us and will bring us home.
And if Romans 8:30 is true and the promises of God are yes and amen, then that work of bringing us home is a done deal because God says it. God doesn't break promises.
10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, 11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all.
Refined by God: because we can understand the absolute truth by God, we get to obey God despite our circumstances
Or in other words, we don't get a free pass because life has kicked us in the teeth. That is not a defense before God.
Let me put it like this: life is going to kick you in the teeth but you have God and he alone is good. And he is your everything. Without him you will have nothing. Be rich. Have lots of lovers. Have all the success. Without God, on the day you die, that's when it ends because you will be in dreadful place where you will wail and gnash your teeth under the wrath of Christ for all of eternity.
12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Refined by God: We are chosen by God
God makes zero promises that your temporal life on earth will be easy or good. But what you do here and how you live within the faith you have been given will matter for all of eternity.
Believe in Christ. Give over your sins to Christ. Be washed cleaned in Christ. Have the dwelling of the Triune God because of Christ.
Come dwell with God all because of what Christ has done for us.
2 Timothy 3:13-17 Called by God
The Text
2 Timothy 3:13–17 (CSB)
13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,
15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The Meditation
If you know me or if you been on this channel for a while, you know I grew up Charismatic (Assemblies of God)--yes I think the gifts of the Spirit are still here today mostly because if for nothing else, the word of God did not declare them to cease. I could go off church history and perhaps other people's experience and point to that as proof positive that the gifts of the Spirit have been stopped. But I also know that Christ said that the power of the Spirit, comes and goes as He pleases and you will see the effects of this power and not a moment before. So if God was silent for 400 years between the Old and New Testament, then I see where the Holy Spirit throughout the NT church has either pulled away or moved mightily through the people of God whom God has set his gracious affections upon since before Genesis 1:1.
Within that, as a Charismatic, I know that God speaks to his people even today. And you might ask, "Joseph, we don't hear the voice of God anymore. How can that be?" My wife made an astute observation upon this subject: "When God communicates, is it always through some sort of voice? No. Majority of the time, it is through the Scriptures, through others, through the turning of the heart, the redirection of affections and desires, or then changing of the mind." I know I hear from God. It is a clear as a bell. But the vast of majority of time, it is through the word, my heart being redirected, my mind changed, my soul's desire--these are all effects of the Spirit's power within us.
Romans 8:16 (CSB) The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children...
I say all of that to say this:
John 10:27 (CSB) My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.
I have never used this passage to proof that God speaks to his people. Because you know why? That ain't what the verse is about.
John 10:25-30 (CSB) “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
I always called this the "double snatch grip of salvation" by the Father and the Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit. We are in the Almighty Triune hands of God. And to get that to that, like Noah, Abraham, Paul, and Peter, we are all called by God to himself. All of us were born on a wide path to destruction and unto to death. God, in his amazing great and perfect strength, will need to call us away from our foolishness and sin in order to save us to himself forevermore.
Believe that there are two paths in this life: your own way unto death or the gospel calling by Christ unto life. There ain't no third way--I don't care what the Catholics or Mormons say.
2 Timothy 3:13–17 (CSB)
13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Several times in my life, I have had brothers and sisters in Christ, try to give great grace to false teachers, "imposters" as Paul puts it, that they are sincerely doing what they think is right and good and teaching and preaching the word of God. But that is not what the word says. Imposters and evil people might think they can fool others and Christians some of the time but they cannot fool God. As Christ said:
Luke 6:45 (CSB) A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
And as Paul quotes David:
Romans 3:13-14 (CSB) Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
Sooner or later, the real fruit of the person's heart will overflow. By no means can we judge a person's salvation by their good works. They might just be a good, moral person. But if someone calls themselves a Christian and yet you never see repentance for their sin, I assure you unless they stop fooling themselves and repent and turn to God, they will burn under the wrath of Jesus Christ.
And again, I say there is no third, neutral way in this life. And those who choose their own way beget more and more destruction. Maybe you and I can't see it but what about in the person's mind, soul, and heart falls to corruption and they deny God, believe that He doesn't exist. Romans 1 says that we all suppress the truth of righteousness. We were born that way.
Yet, when the effectual, powerful, saving calling of God comes to one of his people, in the precise moment of God's timing, it grabs our attention and jerks our head around. In that moment, you know. In that moment, you have a new heart and new desires and faith because God the Father placed that in you so that you can remain with him forever.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
If you believe and trust and obey Jesus Christ, you are no longer on the path of evil people and imposters or as Paul also says, "those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on things of the flesh." (Romans 8:1-13)
You are now on a new path that is to actual real life, fullness of joy, and pleasures evermore. (Psalm 16:11) This is your assignment:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed.
Press into your belief in God. What about doubts or little faith? Don't expand on the doubt, cry out to God and pray that he gives you ears to hear and eyes to see. Be like the little girl's father, "I believe! Help my unbelief!" Just in the crying out to God for him to come save you to Him, it only means that you are saved by God. Your heart before knowing him couldn't call on the Lord because you did not know the Lord. But you know the Lord because you are his sheep and the sheep know his voice.
I have a secret that I don't like to share in mixed company. Secretly, deep down inside, I think I might be a Presbyterian. Now, before you shut me down and boot me out the door, I am not about sprinkling babies. However, in that moment, when the declaration of baptism of the infant, that while they are NOT saved by baptism, they do belong in the community of faith within the covenantal promises of God Almighty, In other words, when a child is born into a family of believers, that child will never not know the love of God. Is that knowledge enough to save the child? No. But it is distinct grace that God gives to those children.
If you were born into a believing family, please give thanks to God for He is good and his steadfast love continues forever.
Some of you were born into a home with a family Bible on the coffee table. Praise be to God. But some of you are like me where in my home with porn mags on the coffee table. I was exposed to porn when I was 8 years old.
Yet, always despite our circumstances and our environment growing up, it is the same God who saves both into his family.
and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Because some of us, by God's grace, were born into a believing family, knowing the sacred Scriptures, we know the salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.
Let me tell you something, whether we were born in a family of believers or heathens, every single one of us have to be born again. Maybe you didn't know Christ since your physical infancy but you've know him since your spiritual infancy. Praise be to God!
The Gospel
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Or Leonard Ravenhill says it this way:
“One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed. We have adopted the convenient theory that the Bible is a Book to be explained, whereas first and foremost it is a Book to be believed (and after that to be obeyed).”
All of the teaching, the preaching, books, commentaries, videos, podcasts, live streams, private Christian schools, Bible colleges, seminaries, or especially me yelling at you is not going to save you. This is not "salvation by explanation" alone. That is not a tenet or the faith.
Let's start off by asking: Do we even read the Bible?
"Joseph, I tried reading in a year. Leviticus is too hard." Okay, have you just picked it up and read a little chunk ever day. Even better still, when you get to a passage that is hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16), do you pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what it means?
Look, on this channel, I have told you over and over again: you are not going to going to know the Bible on your own. I don't care what your IQ is or how many degrees you might have, you are not going to know the word of God unless the Holy Spirit gives you that understanding and writes it on your heart. What good is knowledge if you don't live by knowing God.
We must pick up the Scriptures and believe. We must trust the Lord. We must obey the gospel commandment of Christ. We must believe the words of God, that inspired and breathed out by God, and is eternally profitable for God to teach us, to rebuke us, to correct us, to train us in righteousness, so that you and I will be complete and equipped for every good work, which God has prepared ahead of time for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
The Discussion
- What is to believe? Is it the same as knowing?
- Read Romans 1:17. What do you think the Lord meant by saying, "The righteous will live by faith?"
- In other words, is it possible to believe something and not live by that belief?
- How can we believe God?
2 Timothy 4:1-5 Charged by God
The Text
2 Timothy 4:1–5 (CSB)
1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
5 But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The Meditation
This is our commission.
1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:
We are charged by God: because He is God
Christ is the King of kings, Lord of lords. You and I and every human who has ever set foot on this earth will stand before the Glorious Ruler to give an account for our lives.
Revelation 20:11-15 (CSB) Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
How is that judgment will go?
To those who did not believe and trust in him, they will foolishly stand in the glory of God and try their to best to defend themselves. They will make excuses, shift blame, and even will go as far as to give testimony that they did all of these "good" works in the name of Christ. But their own testimony condemns them. Why? They just admitted that they have blasphemed the name of Jesus Christ in thinking that made them righteous.
But there is no one righteous. No, not one.
But Christ appeared not as this glorious king that sits on his throne before you today, but he appeared to us a tiny, vulnerable baby boy to a unwed teenage girl, and stepdad who both were doing everything for the first time under real government persecution unto death.
An angel of the Lord told the future stepdad:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
And with the appearance of Christ, and his ministry, and his life, and his death on the cross, and his resurrection, he did just that: save his people from their sins completely and perfectly. Thus, the kingdom of God was born. And his people were being brought into his kingdom.
And they were being brought in not by works of self-righteousness. Not because we built bigger churches. Not because we did the right things. Not because we ascended to any kind of worldly power. No!
We were brought into his kingdom as his people forever because of the preaching of the word of God!
We are charged by God: preach the word
Isaiah 55:11 (CSB) so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
Romans 10:14-17 (CSB) How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Ezekiel 37:1-5 (CSB) The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by his Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them. There were a great many of them on the surface of the valley, and they were very dry. Then he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I replied, “Lord GOD, only you know.” He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.
John 11:41-43 (CSB) So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
How are people to be born again? What is God waiting on for each of his children to do--albeit, feebly, weakly, meekly, imperfectly so?
Preach the word.
Open your mouths and let the good news of God come through your lips.
For every believer, there was a time when our throats were once open graves. All we could do with our tongues is deceive and hate one another. Our lips once contained nothing but viper's venom. Why? You and I were born as children of the devil.
Titus 3:4-5 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us...
Now, you have the Christ in your heart, Spirit indwelling in your person, and the Father God made his home in you. Open your mouths and let the good news come out.
We are charged by God: be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
John 14:23-26 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. 25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
1 Peter 3:13-16 (CSB) Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.
Are we to read the word diligently? Study his word to see what He says? Pray without ceasing? Meditate on his word? Yes. But you can't do that in your own power. You have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why he dwells in you. So you can live, move, and have your being in Him.
God is going to use His Spirit in you and me to correct, rebuke, and encourage one another... patiently, kindly, gently--not quick takes but the long game of teaching and exhorting one another.
We are charged by God: For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear--they will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
2 Corinthians 2:15-17 (CSB) For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? 17 For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.
Here's some shocking news. Does the word of God preached has real power? There is no doubt. But do people still reject it? Absolutely.
We who carry and preach the gospel is the aroma of life to the people of God. We might be in the valley of the shadow of death but Christ is the lily of the valley. That is why we cannot cease preaching the gospel of Christ every day all day to one another. Why? We sin all the time. But God redeems all the time. When the good news is preached all the time, we will know His great and mighty power to save and we repent all the time.
We have desires for God because we have the heart of God--Ezekiel 36. But our sins and our fleshly desires still wage war with our minds and hearts. God has the victory because God doesn't lose his kids because Christ was nailed on the cross once for all time.
We have God our Teacher. We don't need to find someone who will agree with our worldly desires. Our ears shouldn't itch for voices that are tempting us straight into hell. If we do, you will turn away from the truth. Have you tried listening to two things at once. How did that work out for you? You can't do either voice fully. You start picking and choosing--and half truths are still full lies.
We don't have to scour the internet and track down silly myths. We have the truth for all time. Silly myths on the internet will not save you or keep you alive. If you and I believe and trust in the Son of God, then you and I will forever be in the palm of his hands. Our days are numbered by him.
The Gospel
We are charged by God: But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship
We worship the Savior of the world who, as we testify in the Apostles' Creed, "under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried" and "descended into Hell".
Christ did not suffer to take our suffering. He suffered for his people to take away their sins and, as a hen would protect her chicks, protect us from His wrath that is to come.
But make no mistake: we are strangers in a place not our own. We are the stench of death to those who are perishing. And you would not believe how hard people will brutally fight to stay imprisoned in their own sins--I don't know, maybe some of us know that all too well.
It doesn't matter what the world throws at us--we are not defined by our circumstances. We are defined and identified by the Man of Sorrows, who bled and died for you and me, if we believe and trust Him.
Life is already hard. We don't get the license to sin. We get the ability to repent of our sins.
We are charged by God: do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry
What is your ministry? Specifically, I cannot answer that. That is between you and the Lord. But you want to know the basis of your ministry? The love of God in you.
If you love others, you want them to live and not perish. You want people to live? You want people to see God and live? You want your father, mother, son, daughter, neighbor, co-worker, sworn enemy, ex-wife, ex-husband, boss to see Jesus Christ and live?
Matthew 28:18-20 (CSB) Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Luke 24:44-49 (CSB) He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
Acts 1:7-8 (CSB) He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Mark 16:14-16 (CSB) Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
You trust in the Lord?
You believe in Jesus Christ?
Do you obey the Son of God who is God?
Repent of sin. Love God. Love others. Preach the gospel to every creature to the end of the earth. Amen.
The Discussion
- Can any Christian "preach the word" or is that only for preacher and pastors?
- How can you preach the word to one other?
- What about this: what would it be like to encourage each other with word or weep with those who are grieving in loss and death? What would that look like in our lives?
- Name some of the ways to be better in rightly handling the word of God?
2 Timothy 4:6-22 Glorified by God
The Text
2 Timothy 4:6–22 (CSB)
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.
9 Make every effort to come to me soon,
10 because Demas has deserted me, since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.
12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13 When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works.
15 Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.
16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.
21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
The Meditation
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Glorified by God: there is an end of our time here our earth and it is so short
Job 7:1 (CSB) Isn’t each person consigned to forced labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired worker?
Job 14:5-6 (CSB) Since a person’s days are determined and the number of his months depends on you, and since you have set limits he cannot pass, look away from him and let him rest so that he can enjoy his day like a hired worker.
Hebrews 9:27 (CSB) And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—
Hosea 13:3 (CSB) Therefore, they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, or like smoke from a window.
James 4:14 (CSB) Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.
There is no denying this. Most people think that their time here on earth is much too short. But it is too short. For the lost of our love ones, we wish we could hold them one more time and say, "I love you one more time."
What about the loved ones we lost who did not love the Lord? We might comfort ourselves for a second thinking perhaps they repented on their deathbed. But we don't know that for a fact unless we witness them draw their last breath. Those loved ones with hardened hearts like the Pharoah in Exodus or any of the sons of the devil: you wish you wish you wish they could draw one more breath, perhaps to grab on the free gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and let go of their sin in order to grab on to the righteousness of the Almighty Savior.
So many of my family members quickly dying--40s, 50s, 60s--never loving God never obeying the Son and never possessing the Spirit. They died and descended into the eternal wrath of the Jesus Christ.
8 There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.
Glorified by God: to those who are his people, Christ has given us his righteousness and his life forever
Romans 9:25-26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not My People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
John 1:12-13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
9 Make every effort to come to me soon, because Demas has deserted me, since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
Glorified by God: people will come and go but the presence, peace, and the grip of the love of God will be on you through death
John 10:25-30 (CSB) “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Let have Octavius Winslow say it best:
Accounted though we are as "sheep for the slaughter," yet our Great Shepherd, Himself slain for the sheep, guides his flock, and has declared that no one shall pluck them out of his hand. We are more than conquerors through his grace who loved us in the very circumstances that threaten to overwhelm. Fear not, then, the darkest cloud, nor the proudest waves, nor the deepest needs- in these very things you shall, through Christ, prove triumphant. Nor shrink from the battle with the "last enemy." Death received a death-wound when Christ died. You face a conquered foe. He stands at your side a crownless king, and waving a broken scepter. Your death shall be another victory over the believer's last foe. Planting your foot of faith upon his prostrate neck, you shall spring into glory, more than a conqueror, through him that loved you. Thus passing to glory in triumph, you shall go to swell the ranks of the "noble army of martyrs"- those Christian heroes of whom it is recorded, "THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD Of THE LAMB."
Octavius Winslow. No Condemnation in Christ Jesus. 229.
Christ's death means that you get to live forever. Christ's sacrifice means that you are holy and blameless before Christ. Christ's life means you now get to live, move, and have you being in him--not just now but for all of eternity.
11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.
Glorified by God: the saints of God will see you coming and receiving into the glory of God
Genesis 25:7-9 (CSB) This is the length of Abraham’s life: 175 years. He took his last breath and died at a good old age, old and contented, and he was gathered to his people. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hethite.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (CSB) Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Only the people of God will witness your end. If you think you are alone, you are never alone when you have the fullness of God. If your life ends with no witness, I promise you that God will receive you into his glory and all of his people--from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Joseph to Moses to Deborah, Gideon, Ruth, Jesse, David, Solomon all the way to the Apostles and all the saints before--will get to welcome you home into the arms of the Savior where you belong.
12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
Glorified by God: Christ commissioned us--it might be time for you to send others out
Equipping, encouraging, blessing others so that they can take the good news of the gospel to all creatures to the ends of the world.
13 When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.
Glorified by God: God is your All-in-all in life and in the death
Psalms 16:5-6 (CSB) LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Psalms 68:6 (CSB) God provides homes for those who are deserted. He leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a scorched land.
1 Kings 17:1-7 (CSB) Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. You are to drink from the wadi. I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” So he proceeded to do what the LORD commanded. Elijah left and lived at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. The ravens kept bringing him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening, and he would drink from the wadi. After a while, the wadi dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
Matthew 6:7-8 (CSB) When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:31-34 (CSB) So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
You and I need God today. You and I need God tomorrow. You and I need God to live. You and I need God forever.
For your life and your soul and your spirit to live eternally, you will need God. In your sin, depravity, and death, you still need God.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words. At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.
Glorified by God: your enemies were never your enemies--they didn't determine you are in God
Colossians 2:15 (CSB) He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Ephesians 6:10-12 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens
The Gospel
Nor can they ever separate you from his love:
Romans 8:36-39 (CSB) s it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
Glorified by God: Christ has determined your worth--so go and do his will
What are we charged and commissioned by God to do: preach the word. Be ready in and out of season. People are not going to listen to you because to some, you are the stench of death. They want to keep believing lies even though they keep getting their hearts broken in two. As for you and me: God is our strength--control yourself, endure suffering, do the work of the evangelist, fulfill our ministry--and we will be home soon.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
Glorified by God: He brings us all the way home
Romans 8:28-30 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. > 20 Erastus has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. 21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.
Glorified by God: Don't live in isolation
Hebrews 10:24-25 (CSB) And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
I have preached it time and time again: the gospel calls us to God and to one another. We are love one another. Don't forsake going to church. I know that nowadays that is easier said than done. But be innocent as doves and wise as serpents: there are ways around it and continue to be safe.
Don't neglect yourselves from one another.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
Amen.
The Discussion
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Have you thought about your last years on earth?
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What do you think you want to do in ministry to God and to others?
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What is stopping you from starting?
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Why can't you start now?
The Pastoral Epistles: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
This series was born out of two things: a desire to serve my local church as an elder and a conversation with my mentor.
I was saved by Christ in April of 2007. Six months later, I wanted to preach the gospel of Christ every day and twice on Sunday. And since then, I have wrestled with that unction. I can preach anywhere but I had serious convictions to do so only as an ordained minister to the local church. What does it mean to be ordained? There are qualifications. And despite the numerous church and denominations, I turned to the Pastoral Epistles to see what the Bible says about the qualifications of an elder and if I fit that qualification.
And then, just have breakfast with a mentor, he suggested journaling my thoughts on the Pastoral Epistles. These are those thoughts.
The Resources
It Goes Without Say
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Commentaries & Books
Calvin's Commentaries.
by John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
ESV Expository Commentary: Ephesians–Philemon (Volume 11)
Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., & Jay Sklar (Editors)
Crossway. 2018.
Goodreads
Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus (NTC).
William Hendriksen.
Baker Book House. 1979.
Goodreads
1-2 Timothy and Titus (EBTC).
Andreas J. Köstenberger.
Lexham Press. 2021.
Goodreads
Titus 1:1-4 Minister Like This: Know God
The Text
Titus 1:1–4 (CSB)
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
3 In his own time he has revealed his word in the preaching with which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior:
4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
The Meditation
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness
Minister Like This: Know God
Because we can utter the word God does not mean we know God. Just because we can profess "Christ" with our lips does not mean we know God. Just because we feel like we are slain in the Spirit does not mean we know God. Right here in verse 1, "faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness."
Election, faith, knowledge of truth equals godliness. It is an absolute mathematical formula. 2+2=4. No exceptions.
Nerd talk: About 20 years ago, the chip company Intel, released a faulty computer processor. If you tried to calculate 2+2, you would end up getting the answer 5. That is not new math. That is millions of chips and research that are not worth the cardboard box they came in. You put those processors straight in the trash.
Too many people claim to know God because they were brought up in church as a kid or they heard some guy yelling about God on the street corner or they are on their favorite website to make up their own conclusions about who God is. Knowing God is to believe God. When you believe God, you live according to that faith in God.
Where have you heard that before? In the New Testament, you have heard it quoted twice by Paul and once by the author to the Hebrews--and the footnote would point you to Habakkuk 2:4.
Romans 1:17 (CSB) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
It is in the gospel of God that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith given to us by God. We are the righteousness of God. Only in that precise fraction of a second do we live to God and for God and obey God and not a moment before.
It is only receiving the faith of God, righteousness of God that we get to be like Paul--be a servant of God and in a sense, an apostle, one who is sent by God.
2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
Minister Like This: Know God For Who He Is Exactly
Calvin said it best, "the finite mind cannot comprehend the Infinite God." Our born minds, no matter how much IQ and EQ God has granted us, still could not wrap around the concept of a Being that is infinite in every way, shape, and form.
We cannot fully know God. Without Him, we do not know him. Only by God's grace sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to live, die, resurrected in the power of the Holy Spirit, alone, we get to truly know God.
We are finite creatures. By God's grace, we get to truly know and love the Infinite Triune God. But you must be born again--you must be a new creature in Christ--you must have the dwelling of the Triune God in you and be brought into His kingdom in order for you to know and love God.
What? Do you want to try to do enough good things to attract His attention so that he would love and approve you? Yet, Christ told us, "I have not come for the righteous but the sinners." (Matthew 9:13) And God proved his own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Wanna be born again? You want to get into the kingdom of God? You want to love and know God and have God love and know you? You must start off as a sinner.
Let me give you some great news: you were born that way. Congratulations, when it comes to getting into the kingdom of God, you and I are off to a great start. Yet, if you response to me, "But I am not that bad...", "I have already been baptized...", "I grew up in church...", "My parents were Christians...", "I went to a Christian..." then it is your own self-righteousness that keeps you far far far away from God and his kingdom and his family.
If you have a bunch of excuses to being called a sinner, then you are trying to be righteous. What does that really mean? Christ has not come for you, He has not lived for you, He has not died for you, He has not saved you.
How are you saved? You have to hear God. I am not talking about audible voice of God. Many people heard Christ in his ministry and did not believe. But God, supernaturally, graciously, omnipotently, speaks right into your heart, soul, will, and mind and calls you to himself.
And that comes from the preaching and proclaiming of His gospel
3 In his own time he has revealed his word in the preaching with which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior:
Minister Like This: Know God Is Calling You
Romans 10:9-17 (CSB) If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
The Gospel
You are sitting right now listening to me butcher and awkwardly try to feebly and weakly and quite ordinarily preach you to this good news: that Christ has come to save His people from their sins.
Some of you know this good news and you believe God and you rejoice because he is good and his steadfast love lives forever.
Some of you hear this and respond like so many people who care more for the things on this earth rather than the absolute, just like the people who heard Paul preach at Areopagus:
Acts 17:32 (CSB) When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him...
Or going on the off-chance you think I am of some entertainment to you like other people at Areopagus:
but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.”
I will preach again. I guess you can come listen.
But then the rest of you, you know you don't trust and love God at all. You have been going through the motions of church and mission trips and youth groups and all the things. Or what about the obviously wicked and depraved people like myself who raised his 7 year old hand in a little Baptist Church in Oklahoma City so I would not go to hell only to find himself 20 years later peddling pornography to the four corners of the Internet.
What made my case so tragically sad is that I hid my porn addiction from everybody--making sure no one knew the real me. But with my mouth, tried to convinced everybody that I was saved. I wasn't saved. If God took my life before 2007, I would under the eternal wrath of Christ for fully disobeying Him with every single moment of my existence. Hell would have been my forever home.
Where are you in this moment? Where are you with God with Christ with the Spirit? Where are you? What sins are you not giving up because you think it will get you something? What good things that are not God that you are clinching on for dear life because you think they bring you life but only death--things like wealth, health, safety, control?
4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Minister Like This: Know God Is The Only God Who Can Save You
Some of us have not been brought to the end of ourselves. We have not been given the vision of our own hearts and seen void and emptiness look right back at us. We keep fighting to hold on to everything not God in thinking if I can just have my way I can be happy.
But you will get your way, and you will still not be happy, and the path behind you lies in destruction and ruin.
Don't wait for the end. Trust in God right now. Trust in Him. Look to His Son, Jesus Christ. All of us who are holding on to sin and things not God, Christ command us to do:
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Christ says, "Come, give me your soul crushing sin, your back-breaking self-righteousness, your demonic idols--and I will give you rest. I will give you peace. I will give you the faith you need to be saved. I will give you grace. I will give you peace."
The Discussion
- If you don't believe, why are you working so hard?
- Have you been brought to your end yet?
- If God has saved you, tell me when you were radically changed from your old self to your new self?
Titus 1:10-16 Minister Like This: Fear God
The Text
Titus 1:10–16 (CSB)
10 For there are many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from the circumcision party.11 It is necessary to silence them; they are ruining entire households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly.
12 One of their very own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. For this reason, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith
14 and may not pay attention to Jewish myths and the commands of people who reject the truth.
15 To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled.
16 They claim to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
The Meditation
10 For there are many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from the circumcision party.
Fear God: you are facing the anti-gospel
Galatians 1:6-9 (CSB) I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
All throughout the Bible and Christian history, we are going to be faced with people who intentionally twist Scriptures to those who want to dog pile the gospel with more laws. Good or intentions aside, they are bringing the worst news possible. They are going to end up sounding like the rest of the world. And the world has nothing for us. It promises something that will fill the hole in your heart, but if it isn't God, it will fail in doing so.
That is why we are charged by God to preach the word and proclaim the good news. That we are not dead in our sins and trespasses. Christ is risen and he has conquered sin, death, fear, Satan and demons. Fear not but God. Christ is alive!
11 It is necessary to silence them; they are ruining entire households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly.
Fear God: you are facing wolves who seek only to devour the sheep
Wolves literally "eat the meat and spit out the bones." Left unprotected and not care for, this is exactly what wolves do to your sheep. Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, financially, and physically.
And if you halfway pay attention to church today, that is exactly what is happened. Many people call the current departure "deconstruction" as many sheep are being led astray. What I am seeing is so many wolves devour the sheep and leaving them for dead. And other sheep leave because they don't want to be devoured either.
We see that these wolves are literally trying to bankrupt the people of God by "they are ruining entire households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly." (v11) And when the people of God make noise that they are being hurt, these wolves will turn around and attempt to discredit them:
12 One of their very own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
Sounds familiar? Someone is abused by clergy. Instead of rallying around and caring for the victim, too many church organizations rally around the leadership and protect the organization at all cost--even it means to outright destroy the victim.
When a "church" protects the leaders, that "church" nothing more than a den of wolves.
The Gospel
13 This testimony is true. For this reason, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith 14 and may not pay attention to Jewish myths and the commands of people who reject the truth.
Fear God: love his lambs
John 21:15-19 (CSB) When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”
“Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”
“Shepherd my sheep,” he told him.
He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ”
Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me? ” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
“Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”
I love how the Lord gives three commands to Peter:
Feed my lambs
Shepherd my sheep
Feed my sheep
... if only if you love the Lord.
Those who are called to oversee and shepherd his flock are called to rebuke those who reject the gospel.
Now that is all well and good but let us bring this command into modern times. Now more than ever, the world has countless ways of speaking and influencing the hearts of the people of God. And the people of God will get hooked on these words in the privacy of our smartphones.
And here's one of the things that hurts the most and what makes us the sheep of His flock: we are continuously being influenced by what we see on screens and we are not quick to share that with our pastors or other people until that influence has had an impression on our hearts. In other words, more often than not, we let the world impress our hearts. We don't speak up. Our hearts are bent in a certain way not God and we give into what we see sexually, politically, financially, socially or any of the above. And the real deception is that because we are Christian and what we decide is right must be right by God--sexually, politically, financially, socially or any of the above. We are not to judge. God is judge. We don't take what we think and filter it through the Bible. That is cherry picking and making the Bible say what we want it to say. But the Bible is the word of God--God who has spoken and is speaking to us for all of our days. We let the Lord speak to us and guide us and His Spirit will lead us where he wants us to go.
To that end, however, let us never forget the massive grace of God. We are sheep. In other words, we are not that wise, not that smart, and not that bright. We are the children of God. We are weak and only God is strong. We are easily led astray. And God has great grace for us. We can make decisions sexually, politically, financially, socially or any of the above, and none of that will separate us from the love of God that is only found in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Not despite but within that great grace of God, elders are charged to feed his lambs. Feed us.
15 To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled.
16 They claim to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
Fear God: dwell instead on these things
Philippians 4:8-9 (CSB) Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Life is not easy. I would suggest when God opens the eyes of his people to the actual realities of this world, life becomes a whole lot more difficult. God is good and he is good towards us. Our circumstances do not define us--they may not even go away. But God is still good and good towards us. Dwell on these things, not the world.
The Discussion
- Despite all the voices in the world influencing us, should Christians lose hope?
- How is our hope so secure?
- If your loved one is led astray, what can you do for them?
- Can anyone snatch us out of the hand of God?
Titus 1:5-9 Minister Like This: Love God
The Text
Titus 1:5–9 (CSB)
5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town.6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion.
7 As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money,
8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled,
9 holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.
The Meditation
5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town.
Minister Like This: Love God and Be Under Authority
Every Christian is under the authority of Christ under the power of the Almighty Spirit within the Father's sovereign grace and mercy. Those are basic facts.
Ephesians 1:22-23 (CSB) And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Ephesians 5:22-23 (CSB) Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.
Colossians 1:18 (CSB) He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
We know that Christ is the Head Pastor of the Church. We know that he has appointed shepherds to love and care for his lambs. But because we live in a broken, sin-filled world where since Genesis 3, people will blaspheme the name of God by starting what looks to be a church and then deceiving his elect and preying and devouring them for their own twisted hearts. These are false shepherds. They have been with us since God first proclaimed the gospel--people who rose in power here on earth with no fear of the Almighty God of the Universe.
Right now, there are people who are leaving the church. Most of us call it, "deconstruction." Most of us think that people are deconstructing their faith by falling away from orthodox faith so that they can become little heretics and swim in unrepentant sin.
What I have seen is people stepping away from church because they cannot make sense of a wonderful loving God and yet false shepherds who continue to hurt and try to destroy his little ones.
If church is not even a safe place, where can we go?
And then we end up not being shepherd, not under authority, not care for and not feed.
Christ saw those without shepherds and had compassion.
But Christ is the same Good Shepherd in Jeremiah 23 who saw these false shepherds. He saw them and he removed them. He drew his sheep away for a while and cared for them while he raised up godly qualified shepherds to care for his little ones.
Christ is active not passive in the world. Christ is active and not passive in the Church. You and see him removing unqualified pastors by removing his mercies and letting them fall from grace--for the sake of his people. He will remove these false shepherds who reject the gift of repentance and sometimes he would even close the doors of these churches.
If you know anybody who has been hurt by the church and left the church. Where they are at now is not where they will end up be--by God's grace. Pray for them. Pray that they know the love of God for them.
If you have ever been hurt by a church, know that God sees your pain and your wounds. He is in the business of making you whole and new. And I know this because He sent his only begotten Son to live and die so that you can be whole and new. God did this because he loves you.
Don't process this pain alone. Don't let it drive you into dispair and isolation so that the Devil may come and consume your soul. Reach out to trusted people and if they can't help you for real, then yall together can find someone who can.
Some call it deconstruction. Others are calling it the elect are being swayed away. I am calling it the promises of God are yes and amen.
6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion.
Minister Like This: Love God and Love Your Family
blameless
Right out the gate, where Paul repeats these same qualifications of God to Pastor Timothy, is that an elder, pastor, overseer must be blameless.
Now, we are talking about possessing the righteousness of God that in Christ alone. Not that kind of blameless but every minister (includes you and me) must be blameless in the sight of God. Are we talking about the legalistic, back-breaking moralism that you must appear perfect on the outside while your heart and soul gets wrecked with indwelling sin? No, not that type of fake blameless.
This type of blameless which some translations call "above reproach." What is reproach? Blame. God says his elders of his church must be above blame.
You've heard the phrase, "Where there is smoke, there is fire." God is saying you shouldn't see any smoke. And there is two ways to think about this. One, common sense. "That seems reasonable."
But the other way is the way of people who have obtain power for themselves and will stop at nothing to hold on that power. They will say things like "What about false accusations?" and "You cannot touch God's Anointed." That way of thinking is of Satan--all you are doing is twisting Scripture. Don't go that way.
If in your own church, you are close enough to see the fire and the smoke. In somebody's elses church across the country on the internet, you are not close enough. Christ has you. You will be taken care of.
the husband of one wife
From my commentary on 1 Timothy 3:2:
I read this not as strictly "must be married" and to wholesale reject any single, divorced, or widowed men.
You know how I would read this in light of the entire Bible?
1 Corinthians 6:18 (CSB) Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.
An elder is one who flees from sexual sin. Single. Divorced. Married. Widowed. It matters not. If you are bought with the blood of Christ, we have the power of the Spirit to flee all sin including sexual sin.
If your church wants to restrict the office of elder/overseer to married men only, your church is free to abide by the letter of the law. But in light of the Bible, and I hope I am abiding in the spirit of the law, this would not prohibit qualified men from serving as elders of a church.
Before I leave this subject of male eldership, let us talk about women serving as elders in a church.
What I am going to give you is completely my experience only.
Churches who abide in the strict reading of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 will almost always read in light of this infamous verse in the most strictest sense:
1 Timothy 2:11-15 (CSB) A woman is to learn quietly with full submission. I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. But she will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with good sense.
(I say, "almost always", I have yet to see an exception to this.)
To that end, the office of elder is frontloaded with many Biblical responsibilities and qualifications--according to the letter of the law.
The counter-argument to male-only eldership is the inclusion of women within eldership for one reason or another.
But here's where I want to extend grace: again, in my experience, churches who include women within the office of eldership also tend to expand or shrink those same qualifications and responsibilies--I would say, according to the spirit of the law. This can based on the specific mission in the place you are called to or any other myriad of reasons.
When I engage in these secondary and tertiary matters of doctrine--and make no mistake, egalitarian and complementarian views of doctrine are secondary at best--I will not let such matters keep me away from fellowship and loving my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am not speaking from fake unity but an actual unity in Christ according to Ephesians 4:11-16.
This is a hill I am certainly not willing to die upon. I have bigger hills to die on--just not this one.
with faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion.
From my commentary on 1 Timothy 3:4:
Take a walk through your home, budget, and the general "adulting" things that need to get done: are they getting done?
Are we talking about, "Are your adult kids saved by God and faithful to Him alone--never backsliding nor doubting nor deconstructing?" I don't think so.
I remember sharing a story with my wife about a prominent pastor whose adult son not only was not saved but was quite against Christianity as a whole. This pastor struggled with his qualification as an elder in his church.
To which my wife responded, "Think this through: his adult child rebelled against the Lord and somehow that would disqualified his father from ministry?" We have all gone astray from our Father in heaven. None can stray so far that they would disqualify themselves--let alone, disqualify any of their family members.
But parents with children at home, answer this question: who is in charge at home, the parents or the kids?
And just to be crystal clear, if you think that this God's call upon your life to "rule your home with an iron fist", let me ask you this, "What if our Father ruled over you like that?" It would suck, wouldn't it?
Our Father in heaven loves us, rejoices over us, provides for our every need and takes care of us. We know this for a fact because He sent his only begotten son to live and die for us so that we can be with him whose presence is the fullness of joy and at his right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11) Don't be that parent! Be like your Father in heaven who is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
7 As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled,
Minister Like This: Love God and Bear Fruit
What is the Bible saying here? You have to be absolutely perfect? We cannot. That is why we have Christ.
And this passage even gives grace for wherever we are at. For some Christians--if not most Christians--are saved but still struggle with unbelief. "I am a Christian but I cuss a little." That's fine (although we are called tp put away filthy language from our mouths--Colossians 3:8). The point is that the office of the overseer is one who does not struggle with cussing or anger or greed or being a bully or alcohol.
It is really a man marked with the fruit of the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23 (CSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Which of us would be a mark of kindness or gentleness or joy? Which of us are patient? Have you met someone marked with faithfulness? These men might be make great elders if they desire to serve as one.
The Gospel
9 holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.
Minister Like This: Love God and Believe the Gospel
1 Timothy 3:2 calls the would-be elder that is "able to teach." What is does that look like? Here in verse 9.
The elder must hear the gospel and recieves the gospel; believes the gospel and lives out that good news that Christ has saved his people from their sins.
Yet, knowing God and his work in our lives, we know that this is not a one time thing. The gospel elder continues to hear the gospel and is continuously examined and formed by the doctrine and theology. They are continuously being equipped to sthat they can encourage others with sound teaching and be able to counter bad teaching.
How does that training, education, and equipping looks like will look different from minister to minster according to the grace of God.
And it all starts from one single premise:
1 Corinthians 15:1-5 (CSB) Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
Believe on this and you shall be saved.
The Discussion
- Why can we not assume that every pastor is saved?
- How do know for sure that someone else is saved? Can we see the heart like God?
- On the same thought, can we know when someone is not saved?
- How many Christians do you know who want to serve as an elder in their local church?
Titus 2:1-5 Teach Like This: Family of Christ
The Text
Titus 2:1–5 (CSB)
1 But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching.2 Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance.
3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good,
4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children,
5 to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.
The Meditation
When I dwell on this passage in Titus, I wonder of the parallel to the first epistle by John:
1 John 2:12–14 (CSB)
12 I am writing to you, little children, since your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you have come to know the one who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one.
14 I have written to you, children, because you have come to know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have come to know the one who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, God’s word remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one.
In this exposition, I want to pull from 1 John as well.
Teach like this: Those older in the faith, act the part
2 Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance.
This does not give young believers (age of faith) a free pass to continue on sinning (Romans 6:1-2). God gives us grace not only in giving his heart and his Spirit, but the righteousness to do his will. That comes from the moment He saves you. But as we grow in maturity in Christ, we get to act the part.
Self-control is an important but oft glossed over fruit and characterization of the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23 (CSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
2 Timothy 1:7 (CSB) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
Again, can we be perfect? Absolutely not. (I do not care what those in Holiness movements claim.) But do we have self-control? Absolutely. And as time and grace goes by, you will grow because the promise of God that his children--the brothers and sisters of Christ--are going to be conformed to the image of Christ:
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
And we know that all the promises of God are yes and amen.
worthy of respect - I hate to be the bearer of bad news but respect is always earned and not assumed because of your age, experience, or stature. The Bible makes it clear: Christians are to live their lives "worthy of respect"--not, "Give me the respect first and let us see if I can hold on to it." With respect for one other comes with trust for one another. There is a base level decency that is respect for another. That is not what Paul is mentioning here. Living our lives as though we are worthy of trust and honor--whether you get it or not.
sensible - I speak only for the day and age that we live in. Face to face, we can seem sensible all day long. What about our online presence? Listen, I am not here to judge your content. I can't tell you how many times I have deleted my social media accounts because of the content I put out. And that deletion doesn't delete it from the mind of Christ or any of the people who read it. I regret many things I have said over the years. I pray that what I write now is sensible and not illogical or trollish.
sound in faith, love, and endurance - That is it. That is the endgame. Paul echoes this at the end of 1 Corinthians 13:
1 Corinthians 13:13 (CSB) Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love — but the greatest of these is love.
Let me put it this way: coram Deo. In other words, we are to live as though we are living before the face of God because in fact, we do. But then we will stand before the King of kings to be judged by God in the face of God for the glory of God. For those who disbelieve and never repentant, they subject themselves to the wrath of the King forever. To those who believe and trust, they stand in the face of the God who love them and gave Himself up for them forever.
3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.
Teach like this: what is good
I am not here in the Bible to swap out male for female. Like I said previously, when the Bible is explicit to the older man, the younger man is not exempt. Likewise, commands to the older women do not let younger women off the hook. Furthermore, these commands of be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking is not just for the women but for men as well. I know that might go without say but in these times, you cannot always assume.
But the call to Christians--espcially to women--is to teach what is good. What is good? For young women to love their husbands and to love their children if God so chooses to bless us with spouses and children.
Like men, Christian women are marked by self-controlled -- which I will say is an oft forgotten fruit of the Spirit for some inane reason. As God called us holy because he is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), we are to be pure in the sight of God. That purity is not what we do but what Christ did for us:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
But now that we are righteous before God, we get to be pure and holy.
workers at home - To those who have been blessed by God to work at home to care for the home, praise be to God. Some women, I am thinking of Lydia from Acts, who have been blessed to have a rich and fulfilling career, praise be to God. I know that many people, including myself, will try to succeed at all things, both at work and at home with family. If you choose to do this, I implore you to keep your eyes peeled for what you are giving up. I speak mostly about self-care like fitness, diet, and sleep. Speaking from my life, "burning the candle at both ends" is not sustainable and quickly leads to burn out. May the Lord bless you and keep you in what you do with your hands.
kind - Just like self-control has been mentioned so many times, how many times do you think we are called to be kind?
1 Corinthians 13:4 (CSB)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant,Ephesians 4:32 (CSB)
32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.Luke 6:35 (CSB)
35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.Colossians 3:12–13 (CSB)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.
Proverbs 31:26 (CSB)
26 Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.
Proverbs 19:17 (CSB)
17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and he will give a reward to the lender.
Galatians 6:10 (CSB)
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
1 John 3:18 (CSB)
18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.
1 Peter 3:8–9 (CSB) Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
Being kind is its own reward. If that is not enough, it is a clear command from God.
I say this because in my own broken nature, I am not known to be kind. Praise be to God that He has given me a new heart, with his Spirit and a new nature that I get to be kind and generous to others.
and in submission to their husbands - Let me speak about this from a pastoral perspective. Submission does not mean what you think it means--that goes to the wife and to the husband. The wife is not blindly to a husband who is unrepentant, abusive, evil, and unkind. Full stop.
There are those who read this might buck against what I am saying and start hitting me with verses to support their position that the women has to submit no matter what the husband does or does not do. First, that is evil. Second, you are so focused on what others need to do instead of concentrating on what you need to do, brother. Look at the commands of God upon the man who is blessed to be a husband. You might be quick to mention "headship", and I am telling you that unless you do right in the sight of God, you will quickly relinquish that "headship" when you step out of line before the face of God.
The hard complementarian argument wears me down because every time I am engaged with it, I keep meeting husbands who want to look at porn and treat their wives like trash and back up their wicked ways by twisting the Scriptures like the sons of Satan they are actually are. It wears me down and I don't have the strength to assume the best of out a man whom God calls, "worthless".
The Gospel
so that God’s word will not be slandered
Teach like this: we are witness to the world
John expounds on this:
John 15:12-17 (CSB) This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
“This is what I command you: Love one another.
More so:
1 John 4:7-8 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
And if the Parable of the Samaritan is any indication, that means we don't get to pick and choose who we show love to. We are love all for John goes on to say:
1 John 4:9-11 (CSB) God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.
The ESV rightly calls this atoning sacrifice, "the propitiation for our sins." If Christ died on the cross to save His people from their sins--if Christ loved us while we were yet sinners--then we must love one another.
The Discussion
-
Who can define self-control and kindness and gentleness?
-
Who can define how to love one another?
-
Where does love come from?
-
What is greatest example of everything that God command us to do?
Titus 2:6-8 Teach Like This: Spirit of Christ
The Text
Titus 2:6–8 (CSB)
6 In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching.
8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.
The Meditation
6 In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled 7a in everything.
The Spirit of Christ: self-control
Galatians 5:22-23 (CSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (CSB) Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (CSB) on’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown.
The incredible lie of the world and especially our hearts and souls will tell us that we can control other people. The sin of legalism boils down to this: the sins that I do not struggle with, I will turn around make it a back-breaking yoke for others that cannot possible bear. Nevermind the fact that the sins that have consumed my soul is killing me slowly and surely.
What did Christ say about this?
Matthew 23:3-4 (CSB) Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.
What would it look like if we control the one thing in this world that we can actually control?
What if we control ourselves?
Not only is it a part of the fruit of every Christian (I say Christian because if you believe, then you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) but it is a command of God.
Let me sum up this way: you control you.
"Are we not suppose to expose sin in others?" Yes and no.
I recall a fantastic story of a missionary sent to an African tribe. God saw it glorious to bring this entire tribe to his heart including the tribe chief and his many wives. They were eager to do right by God. The missionary knew that he must mention that to believe in Christ is to be a husband of only one wife--not several.
This is a case of a people's group with their own worldly culture that was inherited and in their own control, sought what to do in the eyes of God--which was not easy. The point is that this tribe simply did not know the Bible. They were in sin that contradicted the Bible but they did not know that. The missionary was there to bring forth the word of God.
But see what happens: it is the Spirit that bring conviction.
John 16:7-11 (CSB) Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
If you do have a relationship and can walk side-by-side with one another in love, it might be that they just don't know. That is why we have the word of God.
But what I speak of is the anti-Christ sin of giving judgment that you cannot possibly bear.
Control thy self. Worry about you. Study the Scriptures. Petition for others.
7b Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching.
The Spirit of Christ: be above reproach
Mark 1:22 (CSB) They were astonished at his teaching because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.
Christ taught with authority because He was fully God and fully man who obeyed the law of God perfectly. In other words, he was above reproach.
"Do we need to be perfect in order to teach and preach?" Again, I nor no one else in all of creation cannot lay the burden of perfection on you. Christ did not do it. Christ is the God of the Old and New Testament. He is the one who made mankind and He knows that we "come from dust and return to dust." (Psalm 103) Christ is merciful to us--not in the way of the world that would let us perish in our sins but in true mercy that Christ has freed us from our sin.
The Gospel
8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.
The Spirit of Christ: we stand justified before Christ
Romans 8:31-34 (CSB) What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
And
Romans 8:14-16 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father! ” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children...
We are justified before Christ not because we do good works but because Christ did the good works that we should have done. In God's great grace and mercy, we now get to do the good works that God has prepared ahead of time for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Do the works that God has set out for you to do. You have no opponent that can accuse you. Be above reproach and love them like Christ would.
The Discussion
- What is the difference between perfectionism and being above reproach?
- Who is in ministry?
- If we are all ministers but commit sin, what can we do? What does Christ command us to do?
Titus 2:9-15 Teach Like This: One with Christ
The Text
Titus 2:9–15 (CSB)
9 Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back10 or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
15 Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
The Meditation
9 Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back 10 or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything.
One with Christ: we are bonded to Christ forever
Ooh, super tense wording and visual. Why didn't Paul forsee the wickedness of Europeans and Americans building their little dirt empires on the back of slaves. So uncomfortable, right? Modern, mostly Western world version of slavery is explicitly forbidden by God as wicked sin against Him and the specific consequence is for the kidnapper to be put to death.
Exodus 21:16 (CSB) Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession.
Deuteronomy 24:7 (CSB) “If a man is discovered kidnapping one of his Israelite brothers, whether he treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. You must purge the evil from you.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
If you want to try to argue and defend American Slavery as the will of God, I will need you to give me proof that American Slavery was built on humans willingly giving themselves over to unnecessarily brutal hardship and toil for all of their lives.
Sometimes, slavery in the Bible was the payment of a debt that the debtee could not pay. Sounds familiar? God saw his people, by the consequences of sin, subjected to forced labor, and He will rescue them from the slavery to sin. That is the Exodus is about. That is what the Bible is all about.
God sent his Son to ransom us from sin and death. For:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB) Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
If you are in Christ, you and I belong to Him alone. The same way a slave in the broken, sin-filled, depraved world is forever bonded to their master, we in this new kingdom of God is forever bonded to our master, Jesus Christ.
Listen, our master is sweetest name you will ever know. He doesn't put more pressure on you and more laws on your and more work on you. No! God gives us His Spirit so that we are adopted as His children, get to enjoy the freedom of the glory of God. (Romans 8:14-21) God gave us His Son to take away your back breaking sin and despair to lovingly, graciously, mercifully exchange it for His own righteousness so You will be with him forever and ever. For, Christ command us to...
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Christ says, "Come to me. Let me take that thing that is crushing you so can possess the freedom of God. Give it to me and I will give you all that I have." (Hebrews 1:1-2; Romans 8:16-17)
We can take these Titus verses and make them about our employers or our bosses. But that illustration doesn't always work because some of us don't have bosses. Why are we to teach our children and preach the gospel to every creature and instruct younger men and women and encourage older saints because we are bonded to Christ forever. He is our Savior, yes. He is our merciful God. Also, yes. He is also our wonderful Lord and Master forever. The Father has given you and me his only begotten Son. That is too say, we have everything. We are now one with Christ. Now and forever. Now we get to (v9-10) "submit to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything."
The Gospel
How does this ownership happen? How does this purchase happened? How do this oneness and bonding happen? Did we contribute anything to making it happen? Absolutely not. For we:
Ephesians 2:1-2 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.
We were once dead in our sins.
But what does the Bible say? If you have read the Bible and the Holy Spirit has given you wisdom and understanding to know his word, we know the refrain, "But God!"
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
One with Christ: the grace of God appeared!
I have spent much of my time thinking and trying my best to properly define what is prophecy according to the word of God. And for the longest time, I have hitched my background to this statement: "The prophecy in the Old Testament pointed forward to the arrival of Jesus Christ, whereas, all prophesying--that is, the preaching--is about Jesus Christ and him crucified."
Pastor Steven Lawson said it even more clearly, and I will paraphrase, "The gift of prophesying of the revelation of God outside the word of God given to individuals to be the mouthpiece for God does not exist today. However, the gift of prophesying that proclaims what has already been revealed by God in the appearing of His blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is alive and well today."
Now why do I mention that? Because that is the driven force and the power behind the commission of Christ on all believers: "Go and preach the gospel." Why? Because Christ has appeared! Not only the first time when he appeared as a little bitty baby and grew in stature and wisdom of God. But Christ lived and he died and like no one like him before and like him no one since, appeared in glorious resurrection from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father.
Christ appeared.
John 1:14-18 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side —he has revealed him.
Christ appeared. And he didn't come empty handed. He came to save His people from their sins.
12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
One with Christ: we now get to obey Christ
Try as they might, the Israelites in the Old Testament could not successfully obey the law of God on their best day. They were so far from God that they could not make up the infinite gap between themselves and their God who kept rescuing them out of their treason and disobedience.
But God knew that. I will never forget the sweetness of Psalm 103:
Psalm 103:9–14 (CSB)
9 He will not always accuse us
or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve
or repaid us according to our iniquities.11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his faithful love
toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed
our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows what we are made of,
remembering that we are dust.
God knows we come from dust. He was there when he made Adam. He knows we are mortals. He sympathizes with our faults and takes pity on us. That is why he sent the Second Adam to do what our original father and mother could not do and fail to do: be blameless and walked in righteousness.
God knew that about the Israelites. He knew that they would fail and rebel and sin and turn away. But he also knew that about us. He knew we would fail and rebel and harden our hearts and quenched His Spirit and reject his love. And he remembers we are made from dust. He remembers he made us in his likeness. He desires that all might turn back from from their own way and come to trust and obey His Son--that none shall perish.
So now the people of God have the son of God. Which means we have the Spirit of God and it means we have the heart of God. Which means, we get to obey God. We get to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
God has not left you and me to die in this world. God has saved us so that we would live unto Him in this age and the age to come to the glory of His Son.
As Christ said, you and me are in the end times. This is the end game. Christ will come again, in the glorious power. For Christ said this that...
Matthew 24:30-31 (CSB) ... the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
That is where our hope lies--in the returning of His Son, that His kingdom would be complete and firmly perfectly established. Where:
Revelation 21:3-4 (CSB) Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
One with Christ: proclaim what He has done for us
14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works. 15 Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Because God's word is true and declares and defines our identity in Christ, go and tell the world.
1 John 3:18 (CSB) Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.
No weightless talk. No empty speeches. No social media posts that makes us sound godly and smart. But real love. Loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. How does that look like? It starts by proclaiming these words to your kids, your family, your parents, your neighbors and figuring out how to love them well by giving over your time, effort, energy, money and resources. Do this until Christ comes back. We do this because we have Christ and we have everything.
Titus 3:1-7 Live Like This: Christ Appeared
The Text
Titus 3:1–7 (CSB)
1 Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.
3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,
5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
The Meditation
1 Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.
Christ Appeared: God Loves Us
For
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (CSB) First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
And
Romans 13:1 (CSB) Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
And
1 John 4:7 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
You are like, "Joseph, these things are not tied together. One is called to submit to governing authorities and the other is to love another. How are they related." But Paul relates them:
2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
And
to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.
Paul wrote to the churches of Timothy and Titus and exhorted them to submit to godly-given authority. I don't care where you are at politically. Daniel 2:21 applies to both Donald Trump and Joe Biden: "... he removes king and establishes kings." This and all of the leaders of the land is God given authority. We submit but we go one step further--we pray for them. If we pray for them, I promise you they--whomever you think your political enemy is--will cease being your enemy. You will grow in love and affection for them. Not just politically in all aspects of lift.
Why do we live this out? One, because love is of God and God is live (1 John 4:7-8) and remember who we were before God saved us:
3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Perhaps by God's grace, you were not as bad as this full list. By God grace, we were not as evil as we could be. In other words, not every unbelieving grandma is Hitler.
Sometimes Christians want you to remember your old selves as though that will make you "extra saved" and you will repent even more. But that is not what God told us to do. That is not the power of the gospel.
Here is the gospel:
The Gospel
4-5a But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us--
Christ Appeared: He Saved Us
John 1:16–18 (CSB)
16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness,17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
And
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Do you see the perfect work of Christ? Do you see that Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God, and by the very definition of God, does all things good and perfect? And when he appeared as a little bitty baby in the Bethlehem, Christ "saved his people from their sins". Because that little babe, although "grew in stature and in wisdom" (Luke 2:52), will perfectly spend the next 33 years making a beeline to the cross in order that the Father could give our Christ our sin so that God would give his righteousness to us.
The fact that Christ appeared, showed up, arrive was a lock for our salvation. People in the OT couldn't have known but they saw foreshadows because the prophecies of the Messiah. People during the time of Christ didn't know until the Spirit of God dwelled in them. We, today, now know because of the indwelling of the Spirit who opens our eyes, exchanges are dead hearts for alive hearts, and renew our minds so we can understand the words of God.
God does this because God is kind and he is love and his affections were set upon us because He loved us "before the foundations of the world".
“The best proof that He will never cease to love us lies in that He never began.”
Geerhardus Vos. Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation: The Shorter Writings of Geerhardus Vos.
5b not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy
Christ Appeared: He Does Everything For Us
Again and again, Christ calls you, encourages you, exhorts you, preaches you, invites you, commands you not to work harder. For Christ knows we are from dust (Psalm 103) and it is a impossible task to obey the law of God perfectly. You and I cannot. And we have a history of obeying the laws of God that are easy for us and the ignoring the laws of God that are too difficult for us to obey.
No! Christ commands you to give up, give in and rest in him.
Matthew 11:28–30 (CSB)
28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
God has the sweetest rest for the soul. Will you take it? Or are you going to keep trying harder to gain the love of God who already loved you because he sent his Son to live and die for you some 2000 years ago. Or to further break your back, crush your soul, and break your heart: go and try to please the world. You will never stop working and it will be for nothing.
Take this gift of God's sweet loving rest. It is yours because you are in Christ and Christ is in you.
5c-6 —through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior
The Father sends the Son to do what we could not do and to die in our place. But Christ said this of himself:
John 16:7 (CSB) Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.
God himself will dwell in the hearts of men. He does so by sending His Spirit to come and dwell in the hearts of his people--not temporarily like we saw in the Old Testament--but forever. By the almighty power of the Triune God, he gives you his heart, his Spirit, makes his home in you and gives you peace and righteousness.
From there, you are saved. No second baptism of the Holy Spirit. No waiting around for the filling of the Holy Spirit. God from the day he saved you went to work in you to conform you to the image of his son:
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Zechariah 13:8–9 (CSB) In the whole land— this is the LORD’s declaration— two-thirds will be cut off and die, but a third will be left in it.
I will put this third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’, and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ ”'
Isaiah 48:10 (CSB) Look, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
See what God has promised. See what God has done. See what God has done. He has told you and me to rest in his Son. Are there sins we must repent? Everyday. But God gave His Son, His Spirit and as a result, the gift of repentance to turn away from sin and death and to turn to him that is life, fullness of joy, and pleasures evermore.
That work in you to conform you to the image of His Son. That is a promise of God. Do we obey? Yes, but that is because God dwells in you. But God promises, He will finish it. All the promises of God are yes and amen.
Philippians 1:6 (CSB) I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (CSB) Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Christ is the perfecter and finisher of our faith. He will do the work. Trust in him. Rest in him alone.
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Christ Appeared: He Glorified Us
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
If Christ perfectly saved us, sanctified us because He is God and He is perfect and He cannot lie and He cannot break promises, then in that promise it is not bad English for Paul to write down these words:
those he justified, he also glorified
But you might be saying, "Joseph, how can that be? We are not in the end. We have not yet entered into 'joy of the master.' How can this be?"
Because God is perfect. God doesn't break promises. God does not lie. What God began, he will finished. His great grace and love will bring us all the way home. For:
Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) ... no any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You might think, "I feel so far from him. How can this be?"
My sweet child, you cannot see the finish line because you are limited. But Christ sees the end because he is already there. Right now, already there. Next week, he is there with you. Fifty years from now, there. He is Jehovah-Shammah "The God Who is There" (Ezekiel 48:35)
God is going to bring you home--whether you have great or little faith. God is going to bring you all the way home. And you will look like his son--perfect, splendor, radiant, glorious... glorified. And one day, we will get to hold his loving face, kiss him with a thousand kisses because he saved us. Right then, our faith is satisfied, our hope is fulfilled because we are now our Beloved and he is with us forever.
Titus 3:8-15 Live Like This: Rest in Christ
The Text
Titus 3:8–15 (CSB)
8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.9 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.
10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning.
11 For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there.
13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, so that they will lack nothing.
14 Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
15 All those who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.
The Meditation
8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.
Rest in Christ: Insist on the Gospel
What is Paul is wanting pastors and congregation to insist on?
Go back to the passage right above:
Titus 3:3–7 (CSB)
3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,
5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
You say, "Preacher, that is the gospel." And I say, "You are correct." Therefore it is the call of God on our lives to preach, insist, continuously bringing up his good news. You say, "Preacher, I don't know how to do that and I am afraid I am going to fumble that up." But don't you know, you live your lives not out of back breaking performance or soul crushing perfectionism but out of vulnerability, weakeness, and repentance that you and I are always in need of a great, great God.
You live your lives with one another. You talk about all that God has done for you. You insist that you are not the one who does it but Christ in us.
But why? Why insist on the gospel? Why preach the gospel? Why continuously point us to Christ? Paul tells us why:
so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.
The Bible is never: do good works so you believe. But yet, believe/trust/obey/rest/abide/hope in Christ and now, you get to do good and profitable for everyone else.
Remember the gospel passage in Ezekiel?
Ezekiel 36:25–27 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Look at what God does:
- I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean
- I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols
- I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you
- I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh
- I will place my Spirit within you
Christian, what is ours to do?
- cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances
Don't read this as "oh now we are God's robots?" as though he suddenly reprogram you. We are not computers running on software. Read this as, "You were once lost but now found by God! You once dead but now alive by God to God forever!" (Luke 15:24)
Now that you are alive, you get to live to God.
9 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.
Rest in Christ: Trust in the Gospel
Paul, Timothy, Titus and rest of the year zero Christians could not imagine the day we live today. For these literally new Christians (because it was fraction of a lifetime ago that Christ lived, died, rose, and ascended.) Most of the people in that time could not read. If they did, it wasn't well. And many of the Apostles either insisted on scribes (Paul, Luke) or had no choice but to enlist scribes (Peter, John) to write down what they said in an letter or a book that would be known as a book of God's Holy Bible.
Paper was expensive. Ink was expensive. Scribes were expensive. And that is just to get the manuscript in place. Now you have got to cross the massive, incredible Greco-Roman empire filled with a massive, huge army that will be historically famous. You think sneaking out that precious manuscript was going to be easy? Not on your life.
Look at us. We send massive amounts of text to someone across the country in a blink of an eye. I can send currency to my friends in Ukraine or Kenya in a moment. Paul and co. could not imagine our world.
Yet, I would suggest that they didn't have an philosophical mountain to climb. Paul, Luke, Peter, John, Matthew, Mark and the author of Hebrews did not have to fight, scrape, claw, kickback, pushback against all of social media and the barrage of information in this age where we are getting way more data but not getting smarter nor wiser.
But even Paul says:
... avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.
Just as the gospel is absolute truth, the Bible becomes not outdated or obsolete but rather wisdom and commands of God that become more magnificent. We still in a post-Genesis 3 world. But we are all still Christians at the foot of the cross. And that counters all sin and despair that the world has to offer.
10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning.
Rest in Christ: Continue on with the Gospel
Listen, this is a sticky verse. Because, doesn't God give grace upon grace. Shouldn't we give grace upon grace even more?
Look at Matthew 18.
Matthew 18:15-20 (CSB) “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. 17 If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”
(Let me address something. Does this mean we should pray together because Christ is with us? Yes. Does it mean this is how we do church discipline because Christ is within us? Also, yes.)
Paul neatly sums up Matthew's passage on discipline.
Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning.
"Preacher, where is the grace?" Hey, if you are coming into a church--a gathering of the people of God who are saved and bonded to one another because of the work of Christ--God gives you grace. He told his people to give you two warnings. Stop being divisive or you gotta go.
You don't have to go. We rather you stay. We rather you hear of Christ and what he has done for us. We rather you listen to the gospel. We rather you join us and repent of our sins and turn to Christ and rest in him forever.
But division cannot be entertained, for:
Ephesians 4:11-13 (CSB) And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
We will reach unity in faith. We won't get there with divisive people.
11 For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.
Rest in Christ: Saved by God by the gospel
Romans 6:23 (CSB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You don't have to keep going down that road. You don't have to run into death.
Romans 8:1 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,
You might say, "I want to stop sinning because I find myself keep turning back to sin."
Proverbs 24:16 (CSB) Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
What did I say early? What the does God preach? Try harder? Do better? Be perfect? No! Repent of your sins and believe in Christ.
Is that a one time for all time declaration? No, it is all the time. Like I asked my son, "Do you think that the righteous can only fall seven times and that's it?" He would say no. Or to mix my metaphors, "How about seven times seventy?" Or how about all the time. Repent and believe. Because Christ has done it all. Christ has you. You just got to rest in him. That's it. Read your Bible. Pray. Worship. Evangelize. Eat. Drink. Work. Write. Whatever you do, do it to the glory of his name.
The Gospel
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there.
13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, so that they will lack nothing.
Rest in Christ: Love One Another
Now we are in this together. We get to build up one another. Support one another. Give to one another. And not just to Christians, but to our neighbor. And guess what? Every person in the world is your neighbor. Build them up. Encourage them. Give to them. Love them. Pray for them.
14 Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
Rest in Christ: Minister to One Another
You have the same Spirit of Christ who raised Christ from the dead dwelling in you. Does that mean you get to sit and wait for Christ to come back? Nah. You have the Spirit of the Almighty God. What are going to do with the Triune God who has made his home in you?
15 All those who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.
Greet each other in the name of the Lord. Grace be with you all. Amen.
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Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus (NTC).
William Hendriksen.
Baker Book House. 1979.
Goodreads
1-2 Timothy and Titus (EBTC).
Andreas J. Köstenberger.
Lexham Press. 2021.
Goodreads
Preaching
Eccentric Preachers.
Charles Spurgeon.
Nabu Press. 2010.
Goodreads
Between Two Worlds.
John R.W. Stott.
Eerdmans. 2017.
Goodreads
The Supremacy of God in Preaching.
John Piper.
Baker Books. 2004.
Goodreads
Sermons
The Complete Sermons.
Martin Luther.
Baker. 2000.
Goodreads
Theology
The Cross of Christ.
John R.W. Stott. 2006.
Goodreads
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
John Owen.
Banner of Truth. 2007.
Goodreads
No Condemnation in Christ Jesus: As Unfolded in the Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
Octavius Winslow.
Banner of Trust. 1991.
Goodreads
On the Incarnation.
Athanasius of Alexandria.
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. 1977.
Goodreads
All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism.
James E. Dolezal.
Reformation Heritage Books. 2017.
Goodreads
Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition.
John Calvin. Robert White (Translator).
Banner of Truth. 2014.
Goodreads
Reformed Dogmatics.
Herman Bavinck, John Bolt (Editor), John Vriend (Translator).
Baker Academic. 2003.
Goodreads
The Wonderful Works of God.
Herman Bavinck.
Westminster Seminary Press. 2019.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Louis Berkhof.
Eerdmans. 1996.
Goodreads
God is Love.
Gerald L. Bray.
Crossway. 2012.
Goodreads
The Existence and Attributes of God, Volume 1-2.
Stephen Charnock, Mark Jones (Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Charles Hodge.
Hendrickson Academic. 1999.
Goodreads
The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way.
Michael S. Horton.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
The Complete Works.
John Owen, Lee Gatiss (Series Editor), Shawn D. Wright (Series Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Knowing God.
J.I. Packer.
Crossway. 2023.
Goodreads
The Works of John Wesley.
John Wesley.
Beacon Hill Press. 1978.
Goodreads
Sources
Site: Doctrine & Devotion
The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
with Scriptural References
Reviews, An Introduction
Since the books I have read and the reviews I have written were such the catalyst to all of Theologicus, I have included them here.
Enjoy.
Cur Deus Homo by Anselm of Canterbury
The Review
Anselm's Cur Deus Homo or Why Did God Become Man? is an excellent, deep theological work that attempts to unravel the mystery behind the Incarnation of God in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. I gave this book only four out of five stars only because half of the book was letters back and forth between Anselm and people in the church and the monastery and it felt like filler to me. Despite the filler, the first 100 pages are well worth the price of the book and I recommend it to anyone who is not only interested in the "God became flesh and dwelt among us" but exploring the deep theological and philosophical aspects on the supposed free will of man versus the true and absolute free will of God.
The format is quite unique in that this is the first theological book I have read that is a discussion between two men. In this, we have Boso, a compatriot of the author's, who serves as the one inquiring about the Incarnation from a layperson's view and the unregenerate's view. And then we have Anselm, who seems to provide the answers but even more so, sharpens iron with Boso and sharpens iron with the reader.
I was pleased and fortunately to read this book after finishing Athanasius' On the Incarnation of the Word (which was a double joy to read around Christmas) and I felt like Athanasius' work serves as great, worshipful setup to this book. Athanasius lobs the pitch up and Anselm swings for the fences. If I could give the highest recommendation, it would to read On The Incarnation followed by Cur Deus Homo.
After reading, praying, processing and meditating, I would summed up the entire book in this:
In man's sinful nature, man lacks the power, ability and free will to fully live for God. However, in His divine nature, God has the power, ability and the free will to die for man so that man might fully live for Him.
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen
The Review
The Doctrine of Limited Atonement.
For those who are not familiar with this doctrine, it seeks to answer this question:
For whom did Christ die?
There are some points to ponder for sure but I have never seen anyone but old theologians wrestle with this question. (I couldn’t even name one New Calvinist who has grappled with this question—understanding the fact that my perspective is quite finite.)
In that context, I wasn’t sure if the polemic nature of John Owen’s work, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, wasn’t somewhat outdated. Besides, is this a hill for us to stand and die on when it comes to theological issues?
Initially, no—not really. The fact that idea of that Christ died for the possibility of salvation and the idea that Christ to save His people from their sins could fall under the and-also truths and not necessary squarely as a either-or truth. In other words, Christians holding to either doctrine and understanding can still have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, faith in Christ and love of God and still are saved to Him forever.
However, those who have planted themselves firmly in the Non-Calvinist camp (knowingly or unknowingly) will, from time to time, especially in my lifetime, would try to contest the doctrine of Limited Atonement—the doctrine that states that the work of Christ is perfect, as though the Evangelical world would have to take sides.
And that is where points of Biblical theology, doctrinal truth and overall, logic must be given as a response in order not to simply contests contentions but rather, to challenge the contender with deep thinking in order to esteem the glory of God.
I was a very young Christian (by all accounts, still am) when I started wrestling through theology just a few years ago. The thing that troubled my mind was, “How can the tenets of Calvinistic soteriology stand up beyond a millennium only to challenged so close to my lifetime?” (Close to my lifetime being relative as those challenges were brought up not 500 years ago.) In other words, the truth of theology, after carefully being worked out and confirmed by our Apostolic and Patristic fathers, were trying to be undone by the uplifting and glorifying of the free (albeit undeniably very limited) will of man. That made me dive deep into Calvinistic theology—a theology I have once written off as bullshit.
My introduction to Calvinism came in the form of Wikipedia page bullet-pointing each of the doctrines of grace after a late night conversation talks of Calvinism and lots of eye-rolling. That’s was it. No great book like Packer’s Knowing God or Piper’s Desiring God. I never grew up in a Reformed church. I was and still am faithfully attending a Spirit-filled, non-denomination church in the suburbs of Dallas/Fort Worth. Because Calvinism apparently dismissed my personal (stressing that it was my) golden idol of free will, Calvinism was still crap to me. However, for some reason, my interests have been piqued.
It was in around the same time I started to seriously read the Bible for the first time as a Christian. I would say that I was saved for no more than a month when all of this came together. Here’s the thing: as I was reading the Bible is where the doctrines of grace started becoming obviously apparent:
“Hmm, that is total depravity.”
“That is irresistible grace.”
“That’s unconditional election for sure.”
“Crap, that’s obviously limited atonement!”
Over and over again, what started as a basic whisper of an introduction to Calvinism made the passages jump off the page.
From what I believe by the Spirit alone, by the will of the Father alone, by the Word of God alone, my mind was able to grab a hold of the Calvinism and make them my own.
Yes, Limited (or to use a more modern vernacular, perfect, definite, precise, complete) Atonement was the one that I most struggled with the longest. It wasn’t because I struggled with that Christ died on the cross for the possibility of us being saved because that is completely illogical and in a way, antithesis to the attributes of God himself but rather, there were still many passages, most of them Johannine, that suggest that Christ did die for the world.
Still, I was convinced of the truth of Scripture and if I take Proverbs 25:2 to heart and push through any mystery of God using the truth of God, I shall be rewarded with God. I was going to push into this truth once and for all.
That is where this book and John Owen comes in.
This is not an easy book. Don’t turn your nose at the 300 page count. I did the same thing and thought, “Psssh, I can burn through this.” Then you get to Owen’s text itself and the publisher decided to use 7 point font.
It took me six months to read through this book. Often, I would read the left side of the open book, read the right side of the open book, close the book and then dwell on it for a while.
Those words were thick, heady and weighty. In the weight of those words, Owen takes all the offenses of opponents of Christ’s Perfect Atonement and turns them on their head.
For example, John 3:16.
There is a book out now called Whosoever Will. The one of the main premises of this book is that John 3:16 is in the defense of the possibility of salvation by God.
But let us actually look at the all-time famous verse:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
It is not ‘whosever will’ but ‘whosever believes’.
In other words, It is not ‘the gospel is the power of God in salvation for those who believe and do not believe’ but rather ‘for those who believe’. (Romans 1:16)
Romans 1:16 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
It is not ‘for our sake and the sake of the unbelievers, that God made Christ to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might be the righteousness of God’ but rather ‘for our sake—the sake of those believe’. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
But what about 1 John 2:2?
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
If that was the only passage in that epistle, then you would have a strong case. But it is not. Look at verse 3:
1 John 2:3 (CSB) This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.
I would be absolute remiss if I did not proclaim the gospel at this moment.
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
And.
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
You and I never kept the law and do not possess the ability to keep all of the law. You and I are born of Adam and therefore, born into sin.
You have two ways to look at these passages: One, despair and rebellion. Why even bother?
Or the other, in the words of the Apostles Paul: "Who is going to save me from this body of death?"
The answer is the only man who perfectly obey the law of God and died in our place for our sins: Jesus Christ our Lord. Believe in him and you will be saved!
By cherry-picking John’s verses, we can easily make the case that salvation is possible and that possibility rests on us. But when we take in the words of John (inspired by God, 2 Timothy 3:16), as a whole, we can easily see that John is not even contending for the possibility of salvation for all of mankind but laying out actual marks of the Christian.
Hear me out: what I am not contending is the apparent opposite, that is, “Joe, are you say that there are some people (many people if you believe Jesus 1) who have no possibility of being saved?”
No, what I am adamantly, vehemently, boldly, loudly, and passionately contending for is this:
The only way somebody is saved is by God alone for salvation is of the Lord alone and He alone is mighty to save.
One and done.
We are not going to sit here and try to determine who is elect and who is not. If Salvation is of God alone then Election completely is on God alone. The Doctrine of Predestination and Election is this absolute truth, “God predestines those destined to death into life.” and “God elects.”. That’s it. No, not because’s or maybe’s or hopefully’s. He choosing of His people happened before the foundation of the earth was in place. He didn’t choose out of some jacked-up game of “Duck Duck Damn”. Instead, He chose His people out of the overflow of His unmatched love because He is Love. This is a love that is not defined by our broken minds in a fallen world within the context a darken culture. This is the absolute truth and the standard bearing of what love actual is—defined by God alone.
Those who would rail against God, say blasphemous and traitorous things against God until their last and final breath, they will then be judged once and be hated in that judgment just like Esau. 3 and not a moment before their dying breath.
But, for as long as they draw breath on this earth, I know that God saves. How can I say? Because God is the only one who saves. Because the weight of any person’s salvation rests on not that person but rather rests on the person of Jesus Christ and his perfect, definite, complete, and satisfactory work, I will continue preaching, teaching and discussing the precious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with all of the world—both believers and non-believers alike—until He comes and gets me or I drop dead in the ground.
John Owen’s magnificent book, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, did not just solidify one little doctrine for me, it changed the way I read Scripture, which has, in turn, not only secondarily solidify my theology but has primarily exploded my heart in doxology and has only infinitely fueled my heart for evangelism. For that, I owe him a debt of gratitude and praise to my sweet God in his mercy and provision for my soul.
Eccentric Preachers by Charles Spurgeon
The Review
Since this is the Kindle edition, I have to quickly cover the technical before getting into the content. This edition is the one you want for the Kindle, not the other Kindle version (with the black cover). I have purchased the other and to my dismay, the continuous lines are not in place. Thus, the formatting are all jacked up.
Onward to the content.
If you are called to teach or preach Christ and him crucified, this book is a must-have for you. If you hear other preacher greats and think, "Gosh, I have to be like them in order to be "successful" like them", this book is mandatory for you.
In essence, Spurgeon encourages simply, "You be you. It is okay to be yourself. Be faithful to the gospel and let the Holy Spirit do all the hard work." Yes, it doesn't matter how weird or 'eccentric' others might think, you are called to be faithful to the text and preach because our lives depend on it.
What is a very pleasant surprise is the inclusion of across-the-range preachers from around his time or a bit before (late 1700s to late 1800s). What I love is the respect and love he had for these other ministers of God above and despite their differences in theology (Calvinism and Arminianism) or ordained in other denominations. To lest you think that all preachers need to be formally educated, Spurgeon offers a few without formal training.
Above all, Spurgeon writes as though he is having a personal conversation with you, the reader. His descriptions are vivid and detailed. His mini-biographies are suffice in information to portray the man of God. His admonishments are clear and precise as they cut to our hearts.
My favorite portion of the book (and was deeply surprised) where he read how the great Puritan theologian, John Owen (The Death of Death, The Mortification of Sin), once remarked how he longed to preach in the same manner as John Bunyan (Pilgrim's Progress) with poetic and flowery words. To which, Spurgeon offering this exhortation to a saint who has long joined Christ in heaven a bit before Spurgeon was even born:
No, Dr. Owen, you had better remain Dr. Owen, for we could by no means afford to lose that mine of theological wealth which you have bequeathed to us. You would have looked very awkward if you had tried to talk like the marvelous dreamer, and he would have played the fool if he had imitated you. It is pitiful to hear comparisons made between the different servants of the same Lord.
Pitiful, indeed, Mr. Spurgeon.
God has created you to bring him glory. Preach your heart out. Preach as though you have lost yourself in your own words. Preach as though you are trying your best to describe the beautiful glory of Christ. Above all, just preach: His word never return void and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Finally Alive by John Piper
The Review
A gorgeous call to the Christian to finally and fully understand the blessed doctrine of regeneration--not only the swapping of hearts by God alone but the call to evangelize to proclaim what God has done in us.
The regeneration and faith issue (chicken-egg argument) is settled here. Piper wonderfully exegetes passages such as John 3, 1 John 5, 2 Peter 3 and Ephesians 2 to serve as the basis for the entire book. While the faith-first arguments have passages to ponder but not necessarily concrete "this is so" statement, the regeneration-first argument has absolute concrete "this is so" passages, to which, Piper highlights the clearest here:
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
Catch the wording: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God--not, everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is now born of God.
Fortunately, the book is bigger than that age-old debate.
What made this a real joy to read was the wonderful surprise in the practical application: that is the call for evangelism. You love God? You love others? You love yourself? Then do what Christ has commissioned us all to do:
Matthew 28:16–20 (CSB) The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:14–20 (CSB) Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.” So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]
John 21:15–18 (CSB) When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”
Acts 1:6–8 (CSB) So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This is an excellent little book for self-study and group study alike. Piper is master of reading deep rich theological books and concise, to-the-point books. This book leans to the latter.
I would highly recommend this book to any English-speaking saint.
In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel-Centered Life by Sinclair B. Ferguson
The Review
This is what I did not like about the book: the chapters rarely had anything to do with the previously chapter. That was a bit disconcerting to me until I read (back of the book or what have you) that this was a collection of series of articles for Tabletalk magazine. To which I remarked, "OOOOOhhhhhh."
Now I know the source, I can give this book a very favorable review.
Given the layout of the chapters, this book reads more like a devotion than anything else. I am not a huge fan of devotions because often, they are written as though you just got up in the morning, coffee has yet to be brew and your brain is not processing at full capacity. In other words, not deep and surface level. This book is not that.
Imagine reading this in your morning devotion:
"Learn to admit sin for what it really is. Call a spade a spade-call it "fornication" (v. 5), not "I'm being tempted a little"; call it "uncleanness" (v. 5), not "I'm struggling with my thought life"; call it "covetousness, which is idolatry" (v. 5), not "I think I need to order my priorities a bit better." This pattern runs right through the whole section. How powerfully it unmasks self-deception-and helps us to unmask sin lurking in the hidden corners of our hearts! "
Good morning to you.
You can expect each chapter to dive deep to at least unveil the beauty of Christ and how to apply Him, His work into your every day life.
I wish more devotions were written like this.
I wish more Christian self-help books were written like this.
Heck, I wish any book that dares to be written on the glories of God would be written like this. Stop making it about us and start talking about His Majesty, King Jesus.
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
The Review
Not so small to give you taste.
Not too big to be overwhelming.
This is the perfect book to give you a fine taste into Systematic Theology.
More importantly, this book will show you just how good our God is. For many Christians, this might just show how great, sovereign, loving, kind and wonderful our Lord truly is.
Highly recommended to be taught.
Highly recommended for small groups.
Highly recommended for personal study.
Must read for any seminary student in their first year systheo class.
No Condemnation in Christ Jesus by Octavius Winslow
The Review
The premise of the entire book is the exposition of Romans chapter 8. Heck, go ahead and write down Romans 8 on paper and that alone is worth more than diamonds. Paul's words are more than sufficient to explain the awe and wonder of the summit of the Mount Everest that is Chapter 8 within the Himalayas of the Bible that is the Epistle to the Romans.
This is where Octavius Winslow separates himself from the pack of scholars and theologians. I feel like it wasn't that Winslow had to explain the depth and weight of Romans 8 for the scholarly purposes but he had to write this book because if he did not, his heart would have burst in worship and love to our sweet God and Lord. Let me contend that his heart did burst and this book was the result.
Winslow's love for God drips and flows over every single page of this book. If you love to highlight important passages, you will soon be wishing for a device that will highlight entire pages. (I thought it might be more convenient just to dip pages into a vat of highlighter ink. But I digress.)
That's what makes this book so special. You start with the chapter that is the richest source of the plenary doctrines of our Christian and dare I say the framework of our Biblical theology. Romans 8 covers it: Gospel, Trinity, Perfect Atonement, Justification, Regeneration, Adoption, Redemption, Grace, Law, Creation, Fall, Depravity, Sin, Suffering, Intercession and Love. Not that Romans 8 is complete in these things but it when the reader, blessed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or even the non-believer blessed with being pursued by the same Holy Spirit, that you have suddenly realized the glitter in the ground are not mere shards of glass but a path leading to a gem mine that knows no depths and knows no limit on the treasure that can be only in found in Jesus Christ. This book written by a man of God who has descended into the depths of that mine shaft and has only come back to the surface to share with the world with what he has found in Him.
I ask you, dear reader, have you read this book yet? No? Then why are you not doing so now.
To the Christian, it is a full-blown out description of Christ as the path of life, the fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). This is a book that cries out, “See what God has done! Come to Him, one who gives great love and sweet rest for your tiresome soul!”
For here is love:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
And here is love:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
And here is love:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
And here is love:
Ezekiel 11:19–20 (CSB) I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh, so that they will follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
And here is love:
Romans 9:25–26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
And here is love:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
And here is love:
Romans 8:1 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,
And here is love:
Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To the non-believer who denies the Triune God, this book displays the empirical evidence that you have been seeking that, yes, God does exists and He is not far. May the Holy Spirit show you the power of God by which you can be saved if you would only trust in Him!
To those who are strong in the faith, it book will only serve to prepare your heart to anchor in Christ alone against any stormy gale and fill your heart with such sweet truths.
To those who are weak in the faith, it serves as the sweet, joyous rest for your soul as you lay your head against the bosom of God and rest in the His finished work.
Among my other favorite books, I cannot recommend any one of them to every single person. Yet, “No Condemnation in Christ Jesus" by Octavius Winslow, is the first Christian book I have read outside of the Bible that I can fully recommend to anyone who can read English.
Likewise, most of the modern Christian self-help books have fallen short in displaying the marvelous and weighty beauty and majesty of our sweet Savior, King and Lord. Those self-help books are just that: about self, in vain and encourages no one. This book is godly encouragement that is rooted in the very breath of God himself.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
On The Incarnation by Athanasius of Alexandria
The Review
Am I giving this extra stars because it was written in the 4th century and thus, getting some sort of extra credit for a very readable translation? Perhaps.
But it is what it is and what it is, is this: a simple, wonderful, foundational, Biblically-doctrinal book of great importance.
Easy to read.
Thick with Biblical truth.
Glorifies Christ in the highest.
I read this at the same time as Advent and I can't think of a better book to read during the holidays.
There is a lot of books that Christians should not read (namely, any book that likes to talk about you). This book should be one of those ones that are given away for free to help us understand the significance and importance of the Word becoming flesh or as C.S. Lewis so aptly puts it:
The Son of God became a man so that men would become sons of God.
Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint by Nadia Bolz-Weber
The Review
Let me sum up the book in one quote:
What passes for preaching in many cases is more ‘here’s the problem, and here’s what you can do about it.’ That good news really should be about who God is and how God works and what God has done and what God will do.
Nadia Bolz-Weber
The Afterthought
Why did I include this review? I used to say that Ortlund's Gentle & Lowly was a book that God used to pushed me all the way into Reformed theology. But reading my reviews, I think it was this book that God used to point my feet and help me land all the way into Reformed theology and not just keep one foot into Evangelicalism with a veneer of Calvinism layered on for good measure. Praise be to God! -Ed.
The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper
The Review
1 Corinthians 2:2–5 (CSB) I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.
You know something? I don’t have to preach like anybody else I have ever heard.
I get to make much of God when I proclaim His Word. I get to lift Christ on high and know nothing except him crucified. I get to be totally and utterly dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit.
What a joy it is to preach the passage at hand. What a relief it is that I don’t have to mention the verse once in the sermon, then go on my own diatribe and spit out my own opinions. What heart-filled gladness that I can see the magnificence of God exalted and in falling so short, I would my very best to explain to others what I am seeing.
But oh, how naïve of me: to be called to preach but only preached just a few sermons. Every single little opportunity savored, gracious and humbled to get that one opportunity to preach the gospel of God—well, that is maybe your one and only shot. You may not be asked back. You might be barred from preaching there ever again. You might not make it back to preach again next Sunday.
But then, you get another try at it. God’s grace abounds and you get one more chance to love, serve, and feed His flock. You get to swallow your pride and open your heart and mind and let His Spirit work through you.
So, what are you going to do with that one shot?
2 Timothy 4:1–5 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Do the work. Praise be to God!
Joseph Louthan
About
Trying to spend all of my days with God. I belong to my Beloved and my Beloved is mine forevermore. Also, Sarah's husband and Papa to a few kiddos. Residing in Versailles, KY. Member of Reforming Truth Church. Joyfully ex-Evangelical turned Reformed Baptist--1689 Confessional.
All of my life to live all of my days to express just how much God loves us. Hope to preach the goodness of God. Therefore, Theologicus is my attempt to prepare so that one day I can preach every day for the rest of my life and twice on Sunday--for the sake of his great name and his glory alone.
And if I have fifteen minutes to spare in my day, I'm pretty mediocre at StarCraft 2.
Contact
Joseph Louthan
About
Trying to waste my time with God. Preacher of the Gospel. Writing at Theologicus. StarCraft 2 Elderly.
No pen, no words, no image can express to you the loveliness of my only, only Lord Jesus.
Samuel Rutherford.
Contact
MINISTRY VISION
Seeking to glorify Christ by serving his Bride, first and foremost, by preaching and teaching his word. My desire is to serve your church as either in Pulpit Supply and/or Interim Pastor in a bi-vocational capacity. I do this by faithfully preaching Christ crucified, teaching the Scriptures, and under-shepherd your congregation until God provides you with your next pastor.
THE GOSPEL of CHRIST
The gospel is the good news that God looked upon me as a wicked, depraved, weak sinner and sent his Son to live and die so that I might be truly alive and free by the power of his Spirit.
Romans 5:9 (CSB) How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
1 John 5:1 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
For the gospel is the power of God in salvation for those who believe–to the Jew first and also the Greek. In this gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “the righteous shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:16–17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
This is the gospel of Christ that I must preach so that all may know the love of Christ for their souls, for, “faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.”Simply put, we are saved by no name other than Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:17 (CSB) So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
PERSONAL
Born on May 17, 1975, in Fort Worth, TX. My home is in Versailles, KY with my wife, Sarah, and our two kids, Elijah, and Ivy. Also, my in-laws live with us, Cherri and Jason. My oldest son, Yusef, lives in Norman, OK.
TESTIMONY
I came to saving faith when the Almighty God came down, took my heart, and in exchange, gave me His heart, and His Spirit.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
It was then and only then that I was able to "follow His statues" and "be careful to observe the ordinances of the Lord."
I first heard the gospel of Christ when I was 8 years old in a small independent fundamentalist KJV-only church in Oklahoma City. I praise God for that church because they had an incredible fleet of buses that would bring kids like me to church. Those old school buses would take me out of my sin-filled and depraved home, sung songs, memorize books of the Bible, attend Sunday School, and sit under the preaching of the word.
I remember clear as day, "Do you want to go to hell or heaven?" I had no desire to go to hell so I raised my hand and came forward. I wish I knew the Lord then. I wish my heart was turned then. But it was not. I have no doubt that little Suzy to my left or little Bobby to my right was saved by God at that moment. But I was not. I know this because I spent the next 24 years sinning all the more and never repenting of my sin not once to the God of the Universe. For the gospel of John says it clearly:
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
I did not believe Christ Jesus because I kept on sinning. I did not believe it because I thought that my repeating of words would keep me in God's good graces as I spent my adult life working in the pornography industry. I have had people would suggest that I was indeed saved at a young age. I push back, "Tell me this: is there such thing as an unrepentant Christian? Could I unrepentantly work in an industry that supplied my depraved and killing addiction?" (You think the answer would be a quick and easy, "No" but I will spare you the number of times I have seen hesitation answering this question.)
The fact is I did not have eternal life. The fact is I had the wrath of God remaining upon me because I have rejected and disobeyed the Son of God. If I had died before that rainy Monday in April 2007 in Dallas, I know that I know I would burn for all eternity in the lake of fire.
Ephesians 2:1–3 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
And
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
That was me. All of my life that was me. Foolish Worthless. Disobedient. Deceived. Enslaved to my own lustful addiction. Living in malice and envy. Hateful and hating everybody.
In other words, I was dead in my trespasses and sins against the Almighty God.
But God, being absolutely incomparable in grace and mercy, saved me. Not because I have done anything good in my life. I have done everything wicked in my life. But God, looked down on me, dead in my sins, took pity, and called me forth as Christ would call forth Lazarus out of the grave of the dead.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Do you see this? My heart turned towards him and had nothing to do with me activating the love of God. No! God made his mind up before the foundation of the world that the Father would send his only begotten Son to live and die to come to save my soul.
Ephesians 1:4–6 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
The crucifixion of my only, only Lord Jesus Christ happened nearly 2,000 years before I was even born, let alone born again to love God. I did not activate the love of God but rather God loved me first.
1 John 4:19 (CSB) We love because he first loved us.
And
John 15:16 (CSB) You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
God gave me His Son. God gave me His Spirit. God the Father has made his home with me.
John 14:23 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
What kind of love is this? It can only be the Triune God who is the only one and true God that saves:
Zephaniah 3:17 (CSB) The LORD your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.”
It stands to reason: if God could save a wretch like me, then no one is outside the reach of his mighty saving arm:
Isaiah 50:2a (CSB) Why was no one there when I came? Why was there no one to answer when I called? Is my arm too weak to redeem? Or do I have no power to rescue?
It is like I ask my kids, "Does God have T-Rex arms?" Of course He doesn't. He is the mighty one who saves.
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
I am Creedal and abide in the Apostles' Creed, Nicene, Chalcedonian, and Athanasian Creed.
I am Confessional and confess the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession. My exposition of the 1689 Confession is here.
To that end, I am a Reformed Baptist and therefore, credobaptist. My local church, Reforming Truth Church, will be a part of the Grace Reformed Network.
MINISTRY EXPERIENCE
Reforming Truth Church, Lexington, KY (2022 to Present)
- Member
- Bible Study Teacher
- Technology
Frontline Church South, Oklahoma City, OK (2019-2022)
- Intern, Community
- Covenant Member
- Bible Study Teacher
- Small Group Leader
- Children’s Teacher
- Worship Presentation
Antioch Community Church, Norman, OK (2017-2019)
- Assistant to the Senior Pastor
- Member
- Bible Study Teacher
- Small Group Leader
- Children’s Teacher
Catch the Fire Ministries, Bedford, TX (2015-2017)
- Member
- Children’s Teacher
The City Church, Fort Worth, TX (2014-2015)
- Member
- Mentored by Ben Connelly, Senior Pastor
Gateway Church, Southlake, TX (2007-2014)
- Intern: Leadership & Discipleship Ministries
- Member
- Embrace Grace (Crisis Pregnancy Ministry) Leader
- Bible Study Teacher
- Small Group Leader
- Mentored by Alan Smith, Pastor of Leadership & Discipleship
VOCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Technical Project Manager at Red Hat (2019-Now)
Information Technology Administrator & Manager (1996-2019)
United States Air Force (1993-1996)
MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT
Interim Pastor Training
Kentucky Baptist Convention
Louisville, KY
July 2022
The Institute for Expository Preaching (2021)
Dr. Steven J. Lawson
Oklahoma City, OK
August 2021
Internship, Frontline Church
Frontline Church
Oklahoma City, OK
September 2020 to May 2021
The Institute for Expository Preaching (2019)
Dr. Steven J. Lawson
Oklahoma City, OK
October 2019
On Preaching
Matt Chandler
Acts 29 Regional
2010
The Doctrine of God
Dr. Sinclair Ferguson
Reformed Theological Seminary
Dallas, TX
January to May 2010
The Need for Evangelism
Desiring God 2009 Conference for Pastors
Minneapolis, MN
February 2009
Internship, Gateway Church
Leadership & Discipleship Ministry
Gateway Church
January to August 2009
SKILLS
Expository preaching and teaching
Writing
Project Management
WRITINGS
Completed works and works in progress can be found at Theologicus.
REFERENCES
To protect the privacy of my references, their contact information can be provided upon request
Changelog
All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
3.3.1 (2024 Jan 7)
- File cleanup (mostly flattening directories for img src to work correctly) for porting to Swift aka the iOS app for Theologicus
- Removed Vocation Resume (just not needed)
- next version: 4.0 with the iOS app being available on the App Store
3.3 (2023 Jul 16)
- Apostles' Creed
- Wordcount: 6956101
3.2 (2023 Jul 4)
- Book Reviews
- Wordcount: 680499
3.1 (2023 Jun 14)
- The Story of Ruth
- Wordcount: 659293
3.0 (2023 Jun 9)
Added
- Migrated from Hugo to mdBook
- Wordcount: 699793
2.4 (2023 Apr 13)
2.3 (2023 Feb 8)
2.2 (2022 Sep 8)
2.1 (2021 Apr 29)
2.0 (2020 Apr 20)
- Migrated from Wordpress to Hugo
1.3 (2019 Nov 28)
- Doctrine: The Lord's Prayer
- merged with Matthew
1.2 (2018 Jul 05)
- Doctrine: Ordo Salutis (defunct) 2
1.1 (2012 Nov 28)
- Thanksgiving (defunct)
1 (2008 Apr 15)
- Initial release on Wordpress
Versioning
Semantic Versioning will be as following:
MAJOR 1.x
New technology. In other words, as long as I using mdBook, Theologicus will remain in version 3.x.x.
MINOR 1.1
New finished exposition series. When the series is complete, this will bump up version from 3 to 3.1, for example.
### PATCH 1.1.1
New sermons or new articles. This will go from 3 to 3.1 to 3.2 and so on.
Thanksgiving and Ordo Salutis will be combined into a new series called Christ Came To Save Sinners.
1: Per mdbook-wordcount